This was very kind and generous of you to share with your viewers. Anyone who is truly interested now literally has the knowledge they need to at least get started feeding their families good healthy meat. Not many folks are this generous and I for one am grateful! (And I don’t even plan to raise sheep 🐑! LOL 😂) I just really appreciate the kindness. Blessings to you and the family always ~Lisa
Just came back from a trip to Ireland, and one of the tours we did involved sheep herding demonstration, and being able to hold a baby lamb. Now, I want 🐑!
:) Thanks Dan. What a lovely, detailed start to sheep...and what a pleasure it is to have watched you grow as a shepherd. Thank you for sharing the wealth of information you have learned to help others be a homesteader.
Thank you so much! I've been watching your channel for a long while now and have used much of the information you have given. I'm in southeastern Idaho in the high dessert we just moved and built our house on 3.5 acres and are ready to do our sheep this spring! As soon as the ground thaws we will be putting in our infrastructures for them. Your channel has been paramount in helping me do this. Thank you so much!
We are just getting ready to move to northern Mississippi on 10 acres. In fact we close in 8 days! We will be doing sheep too but probably not this year. Still need to do all the necessary work to get ready for them. Good luck in your new homestead!
I had to laugh at the water hose info. I've been drinking from cheap garden hoses all my life. Now they aren't safe for drinking water. Is anything safe anymore?
People also didn’t know what bacteria and viruses were in the past...we didn’t know that lead causes brain damage...we didn’t know asbestos causes cancer...so it is not surprising that we didn’t know the chemicals in plastic were leaching into the fluids in the plastics that we consumed. Further, we have evidence that companies did know and actively suppressed the information.
Me (a moron. Has no clue what he's talking about): "I would prefer not to have toxic chemicals pumped into my body like my parents had so that I don't develop life threatening diseases in my 40's." You (big brain. Knows what you're talking about): "actually those things are good because I drink them."
Got my dog, sheers, sheds, 10 acres of lush grassland and two big freezers! By the way, oats are $12 per 80lbs and fatten them up really fast with plain grass hay. All summer I have peas and beans growing on every border fence of the pasture. They grow, the sheep harvest..we get what grows outside and can them all for 150 lbs of seed at about $120 per year! Legumes make them grow fast and pack on the lean meat pounds! We use Calf Creep /Cracked corn 80%/20% supplement in the coldest part of Winter and they love it! They need the extra calorie food during early breeding and pregnancy plus it’s only $300 per ton!
When you mentioned near the beginning of food already growing all around sheep in a field, being grass, I was thinking how that must be wonderful for the sheep being in the middle of a big field surrounded by their favorite food. That would be like us standing on the middle of a good juicy steak the size of a field, or us standing on BBQ ribs, or a pizza, or an apple pie or a cake with frosting the size of a field. For real, that's how it must feel for the sheep being in a field of their favorite food, because grass to them probably tastes just as good as the above mentioned foods do to us. This is probably another reason they just can't stop eating the grass while on the field. I know that sheep also keep continually grazing because of them being ruminates and having the four chambered stomach like cows, but who said they're not enjoying it
Those sheep are good girls cute sheep nice video do you want to watch happy 😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊 new year 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Thank yiu so much! Your videos are so valuable for me! We will be starting a Homestead operation soon and sheep will be among the 1st! Your videos really answer my biggest questions as a newbie! Also, I didn't know you and Justin were friends! I watch his videos all the time, and now I've found another wonderful channel to watch
My family’s farm has been working with goats for as long as I can remember, and I really want to get some sheep as well since I am a knitter and would love to spin my own yarn to sell and use. your’s seem so gentle and sweet they make me happy :)
As always, Dan, you deliver in such a professional and tender hearted way! Thank you so much! Thought it was interesting how the camera stopped the Sheep up in that shot! Animals always have a way of telling us that objects we think to be relatively quiet and non invasive are really quite the opposite. Very interesting... Smiles and blessings
this was great! we are just learning. The neighbors started their sheep/goat farming in the spring. They put up a fence, got the horses, goats, sheep, then after a cougar (and they don't have weapons or dogs or llamas) got a goat (ram) ready for market and a ewe. They put in trail cams, and now months later, building a barn. Kinda smallish but ... it's not our operation. We always feed the chickens and clean the coop, now at night (depending where they are or if the neighbors get them first) we get the sheep from one paddock to another. Trying to learn! I am not the kinda gal to do things backwards. While they are putting up the barn, we've cleaned out our carport, laid down straw, and they bed there. They get hay and have water, and we think their barn should be up in 3 or 4 days. Whew. So much info to absorb - thank you!!
I am a completely blind person in California who raised sheep from 2013 to 2017. I didn't know that stuff about the hoses. Thank you. I also never thought about the electric fence. The statistics for the food were helpful as well.
