As a former shepherdess I really appreciate your videos! Here’s an important tip about mineral blocks... sheep’s teeth are designed for grass, so feed minerals in loose form not blocks that they will try to chew. You can tell a sheep’s age by the number of teeth. Loss of teeth results in loss of condition. Without good strong teeth sheep cannot survive.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

This is really valuable info! I’m glad to have the feedback. I was actually wondering how their teeth would hold up. Loose mineral is on my game plan for spring. 👍🏻 -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

@drbethekoch6295

3 жыл бұрын

@@theShepherdess One more: Watch the protein block-if I remember correctly, too much protein promotes horn and hoof growth rather than improving general condition. Sheep can usually get enough goodness from pasture grasses and legumes alone, but it is a good idea to get an analysis run.

@patricknicholas3856

2 жыл бұрын

@@drbethekoch6295 Thanks for the helpful advice

Hey shepherdess, shalom. I'm Dezmond from Nigeria, I'm just starting out as a Shepard and you keep inspiring me each day. I already ywi sheep, a nale and female. They're both a Nigerian breed called Uda, they are tall, dont make much wool but lots of meat. B'ezrat Hashem ill be increasing my flock next week probably to 10. Thankyou so much, and much love from Nigeria.

I am really inspired by the Scriptures you post....you will be successful...

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for these encouraging words! God Bless, -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

Nice video. My experience is with dairy cattle in Wisconsin and Northern Indiana. For winter bedding we used straw, saw dust, wood chips and hay depending on cost and what we had available at the time. All of which helped capture nutrients / moisture / smell, while keeping the animals comfortably, clean and dry. Straw was our goto because of cost and it held more moisture and was easier to work with then hay. I really liked using saw dust/ wood chips, but if it was to dusty it could contribute to respiratory problems with young stock. The problem with using hay is it tends to have more weed seed in it than straw and when you go to clean out your barn it is harder to work with because it's all matted together. If you have the time and inclination, once your flock is back on pasture, pig's do a great job of rooting up and turning that bedding into better compost. Plus your farm will be introduced to an entirely new smell. 🥓🥓 Keep up the videos.

East Tennessee here, we do really well with new grass growth by throwing seed either right before the last snow, or even on top of the last snow. It melts right down into the soil

I met this lady who threw here bicycle chain off her sprockets, so as I was helping her, she said she was studying to be a veterinarian. I was very impressed and hope she succeeded, because that's got to be one be, one of the hardest courses to take and the Ag industry isn't watching corn sprout, it's hard knocks, better learn how to make your own repairs, better not throw that away, better get up early and stay with it, better not spend your money, better put extra layers on, because it's freezing outside kind of lifestyle. I truly admire all our Ag workers, whether it's growing peas, raising sheep, running dairies and feedyards or risking it all in a rodeo arena. Thank you one and all.

@ifyouloveChristyouwillobeyhim

Ай бұрын

Great point but don't glorify "risking it all in a rodea area". That's not agriculture. That's useless thrill that only profits at the cost of broken ribs and busted spines.

Thanks for sharing all your videos and literature. I am learning a lot about sheep farming. 😊❤

Good morning. 😊 Thanks for sharing this video with us. The sheep and other animals are lovely. The wee birds must appreciate the seeds you throw. Be well and stay warm. God bless you all. 💞💕👍🙏☝️

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks for brightening my day with your comment, Patricia! I couldn’t believe how many cardinals were out there. I was glad we could help them a little with some seed. -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

Fantastic video, Grace!!! Keep up the great work!!!! 🙌🏻🌱🐑

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Anna!!!

The smell thing is absolutely true. We are in northern VT and our cows have a barn they have access to all winter long. They seem to only go in there to make a deposit. We run multiple layers of wood chips and straw or hay and it completely consumes the smell. Makes some great compost for your pastures as well as it locks in the nitrogen and slow releases it. Makes the grass grow really well. Great videos

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Love this info! Thank you for sharing and supporting my channel with your comment. -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

This was such a good video! I love when farming gets put into perspective!!

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Kamden, thank you for making my day with your comment! I appreciate you being here. -the Shepherdess

Very good info. Thanks for sharing this. Always pays off to research information and prepare for costs.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Yes! Cost-awareness really helps me maintain stamina. Getting caught off guard hurts. 💰 Thanks so much for supporting my channel with your comment! -the Shepherdess🐑🌱

Stumbled upon your page recently. You’re doing a great job. As a startup homesteader, you are giving me lots to think about.

