Lots of excellent information here! I have a few Katahdins in the mid-Atlantic region on Maryland's eastern shore. I struggled with parasites in the beginning due to our humid climate (I've spent a summer around Austin, our summer weather here is similar to there but about 10 degrees cooler). I took a FAMACHA class at the University of Delaware and learned SO MUCH about parasites and parasite management - I highly recommend that anyone with sheep take a FAMACHA class, it is very much worth the time. One of the most crucial things I learned was that parasite eggs hatch on day three, so I started rotating my sheep every 2-3 days through smaller paddocks with my chickens following right behind them. The shorter rotation has made a huge difference in the health of my sheep. I have also planted chicory for the tannins. I don't know how much difference that has made for parasites but the sheep love it, and since we get mild winters here it stays green and lush pretty much year-round.
We just got approved with cross fencing by the NRCS and plan on making smaller paddocks for our sheep and overseeding our pasture. I plan to overseeding our pasture with chicory as well
Hey, Sidney, I have butchered sheep and could stop by to teach you. I cannot come next week but I can come sometime in November if you have one ready then. I will have my own motor home so would not need a bed. I had hair sheep up in the state of Washington. I have not had sheep for the last 55 years so back then we used a salt block for our minerals and nothing else. Sorry about your 100+ weather. We hit 82 today for our highest temp of the year so far down here on the Baja of Mexico.
@@7FarmerSidney7 I would love to hel. I would love to personally see your farm and gardens but as for the show thing, I am not a showman so I imagine this a personal thing between us,
@@7FarmerSidney7 we wanted a bigger back yard and ended up with a 12 acre farm. Some is wet and some woods. Right now we have 8 goats, 4 sheep and about 50 chickens. Lot more work than i thought thought. Lol
I do not have sheep myself but have been researching in the of chance I can ever get my acct together enough to live my dream. Around here mid Atlantic, PA between Philly and Allentown. Everyone has Kahtadins. Zone 6-7 really need to search to find anything other than Kahtadins. They're also pretty good milkers from what I've read. Parasites I've heard that nemotoads can't stand brassicas and have heard that if you put a cover crop of spicy brown mustard on a garden every few years then till plow it under when it's ripe it'll keep parasites down. Granted you wouldn't want to do that to an entire pasture but if you were to grow say 3-500 ft² and make yourself like a gallon or two of mustard then just make a tea out of the remaining seeds and spray it on your high traffic areas before a storm or rain rolls in it'll get down into the ground and get rid of the worms. Also they like to sleep on high ground which you could muck into a bucket to keep that area more clear or just spread it out. Also the parasites their eggs all of that can't take sunlight but they live down low on the forage, so while you don't want them grazing all the way to the ground in the long run it's important to manage your rotation to get it low enough so the sunlight kills off the pole worm. Then move them to greener pastures.
Sorry for the delay response. We do plan on reseeding the pasture with some clover and some seeds that have tannins like trefoil, chicory, lespedeza and sorghum. This should help against the parasite load. Plus we are going to have multispecies animals grazing to help decrease this. This will be less work since it is just us two and working off farm jobs.
Oh no sweat. I've also heard that you shouldn't keep em in one area too long trying to force the issue of there's still some forage, odds are it's something they don't want and could encourage fence jumping. There's another channel with a younger man named PJ that moves them then mows behind them. It'll knock down all the shade possibly keep them stuff they don't want anyway from going to seed in the first place and grinds up the excrement and exposes it to sunlight. While it's a whole other step to add. If you're using something like a B or Bx series Kubota it's also a ride and can carry your buckets of either feed and water, or your seed to reseed or your tools to maintain your fences.
Have you ever thought about growing food for your sheep and goats and rabbits. I've seen a guy grow sorghum and other grasses, sunflowers and corn just for feed
They Tear up that kelp. But the way my bank account is set up I can't keep letting in on that kelp lol. They hit up the baking soda and Selenium 90. Which I figure our soil was lacking that mineral along with boron and other mineral I need to get later on
Gallagher products use our affilate code THENAKIDGARDENERS for discount: am.gallagher.com/en-us
Lots of excellent information here! I have a few Katahdins in the mid-Atlantic region on Maryland's eastern shore. I struggled with parasites in the beginning due to our humid climate (I've spent a summer around Austin, our summer weather here is similar to there but about 10 degrees cooler). I took a FAMACHA class at the University of Delaware and learned SO MUCH about parasites and parasite management - I highly recommend that anyone with sheep take a FAMACHA class, it is very much worth the time. One of the most crucial things I learned was that parasite eggs hatch on day three, so I started rotating my sheep every 2-3 days through smaller paddocks with my chickens following right behind them. The shorter rotation has made a huge difference in the health of my sheep. I have also planted chicory for the tannins. I don't know how much difference that has made for parasites but the sheep love it, and since we get mild winters here it stays green and lush pretty much year-round.