Let me elaborate a little. For feeding, my family, or my pain meds would help me measure out the right amount of food needed. For showmanship, people would tell me OK, the judge is in front of you play sure I am. Or the judge is in front of you, going to front of you let me elaborate a little. For feeding, my family, or my pain meds would help me measure out the right amount of food needed. For showmanship, people would tell me OK, the judge is in front of you. Brace your lamb. Or the judge is looking, go in to front view. Raising lambs was what really got me into agriculture. The years I spent showing sheep were the best years of my entire life.
@@lifeliver9000 it's actually better for the environment to pasture raise animals than it is to not have animals. Something I was completely unaware of until recently.
@@viatori5566 so before we cut and cleared the land to make pasture our world was sick for millions of years and cows on pasture has cured the earth? Like to se that research. Phew lucky cows saved the world aye 🤭
@@lifeliver9000 I don't think that was good for the environment at all. Tons of animals got displaced and died because of that and the ground was worse off because of it. Which is my point. Animals are a natural part of the ecosystem. Cattle and other livestock should be rotated through crop ground. Think about the great plains before Europeans settled North America. There were 60 million bison that roamed. The environment was better off with them than without them. Back to deforestation. Instead of doing that, animals can and often times should be pastured in timbers. Silvopastureing is a pretty neat topic. I'm not trying to argue with you man. I'm definitely for helping the planet. It's confinement buildings and large non pasture feed lots that's doing the damage, not the animals.
@@viatori5566 hey sorry if I came across stroppy there are so many uneducated people who just let their little brains dribble out onto their keyboard. Unfortunately your points are very close to home for me as grew up in dairy towns farming. New Zealand’s dairy is their second largest export behind tourism. It’s destroying our environment. Only a few countries have prairies and the majority are being destroyed by imported large grass feeding animals. NZ has huge erosion due to heavy cattle ripping the topsoil off the clay and rock substrate. And that flows down into streams and rivers blocking them and killing native species who rely on clean water then it’s out to sea smothering marine life daily. Cattle also due to their stomachs fart and burb polluting like no other animal. NZ dairy herds create more green house gases than all nz cars, factories and airlines put together. Their urine gets into the water table and waterways creating nitrate algae blooms that make 90% of nz water wise unswimable even untouchable. NZs 22 million cattle are grass feed moved from paddock to paddock but cheap supplements are added also specially when being farmed more intensive grass feed with palm cornel that is imported from slash and burn 3rd world countries destroying their own environments for the quick buck. Many countries have fragile environments that are being destroyed by grass feed cattle. Silvopastering has been experimented with in NZ and in my opinion not enough as hasn’t been popular. The trials show sparse plantings ( needed for grass growth) exposing the trees to wind blow and one property not far from my place 70% of 20 year old pines blew down in one storm. I do believe there is a future in it but the species needs to suit environments not just be fast growing species.
Awesome information Dan! Quite timely too. We are getting our first sheep in the next few weeks so this will be really helpful! Always enjoy your advice as part of the Expert Council on TSP so I’m glad I finally made it over to your channel!
Thanks Jake! That's fantastic you're getting sheep! I'm roasting a leg of lamb today from a lamb I harvested last fall. You won't regret getting sheep!
Another great vid- thanks! Look forward to checking out the e-book. _Food-grade_ diatomaceous earth is supposed to be safe to breathe. This is because it contains 1% or less crystalline (versus amorphous) silica. This is NOT true of filter- or pool-grade DE, which contains 65% or more crystalline silica and is NOT safe to breathe. Some raise concerns about the sharp edges of the diatoms, but these edges readily soften in the presence of moisture. For these reasons, though only sparingly, I don't hesitate too much about using DE even around the very sensitive respiratory systems of chickens (though dust baths with food-grade DE are maybe not a great idea). All that being said, I recognize that there are different schools of thought on this; it may still be irritating like any other dust; and it is indeed messy. L
The simplest way to feed hay is to drop it onto a clean spot in the pasture. What about the waste, you say? The pasture needs the organic matter. This is the micro version of bale unrolling. Simplest is best.
Thank you !!! I was wondering if sheep were "herd" animals. I am just beginning to try to sort out if I want sheep in the future. I'm trying to educate myself first. This helps.
Excellent. Thanks. If I want to raise 500 lbs of meat a year plus a gallon of milk per week and I want to breed them for sustainability, what type of sheep and how many rams/ewes will I need?
I’m not sure if this comment will be seen since the video is older but I’m asking about the corral over electric netting for new sheep. I plan to get a couple ewes to start and planned to put them in electric netting right away. Your saying not to because it’s just a psychological barrier and since they are new to it, they could run through it and without a physical barrier they could be vulnerable to run away/attacked etc? Something I did not think about but now I may put them in my barn/fenced in yard behind it for the first week with the netting inside that fence.