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, Todd!

I think you are feeding about right considering the extreme weather we are experiencing. Great video 🐑👍

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

That’s reassuring to hear! C’mon spring!! 🌱🌱 Thanks for commenting, as always! 😁😁

I really appreciate your videos & would love to see as well how do you keep your hens during winter & what do they eat

Man, I get busy for a week, come back and you have over 1,500 subscribers already. You had fewer than us just a few days ago. I think you’ll break above 10,000 before the end of the summer. Well done! Keep putting out that good quality content for us and stay safe around that trough. 😱

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!!! So grateful for people like you who make this journey a joy to share. -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

Nice seams like your covering all the basics nice job your doing thanks for the video

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

I appreciate your comment very much, Tom! Thanks for supporting this channel with your comment. -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

good looking couple of pups. I had a pup in training that grabbed a few baby chicks and then looked at me wondering why after a couple bites they quit squeaking. really enjoy your videos. keep on being an advocate. All for His Glory.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Lol🐥! These guys have a lot of energy. We hope they turn out well. 😂 Amen! (1 Cor. 10:31) -the Shepherdess

Great video!! When you get snow take a blade and scrape fields where they can get to the grass and you won’t have to feed as much hay

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Great tip! Thanks for sharing. -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

Starting your class. This message on this is information you need now master the client. It’s the cost and extra work you have to put in to keep these animals alive.

Love seeing what other farmers are doing! We raise Jacob sheep in northern Illinois and have been under a couple feet of snow since late December. We are feeding an alfalfa grass mix hay and they eat about a flake of hay and 3/4lb grain each per day.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Great info! Thank you for sharing this. What are your average winter temps up there? -the Shepherdess🐑🌱

@mosaicfarm2389

3 жыл бұрын

@@theShepherdess We typically are in the 20s during the day and single digits at night... The past few weeks we have been single digits during the day and -5 to -20 overnight. Like most of the country we seem to have returned to normal weather a couple days ago.

@patricknicholas3856

2 жыл бұрын

Is this per sheep?

Wow! One of your best videos yet!!!! This info was super helpful!!! That’s a question that’s in the back of my head all the time. How much could I expect to pay for each one of my farm animals if I had to provide 100% of their nutritional requirements. neat to see this question answered about sheep.👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻Keep it up!

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks Ruth!! I really appreciate this encouragement. -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

What a great info. Thank you so much

Love you are keeping track of the feed/hay consumed. I have 5 cows and a bull in Western Pa. We had a horrible draught one year and I had to start feeding hay in August. I kept track of the number of bales used so I knew, in the absolute worst year, what is my safety number... how much do I require in the worst case scenario. If I have more than that, I am able to sell the excess bales to make a little profit. Less than that, I better hope I can pasture a lot later into the end of the year.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you!! Yes, that’s where my mindset is. I might be spending more than I expected this winter but at least I’ll know what I may need to prep for in the future. Thanks for supporting my channel with your comment! -the Shepherdess🐑🌱

You are doing a great job building a "carbon diaper." I see pigarator pork in your future. You already build the infrastructure to house the pigs. Add layers of corn to provide incentive and feed for the compost turning pigs.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

I love this idea! Thank you so much for commenting. -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

You count the water in "Yardage costs". What i do for my cattle and sheep is a rough estimate of litres per day depending on season and the wattage required to pump that. I think in your case it is negligible as a cost but for anyone larger you need to count this along with labor. Farmer always forget labor too and sell themselves short. I find my labor cost consideration really forced some efficiencies when I took over here 5 year ago.

Great video, thanks!

Country View sent me..video was very informative and fun!

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Welcome, Kelly! I really appreciate you being here. -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

Yes, deep compost bedding works. Think of each layer as a diaper, fresh diaper means fresh air.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Love it! Thanks for sharing. -the Shepherdess

Love your show and I planning

Amazing my role model in sheep farming 🙏🙏🙏

I've heard the same thing about bedding. Supposedly it's the carbon absorbing it. Same thing in the chicken coup.

I love your videos thank u for your time doing this great videos and teaching us i just subscribe to your chanel

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

Hi Grace. Where are you guys located in Texas?I would love to come to check you guys out. Beautiful sheep you got there. Keep up the good work. I just found your channel last night. May God Almighty keep on blessing you guys. 🙏🏼

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much, Danny! We are in DFW area.