We just got approved with cross fencing by the NRCS and plan on making smaller paddocks for our sheep and overseeding our pasture. I plan to overseeding our pasture with chicory as well
Hey, Sidney, I have butchered sheep and could stop by to teach you. I cannot come next week but I can come sometime in November if you have one ready then. I will have my own motor home so would not need a bed.
I had hair sheep up in the state of Washington. I have not had sheep for the last 55 years so back then we used a salt block for our minerals and nothing else.
Sorry about your 100+ weather. We hit 82 today for our highest temp of the year so far down here on the Baja of Mexico.
That would be awesome. I think we wouldn't be ready for this year, but we would love to have you down next fall to put on a show.
@@7FarmerSidney7 I would love to hel. I would love to personally see your farm and gardens but as for the show thing, I am not a showman so I imagine this a personal thing between us,
That should have said "I would love to help," not I would love to hel."
Hi Sidney, thank you for making this video and sharing your journey. Best wishes and God bless.
You're welcome. Do you currently raise sheep?
Similar story here , Never been a farmer but purchased a farm last September. We are learning as we go. Good luck
Thanks, you too! What got you into farming? What are you raising and on how many acres?
@@7FarmerSidney7 we wanted a bigger back yard and ended up with a 12 acre farm. Some is wet and some woods. Right now we have 8 goats, 4 sheep and about 50 chickens. Lot more work than i thought thought. Lol
@@RonRamsden Yea my wife is realized it last year. She think of it as work. I think of it as enjoyment. Yes it is hard work but I do not mind it.
@@RonRamsden I was thinking of changing my channel name to yours btw.
What’s your handle I think there are a few of us
Sheep in Texas... I'm right here with you
Yes right here in North Texas.
We raise pure bred American black belly’s in northern Alberta Canada very hardy breed. Great with extremely cold winters ..
Interesting. What are they raised for? Meat? Lard? Or both? How long have you been raising them?
I do not have sheep myself but have been researching in the of chance I can ever get my acct together enough to live my dream.
Around here mid Atlantic, PA between Philly and Allentown. Everyone has Kahtadins. Zone 6-7 really need to search to find anything other than Kahtadins.
They're also pretty good milkers from what I've read.
Parasites I've heard that nemotoads can't stand brassicas and have heard that if you put a cover crop of spicy brown mustard on a garden every few years then till plow it under when it's ripe it'll keep parasites down. Granted you wouldn't want to do that to an entire pasture but if you were to grow say 3-500 ft² and make yourself like a gallon or two of mustard then just make a tea out of the remaining seeds and spray it on your high traffic areas before a storm or rain rolls in it'll get down into the ground and get rid of the worms. Also they like to sleep on high ground which you could muck into a bucket to keep that area more clear or just spread it out. Also the parasites their eggs all of that can't take sunlight but they live down low on the forage, so while you don't want them grazing all the way to the ground in the long run it's important to manage your rotation to get it low enough so the sunlight kills off the pole worm. Then move them to greener pastures.
Sorry for the delay response. We do plan on reseeding the pasture with some clover and some seeds that have tannins like trefoil, chicory, lespedeza and sorghum. This should help against the parasite load. Plus we are going to have multispecies animals grazing to help decrease this. This will be less work since it is just us two and working off farm jobs.
Oh no sweat.
I've also heard that you shouldn't keep em in one area too long trying to force the issue of there's still some forage, odds are it's something they don't want and could encourage fence jumping.
There's another channel with a younger man named PJ that moves them then mows behind them. It'll knock down all the shade possibly keep them stuff they don't want anyway from going to seed in the first place and grinds up the excrement and exposes it to sunlight. While it's a whole other step to add. If you're using something like a B or Bx series Kubota it's also a ride and can carry your buckets of either feed and water, or your seed to reseed or your tools to maintain your fences.
Have you ever thought about growing food for your sheep and goats and rabbits. I've seen a guy grow sorghum and other grasses, sunflowers and corn just for feed
We are actually going to be reseeding our sheep pasture to feed them and for preventative deworming.
Which minerals do you see them hitting more often in this area?
They Tear up that kelp. But the way my bank account is set up I can't keep letting in on that kelp lol. They hit up the baking soda and Selenium 90. Which I figure our soil was lacking that mineral along with boron and other mineral I need to get later on
@@7FarmerSidney7 I haven't given any minerals for my St. Croix yet. So far they are healthy but I'm sure they'd love the option.
Hair sheep VA
Awesome! How long have you been raising sheep?
Im a spinner and the wool can be worth a little
It is a lost art, and not too many people around here know about it or can do it.
O there are fiber fairs everywhere the shetland would be a very good wool to spin with keep up the good work😊@7FarmerSidney7