They just need to be trained to the electric fence first while still in a physical barrier. If they aren't trained to it, they'll knock it over and go walkabout
This was all really good info and I gotta give you credit for that but the garden hose part, oh boy. I’ve been drinking out of garden hoses all my life and I’m not dead yet, nor are my dogs, cats or rabbits. Sure the ones you showed may be better but just a normal garden hose will not hurt anything either.
I try to avoid toxicity whenever practical. Though you aren't dead from the garden hose, the toxins from it and all the other things in life can build over time and cause health problems (not necessarily death) down the road. I just try to present the information because a lot of people aren't aware of the toxins.
I don’t want to self promote on your channel but I made a video of it. Feel free to delete this comment after reading. I sure will not be offended. th-cam.com/video/iBsByVdW09Q/w-d-xo.html
over the past few years we have added chickens , then pigs then bees , this year we plan to add a few sheep for meat, timely video for us , warm weather is still a few months away for us , nova scotia canada ....thanks for posting.
*IMPORTANT* I’m picking up a sheep and it’s 2 months old. But I’m only getting one. I don’t have any other sheep and now I’m worried that it will get stressed out. I don’t have goats or anything only ducks and chickens. I really don’t know what to do. Becuase getting another sheep is completely out of my budget! And I can’t afford to get two? Any suggestions of how I can make it feel less lonely
Was Justin interested in getting lambs for butchering this fall, and/or in breeding? We started like you did, being "done" in that first fall; no winter commitment. That was good but in some ways expensive. I sometimes recommend getting a couple of ewes with her sheep, so they have the benefit of her milk longer and you can get the lambs younger. You can still get meat the first fall that way, but if you also breed the ewes you also don't have to purchase lambs the next year. Do you recommend a certain age if you are getting lambs only?
Justin is getting feeders - they will be harvested in the fall. No certain age but generally 8-10 weeks is the youngest for weaning but I'd prefer them to stay on milk a little longer than that.
Really enjoyed your video. Looked through you subscribers and recognized several that my wife or i follow. We have 21 acres in N.W. MT. on the side of a mountain not very much flat area. Some wooded and or grassy areas mostly in our valley area. We've been talking about Icelandic or Icelandic/Friesian mix and read a lot about them. Your thoughts
Thanks for this channel. I've been following for a little while. I found you through Justin Rhodes' channel! You inspired my husband and me to get sheep, which we brought onto the homestead last week. Two ewes, and one ram lamb from each. Unfortunately the lambs died from scours, but we'll bring on some more lambs soon. Just one question, how do you train them to come when called? Any specific resources you could point me to for learning how to lead sheep? I don't like having to drive them to their pastures.
I make a certain whistle noise every time I feed them. So if I want them to move somewhere, I just go where I want them and whistle and they follow because they want food and they associate the whistle with getting food. I'm really sorry to hear about the lamb deaths. I'm glad you're trying again. Thank you for your feedback. It's good to know we're an inspiration for something good :)
We have two and three young chickens have decided they're all best friends because the sheep have a heat lamp and seem to like putting their noses in the chickens fluffy feathers
Thanks so much for this great video. One question: Do you recommend some sort of herd protection animal to be out with the sheep? A donkey, llama or livestock dog? We are considering buying 4 sheep for grazing between Christmas trees/wool/pets/4H. We have 18 acres of hay field, but would likely fence off about a 4 acre area for the sheep. The pasture is a within eye-shot of our house, but far enough away that I worry about predators feeling bold enough to come around. We have a family dog, but she is in the house at night and isn't a breed with natural protective drive. Not sure her scent around the property would be enough to ward off coyotes...Should we be looking for a donkey at the same time we bring the sheep home?
What can you plant in part of your pasture to increase the protein intake? Alfalfa requires a lot of water, so it doesn't make sense for my sandy soil in Texas.
Love the channel. Wanted to know if you have ever considered sowing alfalfa seeds and irrigating the fields? Then you can practice the rotational grazing system and they always have a fresh source of alfalfa. Just asking because I am working on a ranch this year and my job is going to be irrigating the alfalfa fields. The ranchers take cuts off the fields and feed the cows with them.
I’ve gone all the way back to your first vlogs to watch you from the beginning. It’s my OCD that makes me want to do this. Do you have a playlist that shows all your vlogs in chronological order?
I have 3 month old lambs.. I have plenty of grass. But it seems they need more then grass, I give them little bit of hey, and little bit of crack corn.. I also give them some lamb feed.. is this feeding them to much?