If you only have 25 you can try making silage in bags it’s fun and you can use vegetable scraps

You are in East Texas? We live in Hemphill on the lake. A little different down here having to house the sheep in the winter. Good job.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much! It was great learning experience. ❄️ -the Shepherdess

So happy to see this- The "needs" of sheep seem to vary greatly from site t site. I wish I could get mainland pricing for feed, and though this video is from a year ago my post is Jan 2023 and my current price per bale of hay at the Big Island Hawaii Tractor Supply is 54$ a bale pelleted feed is 23.95$, Its the volume I need to feed that is vexing me. I have 12 sheep- 5 adults, 7 lambs and it feels as though they are eating a lot. I see the figures 2%-4% of body weight per day per adult animal. Mathematically, it works out to about 3 pounds each. Is that what you are at?

That was a very informative video, Thank you I have not seen anyone doing the complete breakdown for sheep before. Ive seen plenty of pigs and chickens but never sheep. It sure looks like your about right on the feed as the animals would soon tell you if your not giving enough. Also nice to see that your caring for all animals around your farm including the birds. You should try to encourage as many birds as you can as they will eat all the nasty bugs when the weather gets warmer. What you have in the barn is not smelly its gold and money in the bank, its the best stuff you can get for replenishing the field and that will save you feed and make your sheep health and fat. Thank you once again for a great video, please try not to fall in the feed trough, I nearly split my sides with that bit.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

😂 Glad you got a laugh. Boy, was that crazy! Thanks so much for supporting my channel with your comment :). -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

In the sub tropics. Never supplement fed anything and never intend to. I would sell or butcher some if grass was getting low.

I'm just getting into sheep thanks for the video . I'm from south east texas. Me and my family are ready for our sheep

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Welcome, Tyler! I hope my videos help you. Thanks for supporting my channel with your comment! -the Shepherdess🐑🌱

@tylerlauderdale8362

3 жыл бұрын

I can't wait for more videos .. about how many acres are you using for the 25 sheep

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

@@tylerlauderdale8362 we have 30 acres! Plenty of room to grow my flock (like I very much hope to do!). Thanks for your enthusiasm about my videos! It keeps me energized about making more. -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

@@tylerlauderdale8362 oh, didn’t really answer: we could probably run 25 sheep on 10 acres. We don’t need our whole 30 acres for them.

@tylerlauderdale8362

3 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much I'm working with 15 acres and was just wanting to get an idea of how many sheep I can work with on it .. you've been alot of help thank you so much

just found your channel. cool videos. 25 dollars per day. ouch! i'm up in canada and feed about the same-- 25 sheep/goats and im coming in at about 10 dollars a day-- completely confined too. big difference is hay cost as 1000 lbs costs about 100 and we go through about 3 big bales a month. those buggers can eat!

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

Glad you found my channel! What breed are you running? Yes, this was painful... haha! I'm glad it only lasted 2 weeks. Someone else also mentioned the cost savings of round bales vs. square so I'm going to give that a shot this winter and see how I come out cost-wise. Thanks for watching! -the Shepherdess

God bless your hearts

keep up the good work I just recently found your vides

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Appreciate your comment so much, thank you and welcome!! -the Shepherdess🐑🌱

@beyondthefence3903

3 жыл бұрын

I haven't gone through all your videos yet but why did you choose this breed of sheep

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

@@beyondthefence3903 heat tolerance (we are in Tx, despite the crazy winter storm that hit us), excellent meat, and desirability!

Girl, I broke an ankle mucking a stall, so I think your headline beats mine.

Nice video.. I just recently been watching ur video since u uploaded about the animal food prices.. anyway I'm planning to get sheep and I live in Kilgore..

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much!

@errolvelayo3064

2 жыл бұрын

@@theShepherdess do recommend me buying a barely 2 months old lamb? I'm planning to get 2 lambs.. will they survive without being their mom and milk by themsleves and grace grass and feeds? Thanks

great job my dear

I'm not sure what type of pellets you're feeding, but have you heard anything about grain causing dorper sheep to grow horns and hooves? When we first started we fed some grain to ours and the hooves on our ewe and ram started growing. We had them out on pasture and they were able to wear them back down before they got too bad. (Maybe because we weren't giving them a lot.) The ram grew big, long horns that curled around and started contacting his eyes. I had to take a hacksaw and cut them off. I have since heard from several sources, grain makes horns and hooves grow. We bought a ram from a man last summer and he was feeding his sheep grain. He had to trim their feet and I helped him cut the horns off his older ram because they were also growing into his eyes. We stopped feeding grain a few years back and I have never had to touch their feet.

