The Backyard Sheep: An Introductory Guide to Keeping Productive Pet Sheep

by Sue Weaver

Overview

Raise a flock of sheep in your backyard. Even with a limited amount of space, you can enjoy homegrown fleece and fresh milk, as well as the endearing company of these family-friendly animals. Sue Weaver provides all the instructions you need for selecting a breed; housing and feeding; harvesting fleece; and milking. With simple recipes for making cheese and yogurt, and tips on processing fleece for wool, you’ll enjoy the varied and numerous rewards of keeping sheep.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781603429672
Publisher:	Storey Publishing, LLC
Publication date:	05/21/2013
Pages:	224
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

Sue Weaver has written hundreds of magazine articles and many books about livestock, horses, and chickens, including The Backyard Cow, The Backyard Goat, The Backyard Sheep, Storey and The Donkey Companion. Weaver and her husband share their ridgetop farmette in the southern Ozarks with an array of animal friends.

Table of Contents

Preface

Part 1: Learning About Sheep

1. Sheep Throughout History

Sheepish Origins - Sheep in Great Britain - Sheep in the Americas - The Rise of the Merino - Sheep in the Rest of the World

2. Introducing the Sheep

The Five Senses - Open Your Mouth and Say Baah - Social Behavior - Play Behavior - Feeding Behavior - Flocking, Moving, and Catching Behavior - Cast Sheep - Behavioral Tidbits

3. Choosing a Breed

What Are You Looking For? - Breed Classifications - Horns 101

4. Buying Your Sheep

Where to Start Looking - Finding a Responsible Seller - Evaluating Sheep - Identifying Sheep

 

Part 2: Keeping a Few Sheep

5. Housing Sheep

Providing Housing - Constructing Pens - Building Fences - Everyday Equipment

6. Feeding Sheep

Your Sheep's Digestive System - Feeding Hay - Feeding Concentrates - Feeding Minerals - If You Switch Feeds, Do It Gradually

7. Doctoring Sheep

Finding a Sheep-Savvy Veterinarian - Keeping Sheep Healthy and Well - Being Your Own Vet (Sometimes) - Sheep Illnesses and Afflictions - Coccidiosis - Internal Parasites - External Parasites

 

Part 3: Making More Sheep

8. Breeding Sheep

Owning Your Own Ram - Using Someone Else's Ram - Handling Rams - The Sheep-y Birds and Bees - Handling Ewes Post-Breeding - Feeding Pregnant Ewes - Late-Gestation Tips - What to Do Before Lambing Starts - Is It Time?

9. Lambing Season

First-Stage Labor - Second-Stage Labor - When Things Go Wrong - Here Be Lambs!

10. Caring for Lambs

Dealing with Rejected Lambs - Lamb Poop 101 - Tails It Is - Feeding Dam-Raised Lambs - Raising Bottled Lambs

 

Part 4: Enjoying Your Sheep

11. Producing Quality Fleece

First Things First - More Ploys for Growing Better Fleeces - Sheepshearing 101 - Washing (Scouring) Fleece - Storing Fleece

12. Got Milk?

Choosing Your Dairy Ewe - Milking Basics - Handling Milk - Sharing the Bounty - Selling Milk

13. Training Sheep

Taming Sheep - Training Basics - Teaching Your Sheep about Targeting - Teaching Your Sheep to Lead - Picking Up Feet

 

Glossary

Appendix 1: Common Mistakes

Appendix 2: Trimming Hooves

Appendix 3: Promoting Your Sheep

Appendix 4: Emergency Euthanasia

Resources

Recommended Reading

Credits

Index