What is the best way to find actual grass fed sheep. New to this been going online looking for markets to get my animals but want as close to possible healthy animals
When I had wool sheep, I found this to be difficult. I got my initial lambs from a friend who fed just a little grain, mostly to the mothers who were nursing. I'm sure the lambs had a few nibbles. Otherwise, since I waited to get the lambs until they were several months old and on pasture, I felt confident they could continue on pasture and start hay as we went into fall. Last fall I switched to Katahdins (hair sheep). I found that although there were only a few around, ALL of the farmers were grass-fed advocates. So, you can either switch them to grass only (which I have done with cows and sheep) gradually, or go with a breed that is more likely to be grass friendly from the get go. At least, this is what has worked for me :)
Hi - question about the Thorvin Kelp & the Redmond mineral salt: When we put out these two minerals - can we mix them together & if so - equal parts? And will this be good for our beef cow also? Thank you. Elizabeth
Yes, you can mix them equal parts. I usually go heavier on the kelp meal, though. I think it would be fine for cattle also but I'd double check that since I don't have first-hand cattle experience.
Spend a lot of time around them in a small area. Bring them alfalfa pellets as a treat. Be near them as they eat it. Over time, they will get used to you and they can start bonding with you.
Loved the info! I do have a question on the minerals. When you explained, you said 4 parts kelp meal to 1 part Diatomaceous earth, but you didn’t give a part for the selenium. So is the selenium in place of the DE and does the same thing? Or can you mix all three together kelp meal, DE and Selenium?
![SAFEPLANET - ดาวเคราะห์ [ THE PLANET ]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/4X1XL3I_k3c/mqdefault.jpg)
1. Food
2. Water
3. shelter
4. Minerals
5. Fencing
6. Companions
We are getting sheep this month. We hope to share our journey. Thanks for the advice.
This was very kind and generous of you to share with your viewers. Anyone who is truly interested now literally has the knowledge they need to at least get started feeding their families good healthy meat. Not many folks are this generous and I for one am grateful! (And I don’t even plan to raise sheep 🐑! LOL 😂) I just really appreciate the kindness. Blessings to you and the family always ~Lisa
Thank you Lisa. I will keep trying until you do plan on raising sheep ;)
Just came back from a trip to Ireland, and one of the tours we did involved sheep herding demonstration, and being able to hold a baby lamb. Now, I want 🐑!
:) Thanks Dan. What a lovely, detailed start to sheep...and what a pleasure it is to have watched you grow as a shepherd. Thank you for sharing the wealth of information you have learned to help others be a homesteader.
Thank you so much! I've been watching your channel for a long while now and have used much of the information you have given. I'm in southeastern Idaho in the high dessert we just moved and built our house on 3.5 acres and are ready to do our sheep this spring! As soon as the ground thaws we will be putting in our infrastructures for them. Your channel has been paramount in helping me do this. Thank you so much!
You're welcome! I'm really glad it has been helpful! Keep me posted on your progress with getting sheep :)
We are just getting ready to move to northern Mississippi on 10 acres. In fact we close in 8 days! We will be doing sheep too but probably not this year. Still need to do all the necessary work to get ready for them. Good luck in your new homestead!
I had to laugh at the water hose info. I've been drinking from cheap garden hoses all my life. Now they aren't safe for drinking water. Is anything safe anymore?
Yes, I was also puzzled by his comment that brass hose fittings contained lead. I believe he is misinformed. Otherwise, a good video.
Long ago a tiny bit of lead was added to the alloy.
People also didn’t know what bacteria and viruses were in the past...we didn’t know that lead causes brain damage...we didn’t know asbestos causes cancer...so it is not surprising that we didn’t know the chemicals in plastic were leaching into the fluids in the plastics that we consumed. Further, we have evidence that companies did know and actively suppressed the information.
Me (a moron. Has no clue what he's talking about): "I would prefer not to have toxic chemicals pumped into my body like my parents had so that I don't develop life threatening diseases in my 40's."
You (big brain. Knows what you're talking about): "actually those things are good because I drink them."
Lol good question
Got my dog, sheers, sheds, 10 acres of lush grassland and two big freezers! By the way, oats are $12 per 80lbs and fatten them up really fast with plain grass hay. All summer I have peas and beans growing on every border fence of the pasture. They grow, the sheep harvest..we get what grows outside and can them all for 150 lbs of seed at about $120 per year! Legumes make them grow fast and pack on the lean meat pounds! We use Calf Creep /Cracked corn 80%/20% supplement in the coldest part of Winter and they love it! They need the extra calorie food during early breeding and pregnancy plus it’s only $300 per ton!
1. Food
2. Water
3. Shelter
4. Mineral supplementation
5. Fencing
6. Friends
I'm a twenty-three year old lady whose planing to have a small sheep farm. This video is so helpful . Thank you
Glad it was helpful!
Let's go!