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

This is some great insight! I cut the grain for this season, so I'll be interested to see how it affects the hooves. I didn't have any horn growth, but I did have quite a hoof trimming day last spring.

Where in East Texas are y’all at, we are in lindale tx

Yes the more bedding the better it soaks up the smell and liquids

Awesome videos!!! Thanks for sharing ur experience and its really helping me on personal level as an newbie. But please decrease ur ISO, there's too much light in each and every video u upload especially these snow season videos, its hard to watch and concentrate when ur eyes are bleeding because of white light...

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

Glad my videos are helping... I’ll keep your feedback in mind for suture vids! -the Shepherdess

hey wish you the best there :D i have a Q ! what is the bedding material or what it made of ? thanks :D

Very good work 👍

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, sir! -the Shepherdess

At least here in Australia, I won’t have to deal with snow when I finally get my property. Just have to deal with floods and drought.

That’s nasty weather! I love me southern Az heat!

That’s great video.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks as always for your support, Ralph! -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

Thanks to The Lord for the melting snow. You would go broke if you had to do this all winter.Great video!

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

AMEN 😅

Great video how much weighs you square bales

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

My guess is around 50 lbs. Thanks so much! -the Shepherdess

Great info. We want to add Sheep within the next two years. Thanks

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much! Keep me updated on your journey. 👍🏻 -the Shepherdess

@BealyGood

3 жыл бұрын

@@theShepherdess We will. Subscribed and signed up for the next farmers meet 😁

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

@@BealyGood can’t wait to see you there!

Need more head room at the feeder, too much crowding. You may want to lock your sheep out of the feeding area until you have things set. Then just open the gate and get out of the way.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

I would definitely have to agree after this situation 😅. Thanks so much for commenting! -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

Great video , How to purchase your animals?

when you were totalling the cost you foregot the cost of all the labor involved,, great video

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

You are right! 😅 thanks so much for always encouraging me with your comments! -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

@yoopermann7942

3 жыл бұрын

@@theShepherdess i had to learn that too, i also learned that if you were just raising a few for the years meat you should keep track of those numbers as well, dont think that this is a cheap way to get your meat cheaply, that is what wal-mart is for! the way i look at it if i am raising my own why not raise more for the market as well?

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

@@yoopermann7942 yes!!! 👍🏻👍🏻

Is the cooper level safe in that specific mineral block?

very inspiring, my question is what is the ideal weight gain per day and how much nutrition is needed.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

That’s a good question! I don’t have the answer for sheep. The animals I am working with now are breeder ewes and I don’t track that kind of gain. Please let me know if you find and good info on it! -the Shepherdess

for chicken house new bedding keeps smells down.

If parasites are a big concern for sheep, wouldn't putting the soiled bedding out on the pasture increase the risk of parasites? We are not raising any animals yet, but we are working toward that goal, so I'm just curious about this.

Just had a thought anyone want to chime in? If throwing some bird seed down for birds to eat and leftovers would help pasture long term? Or will all of that seed just die?

Does providing them better shelter reduce the cost of feeding, since the sheep burn less calories?

What kind of dogs are those??

My ewes here in Missouri are walking past the hay bales and digging thru the snow to graze. They ate some hay when it was -10 and also when it was snowing hard. I'm too old to enjoy getting knocked down feeding in the pen. If your ground is frozen , you should be able to just throw the pellets over the fence on the snow. Good luck.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks, Greg! 😅 I’m too young to die being knocked down in a feeding pen. 😂 I think I’ll consider your method. -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

I hope that wind didn’t feel like it sounded!

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

It actually did. 😂 Had to gear up that day!

What do you use for bedding? I have been told that I should not use straw for bedding because the sheeps might eat it and they cant digest it. Is that true?

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

I used junk hay… the sheep nibbled it at first, but quickly moved to the fresh hay in the trough! Hope this helps! -the Shepherdess

Hi are you gonna be selling any of the lambs that your gonna have later this year or do you plan on keeping them to sell later on for meat?