When you mentioned near the beginning of food already growing all around sheep in a field, being grass, I was thinking how that must be wonderful for the sheep being in the middle of a big field surrounded by their favorite food. That would be like us standing on the middle of a good juicy steak the size of a field, or us standing on BBQ ribs, or a pizza, or an apple pie or a cake with frosting the size of a field. For real, that's how it must feel for the sheep being in a field of their favorite food, because grass to them probably tastes just as good as the above mentioned foods do to us. This is probably another reason they just can't stop eating the grass while on the field. I know that sheep also keep continually grazing because of them being ruminates and having the four chambered stomach like cows, but who said they're not enjoying it
4:50 brass is made of copper and zinc, not lead
Is it fine to give them it then?
@@colton8072 actually no, copper is bad for sheep also.
Those sheep are good girls cute sheep nice video do you want to watch happy 😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😃😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊 new year 🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🥳🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧🧧
Thank yiu so much! Your videos are so valuable for me! We will be starting a Homestead operation soon and sheep will be among the 1st! Your videos really answer my biggest questions as a newbie! Also, I didn't know you and Justin were friends! I watch his videos all the time, and now I've found another wonderful channel to watch
That's awesome! And yes, I work with Justin a good bit. You might be seeing me on his channel soon, too ;)
My family’s farm has been working with goats for as long as I can remember, and I really want to get some sheep as well since I am a knitter and would love to spin my own yarn to sell and use. your’s seem so gentle and sweet they make me happy :)
As always, Dan, you deliver in such a professional and tender hearted way! Thank you so much!
Thought it was interesting how the camera stopped the Sheep up in that shot! Animals always have a way of telling us that objects we think to be relatively quiet and non invasive are really quite the opposite. Very interesting...
Smiles and blessings
Thank you for your kind words Lisa :)
this was great! we are just learning. The neighbors started their sheep/goat farming in the spring. They put up a fence, got the horses, goats, sheep, then after a cougar (and they don't have weapons or dogs or llamas) got a goat (ram) ready for market and a ewe. They put in trail cams, and now months later, building a barn. Kinda smallish but ... it's not our operation. We always feed the chickens and clean the coop, now at night (depending where they are or if the neighbors get them first) we get the sheep from one paddock to another. Trying to learn! I am not the kinda gal to do things backwards. While they are putting up the barn, we've cleaned out our carport, laid down straw, and they bed there. They get hay and have water, and we think their barn should be up in 3 or 4 days. Whew. So much info to absorb - thank you!!
I'm glad it was helpful!
I am a completely blind person in California who raised sheep from 2013 to 2017. I didn't know that stuff about the hoses. Thank you. I also never thought about the electric fence. The statistics for the food were helpful as well.
Let me elaborate a little. For feeding, my family, or my pain meds would help me measure out the right amount of food needed. For showmanship, people would tell me OK, the judge is in front of you play sure I am. Or the judge is in front of you, going to front of you let me elaborate a little. For feeding, my family, or my pain meds would help me measure out the right amount of food needed. For showmanship, people would tell me OK, the judge is in front of you. Brace your lamb. Or the judge is looking, go in to front view. Raising lambs was what really got me into agriculture. The years I spent showing sheep were the best years of my entire life.
Micah Grauel how tf you type with no eyes?
Micah Grauel how are you typing with no eyes
My daughter is a vegan. She has a good heart. She does not know the difference between, I care about animals and, I care for animals.
Good on her, she must care for the environment ! Nice
@@lifeliver9000 it's actually better for the environment to pasture raise animals than it is to not have animals. Something I was completely unaware of until recently.
@@viatori5566 so before we cut and cleared the land to make pasture our world was sick for millions of years and cows on pasture has cured the earth? Like to se that research. Phew lucky cows saved the world aye 🤭
@@lifeliver9000 I don't think that was good for the environment at all. Tons of animals got displaced and died because of that and the ground was worse off because of it. Which is my point. Animals are a natural part of the ecosystem. Cattle and other livestock should be rotated through crop ground.
Think about the great plains before Europeans settled North America. There were 60 million bison that roamed. The environment was better off with them than without them.
Back to deforestation. Instead of doing that, animals can and often times should be pastured in timbers. Silvopastureing is a pretty neat topic. I'm not trying to argue with you man. I'm definitely for helping the planet. It's confinement buildings and large non pasture feed lots that's doing the damage, not the animals.