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Yes! I plan to sell the lambs for other farmers to raise their own flocks. I plan to make a video about it once I have lambs ready to sell. -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

@blazingfishing1887

3 жыл бұрын

@@theShepherdess okay that’s good, whenever you start putting a list of people together let me know please. I’m looking to buy few ewes from you if I can, We live in southwest Louisiana and dorpers seem to be hard to find over here. Thanks!

how much does 1 bale of hay cost (and weight) ruffly? also what would it be for each season?

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

Right now one of these 50 lb bales costs $12. At the time I filmed it was $8. I only have to feed hay in the winter. 👍🏻

Wind happens

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

You said it. 😅 -the Shepherdess

Great video! If it costs roughly $1 a day to feed the sheep, so it's safe to say that you'd need to sell the 1-year old lambs over $365 just to break even!

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much for commenting! There are some other costs like electric fencing, farm supplies, land rental, etc. The good thing is that even though there are a lot of other costs, my sheep eat grass for 90% of the year so the feed cost isn’t here for long. 😍 -the Shepherdess

@alit250

3 жыл бұрын

@@theShepherdess ok gotcha! That makes sense! Just found your channel only today. Love your enthusiasm and your informative videos. :)

I have a question.. @the Shepherdess do recommend me buying a barely 2 months old lamb? I'm planning to get 2 lambs.. will they survive without being their mom and milk by themsleves and grace grass and feeds? Thanks

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

Hello, Yes, a 2 month old lamb will do well on grass and barley. Thank you for commenting!

what do u do for shelter in the winter

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

We have a shed! If you watch “Winter Storm on a Sheep Farm” you will see it. -the Shepherdess

Hey, what size bale of hay do you have?

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

I don’t know the specific dimensions, they are just the standard square bales from my local farm and ranch store. -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

Price of your feed

I hate snow lol

Might want to look into getting round bales

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Set out a round bale, but they didn’t like it. Maybe the hay was bad 🤷🏼‍♀️. Thanks so much for commenting! -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

@wendyrowland7787

3 жыл бұрын

@@theShepherdess best to keep the round bale under cover and just unwind as much as they will eat in a day. That way you are putting fresh, rather than weathered hay in front of a small flock which will take a long time to get through a big bale. Those small bales sound very expensive, ten of those to a well made round bale. Sheep also prefer soft leafy hay.

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

@@wendyrowland7787 this is really good info. Sounds like I’d save some $$ with this adjustment. -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

so this was posted two years ago, is it still that much money per day?

What is the weight of the bag of pellets?

@theShepherdess

2 жыл бұрын

50 lbs, I believe!

👍

As long as the feed works out less than MY dietry cost (2.2lbs) per day, 1 dollar is cheap. Plus I know what goes down my gullet. Now how many sheep can I keep in an apartment? 😂

Nice cowboy boots!! Are comfortable for the snow?

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Thanks!! Yes, they are very comfortable, but not waterproof so I have to let them (and my feet 😅) dry out at the end of the day. Thanks for your comment! -the Shepherdess 🐑🌱

@I.equitazione

3 жыл бұрын

@@theShepherdess Why you not buy Dublin boots or Dubarry boots for the snow?

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

@@I.equitazione we don’t get snow in Texas! It was a crazy and unusual blizzard last week. I usually wear rubber boots for the rain, but will check out your recommendations for boots. They sound great! -the Shepherdess

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Just checked out those boot recommendations! They look great!!

@I.equitazione

3 жыл бұрын

@@theShepherdess Yes,they look are great!!! I recommendation brown leather Dublin boots or brown leather Dubarry boots both are waterproof,so very comfortable for snow,rain and mud and also very comfortable for cold.

Deep bedding is the way to go. Especially with pigs!!!

The key to barn smell.... Get the Rona, you lose your sense of smell. Or, think of it as the smell of money. :-)

@theShepherdess

3 жыл бұрын

Laughing. 😂😂😂 -the Shepherdess

@swamp-yankee

3 жыл бұрын

It's the smell of loosing money. Use enough carbon bedding and you won't turn your valuable nitrogen into air pollution.

If you can smell ammonia odor in the barn you dont have enough carbon.

watching this in NH in 2024, missing 8 dollar hay

Hay is much much cheaper in my area of Northern Kentucky

I see your blue eyes baby love from kuwait

🌿🐐💚👌

It should say 26 sheep and that feeding trough is too small.

🇺🇸👍👍👍💯Ok

I see a huge problem with this video. It's a very large problem. There's all this white crap all over the ground. That means it gets...*shudder*cold enough for there to be...*gag*SNOW!.