@@viatori5566 hey sorry if I came across stroppy there are so many uneducated people who just let their little brains dribble out onto their keyboard. Unfortunately your points are very close to home for me as grew up in dairy towns farming. New Zealand’s dairy is their second largest export behind tourism. It’s destroying our environment. Only a few countries have prairies and the majority are being destroyed by imported large grass feeding animals. NZ has huge erosion due to heavy cattle ripping the topsoil off the clay and rock substrate. And that flows down into streams and rivers blocking them and killing native species who rely on clean water then it’s out to sea smothering marine life daily. Cattle also due to their stomachs fart and burb polluting like no other animal. NZ dairy herds create more green house gases than all nz cars, factories and airlines put together. Their urine gets into the water table and waterways creating nitrate algae blooms that make 90% of nz water wise unswimable even untouchable. NZs 22 million cattle are grass feed moved from paddock to paddock but cheap supplements are added also specially when being farmed more intensive grass feed with palm cornel that is imported from slash and burn 3rd world countries destroying their own environments for the quick buck. Many countries have fragile environments that are being destroyed by grass feed cattle. Silvopastering has been experimented with in NZ and in my opinion not enough as hasn’t been popular. The trials show sparse plantings ( needed for grass growth) exposing the trees to wind blow and one property not far from my place 70% of 20 year old pines blew down in one storm. I do believe there is a future in it but the species needs to suit environments not just be fast growing species.
I went Ireland and there where sheep crossing signs and many times there where flocks of at least ten sheep crossing the road at a time
One of the things I like about Ireland are the touristic trail's going through the sheep pastures.
Awesome information Dan! Quite timely too. We are getting our first sheep in the next few weeks so this will be really helpful!
Always enjoy your advice as part of the Expert Council on TSP so I’m glad I finally made it over to your channel!
Thanks Jake! That's fantastic you're getting sheep! I'm roasting a leg of lamb today from a lamb I harvested last fall. You won't regret getting sheep!
What an elegant farmer. Bravo.
My good lad, this was a fine video.
My brethren are safe in your hands
Great video, thank you so much for sharin'. Your sheep are so loved and can tell by their friendliness they appreciate The Grassfed Homestead. :)
Another great vid- thanks! Look forward to checking out the e-book. _Food-grade_ diatomaceous earth is supposed to be safe to breathe. This is because it contains 1% or less crystalline (versus amorphous) silica. This is NOT true of filter- or pool-grade DE, which contains 65% or more crystalline silica and is NOT safe to breathe. Some raise concerns about the sharp edges of the diatoms, but these edges readily soften in the presence of moisture. For these reasons, though only sparingly, I don't hesitate too much about using DE even around the very sensitive respiratory systems of chickens (though dust baths with food-grade DE are maybe not a great idea). All that being said, I recognize that there are different schools of thought on this; it may still be irritating like any other dust; and it is indeed messy. L
Came here for this comment. Well said.
The sheep is getting a cuddle
This perfect. We want to have sheep. We have always wanted to have sheep. Oh....we have no idea how to start. So Thank you.
You're welcome!
The simplest way to feed hay is to drop it onto a clean spot in the pasture. What about the waste, you say? The pasture needs the organic matter. This is the micro version of bale unrolling. Simplest is best.
Thank you !!! I was wondering if sheep were "herd" animals. I am just beginning to try to sort out if I want sheep in the future. I'm trying to educate myself first. This helps.
Excellent. Thanks. If I want to raise 500 lbs of meat a year plus a gallon of milk per week and I want to breed them for sustainability, what type of sheep and how many rams/ewes will I need?
Hello, your project is good and excellent, even the farm is wonderful. Can you advise me how to start such a project, please
Very informative thanks my family is thinking about raising some sheep , this is some really useful information
I’m not sure if this comment will be seen since the video is older but I’m asking about the corral over electric netting for new sheep. I plan to get a couple ewes to start and planned to put them in electric netting right away. Your saying not to because it’s just a psychological barrier and since they are new to it, they could run through it and without a physical barrier they could be vulnerable to run away/attacked etc? Something I did not think about but now I may put them in my barn/fenced in yard behind it for the first week with the netting inside that fence.
They just need to be trained to the electric fence first while still in a physical barrier. If they aren't trained to it, they'll knock it over and go walkabout
@@TheGrassfedHomestead thank you!
I came for the 🐑 but I subbed for the knowledge
Me too!
This was all really good info and I gotta give you credit for that but the garden hose part, oh boy. I’ve been drinking out of garden hoses all my life and I’m not dead yet, nor are my dogs, cats or rabbits. Sure the ones you showed may be better but just a normal garden hose will not hurt anything either.
I try to avoid toxicity whenever practical. Though you aren't dead from the garden hose, the toxins from it and all the other things in life can build over time and cause health problems (not necessarily death) down the road. I just try to present the information because a lot of people aren't aware of the toxins.
Great info - thanks!
Excellent Video! I cut off the back of a old combine for my sheep shelter. Excellent editing!👍
I'd love to see a picture of that!
I don’t want to self promote on your channel but I made a video of it. Feel free to delete this comment after reading. I sure will not be offended. th-cam.com/video/iBsByVdW09Q/w-d-xo.html
It's no problem. I'm going to go check it out! Thanks!
Thanks for sharing
Great tips, Dan! I buy Redmond salt blocks for my horse and goats. The goats especially go nuts over it!
Jeanette Waverly I am new to all of this but sheep can have salt blocks too? And at what age do you start giving them the salt blocks/minerals
I got sheep a week ago. I need all the info I can get. Thanks
Those look like some happy happy sheep!
REEEEEEEEEEE STINE
Great video. Got the e-book and got on your mailing list. Thank you!
Awesome! I appreciate your support
So sheep do not need to graze if you don’t have much land as long as you have enough hay/legumes?
yeah, though fresh forage is always best
over the past few years we have added chickens , then pigs then bees , this year we plan to add a few sheep for meat, timely video for us , warm weather is still a few months away for us , nova scotia canada ....thanks for posting.
It snowed here yesterday so I know what you mean! I'm glad the video was helpful.
That was really enjoyable to watch. Your sheep look very happy. Nice editing too. 🤠
Thanks 👍
*IMPORTANT*
I’m picking up a sheep and it’s 2 months old. But I’m only getting one. I don’t have any other sheep and now I’m worried that it will get stressed out. I don’t have goats or anything only ducks and chickens.
I really don’t know what to do. Becuase getting another sheep is completely out of my budget! And I can’t afford to get two?
Any suggestions of how I can make it feel less lonely
I think you should wait until you can afford to get two sheep.
Your sheep are sooo friendly.
Love this video!
Thanks Julianne!
Dirtpatcheaven hhhh
Hiiii
Was Justin interested in getting lambs for butchering this fall, and/or in breeding? We started like you did, being "done" in that first fall; no winter commitment. That was good but in some ways expensive. I sometimes recommend getting a couple of ewes with her sheep, so they have the benefit of her milk longer and you can get the lambs younger. You can still get meat the first fall that way, but if you also breed the ewes you also don't have to purchase lambs the next year. Do you recommend a certain age if you are getting lambs only?
Justin is getting feeders - they will be harvested in the fall. No certain age but generally 8-10 weeks is the youngest for weaning but I'd prefer them to stay on milk a little longer than that.
Also in the Onland Northwest. Am just now considering sheep.
Thank you so much for this info! This is so helpful. I’m diving into getting milk sheep in the next couple weeks here in SC.
Awesome! I'm glad this was helpful!
New Subscriber from Philippines
Thank you for subscribing Bro. Tenorio
Really enjoyed your video. Looked through you subscribers and recognized several that my wife or i follow. We have 21 acres in N.W. MT. on the side of a mountain not very much flat area. Some wooded and or grassy areas mostly in our valley area. We've been talking about Icelandic or Icelandic/Friesian mix and read a lot about them. Your thoughts
I think Icelandics are great sheep. I made a video about them: th-cam.com/video/OypgZxK1cxw/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for this channel. I've been following for a little while. I found you through Justin Rhodes' channel! You inspired my husband and me to get sheep, which we brought onto the homestead last week. Two ewes, and one ram lamb from each. Unfortunately the lambs died from scours, but we'll bring on some more lambs soon. Just one question, how do you train them to come when called? Any specific resources you could point me to for learning how to lead sheep? I don't like having to drive them to their pastures.
I make a certain whistle noise every time I feed them. So if I want them to move somewhere, I just go where I want them and whistle and they follow because they want food and they associate the whistle with getting food.
I'm really sorry to hear about the lamb deaths. I'm glad you're trying again. Thank you for your feedback. It's good to know we're an inspiration for something good :)
Thank you for sharing.
Excellent information, this is the best way to make it happen
Very informative, great ideas, excellent video
Thanks!
We have two and three young chickens have decided they're all best friends because the sheep have a heat lamp and seem to like putting their noses in the chickens fluffy feathers
The salmon favorelle rooster we had last year used to roost on the backs of our ram lambs. It was always neat to see
Thanks so much for this great video. One question: Do you recommend some sort of herd protection animal to be out with the sheep? A donkey, llama or livestock dog? We are considering buying 4 sheep for grazing between Christmas trees/wool/pets/4H. We have 18 acres of hay field, but would likely fence off about a 4 acre area for the sheep. The pasture is a within eye-shot of our house, but far enough away that I worry about predators feeling bold enough to come around. We have a family dog, but she is in the house at night and isn't a breed with natural protective drive. Not sure her scent around the property would be enough to ward off coyotes...Should we be looking for a donkey at the same time we bring the sheep home?
Yes, I think a guardian is a wise addition. A llama or donkey to stay with the sheep and a dog or two to patrol is a good system.
What can you plant in part of your pasture to increase the protein intake? Alfalfa requires a lot of water, so it doesn't make sense for my sandy soil in Texas.
clover, sainfoin, vetch
THANK U FOR THE INFO
I have one sheep who lost its flock, any advice on ways to keep it happy other than getting another sheep?
not that I know of
Very informative and straight to the point, thanks for the tips
You provided a wealth of information! Thank you so much!
You are so welcome!
Would love to know expense costs to harvested pound of meat.
Very informative good job 🌲👍 👏
Nice
Do you raise your sheep naturally? Do you regularly treat for parasites?
Brass contains zero lead. Lead is bad stuff, but where would the lead come from?
Sharing with us, more like shearing with us badumtshhhh
Awesome video as always! Thanks man
Good information! We are so on the same page as far as animal Care standards
Very useful video 👍👍 thank you so much for making this kind of Video
Glad you liked it
Links to the products would be more helpful. Hoses, minerals, etc. Also, showing names for the sheep/lamb breeds would be appreciated.
Where may I get those hoses that will not leach lead? Do they chew water hoses?
water right inc dot com - no, the sheep don't chew hoses. Goats probably would
So much great info!
I just saw some trampolines used to shade Finn sheep at Point of View Farm (in another TH-cam video).
Love the channel. Wanted to know if you have ever considered sowing alfalfa seeds and irrigating the fields? Then you can practice the rotational grazing system and they always have a fresh source of alfalfa. Just asking because I am working on a ranch this year and my job is going to be irrigating the alfalfa fields. The ranchers take cuts off the fields and feed the cows with them.
I'm not allowed to irrigate per our community water guidelines so I haven't considered such. That sure would be helpful though
I’ve gone all the way back to your first vlogs to watch you from the beginning. It’s my OCD that makes me want to do this. Do you have a playlist that shows all your vlogs in chronological order?
I don't. Are you watching on your television and need it to autoplay the next video?
I have 3 month old lambs.. I have plenty of grass. But it seems they need more then grass, I give them little bit of hey, and little bit of crack corn.. I also give them some lamb feed.. is this feeding them to much?
I'm not sure because I don't know the quantities.
Thanks for the ebook, I’d like the other one too, but I refuse to use FB.
Is there a way to have sheep by means of been self efficient?
Love it ,,, love it ,,, love it ,,,, thank you.
You are welcome!
It’s ok to eat normal grass but no 100% grass hay??? And I know the pastures do have weeds and other type of plant that the eat but
Hey bro,Good and precised information.Probably you missed De-worming and vaccination cycles for sheep's in this video.
What is the best way to find actual grass fed sheep. New to this been going online looking for markets to get my animals but want as close to possible healthy animals
When I had wool sheep, I found this to be difficult. I got my initial lambs from a friend who fed just a little grain, mostly to the mothers who were nursing. I'm sure the lambs had a few nibbles. Otherwise, since I waited to get the lambs until they were several months old and on pasture, I felt confident they could continue on pasture and start hay as we went into fall. Last fall I switched to Katahdins (hair sheep). I found that although there were only a few around, ALL of the farmers were grass-fed advocates. So, you can either switch them to grass only (which I have done with cows and sheep) gradually, or go with a breed that is more likely to be grass friendly from the get go. At least, this is what has worked for me :)
check localharvest.com and eatwild.com - There you can find producers in your area who will likely have lambs to sell in addition to meat
@@brendamontanye9877 ok
Hi, what are your thoughts regarding hydroponic fodder (sprouted grains) from a cost and nutritional value pov?
I've heard that you can raise sheep and goats on hey 80% grass 20% alfalfa. Is that true?
I can't speak for goats but I may have said that very thing in the video.
They'll taste real gamey though
The only thing about goats and alfalfa is bloat. Some goats will overeat on protein and end up bloated. Which can be deadly if it goes untreated.
Thanks for a great video! Do you have to have a guard dog?
No but they are a good insurance policy
your sheep are real healthy
Why no recent videos? I miss your sheep!!!!
Hi - question about the Thorvin Kelp & the Redmond mineral salt: When we put out these two minerals - can we mix them together & if so - equal parts? And will this be good for our beef cow also? Thank you. Elizabeth
Yes, you can mix them equal parts. I usually go heavier on the kelp meal, though. I think it would be fine for cattle also but I'd double check that since I don't have first-hand cattle experience.
Hey, can you please answer this? Our sheep are very scared of us. What should we do?
Spend a lot of time around them in a small area. Bring them alfalfa pellets as a treat. Be near them as they eat it. Over time, they will get used to you and they can start bonding with you.
What kind of soil tests did you do?
none
Great video thank you!
How are they in zone 9b?
Hype for one day getting sheep for their wool
Awesome vid!
Loved the info! I do have a question on the minerals. When you explained, you said 4 parts kelp meal to 1 part Diatomaceous earth, but you didn’t give a part for the selenium. So is the selenium in place of the DE and does the same thing? Or can you mix all three together kelp meal, DE and Selenium?
the selenium is infused into the salt already
Thank You for the video, I want to get started with two sheep for milk 🥛 what is a good breed for milk?
I don't have dairy experience but I can tell you some folks say to stay away from East Friesians because they are not hardy at all