Anyone raise sheep?

[PenelopeJune]

I have this idea in my head that someday, probably really far in the future, we'll have a little farm. (We live in the country right now, but we rent, and it's really strict.) I want to raise sheep for wool. Does anyone do this? Is it profitable? Realistic at all? Are sheep a huge pain in the neck? I know absolutely nothing about them, other than I love the way they look, and I love wool.

[she]

Haven't got the sheep yet, but will in a couple of years. If you want to make money on raising wool, focus on the handspinning market - the only way to get a decent return, although there is more work. There is *no* money in regular raw wool, it's much cheaper imported. The other angle would be to do a little manufacturing yourself and sell a value-added product. Usually you have to include the lamb meat to build profit off your flock.

From what I've read, sheep are pretty easy keepers. Grass is all they need in the summer, a little grain towards the end of pregnancy and through lactation, enough hay to get them through the winter. Keep their feet clean and watch the lambing. They do fall prey to wild animals and loose dogs a fair bit, so need to be protected from them.

I want a handspinning flock myself, icelandics, jacobs, shetlands and a couple of alpaca

[PenelopeJune]

Thank you, she! Yes, I want to learn to spin, that was a bit of my plan. (Plan? Ha. I mean daydream. )

I think I'd mostly like to have a small flock of sheep, for wool for our own use. I can just imagine all the cozy things I could make from the wool. And then I was thinking that I could sell what we don't need at places like craft fairs and such.

[she]

In the spring, you might find people giving wool away or priced very cheap, great to practice spinning or felting. People with a small meat flock that haven't switched to hair sheep have a hard time selling their wool, but have to keep shearing for the health of their animals. Not the best quality, but less $ to lose in screw ups I almost got some this year, but someone else snatched it up on me.

I have to build more fences and a proper barn before I get mine. I'm daydreaming right along with you!

[karne]

We raise sheep. I would think carefully about raising sheep for wool outside of your own family needs. First, you need really good fencing, the ability to rotational graze/ $$ for hay/feed in the winter/access to a shearer/hoof trimmer, or learn to do this yourselves-the list goes on. Choose a hearty breed with desirable wool for spinning.

I would look for a 4-h club and get involved that way, prior to purchasing your own sheep.

[1jooj]

Yup, what karne said.

We raise sheep for meat and pay a shearer--and he takes the wool. Yes, that's right. We pay him money plus all the wool, and that's fair. We're learning to shear our own, but it takes skill and practice. Our shearer is in his 70s.

We may or may not switch to hair sheep...I want to learn more about spinning, and I have this more recent wild hair about making something wonderful from the fleeces of my beloved black sheep. We need the large-bodied sheep for lamb, and we have had excellent results with the meat we've produced.

As livestock go, I have found sheep to be wonderful. They can be friendly (but it takes time and care), they are hearty, they don't need super-expensive feeds, and they are just sweet to spend time with. But lambing season can be a joy or a heartbreak, and a sick sheep is not an animal with good odds. In my case, I have no local vet for my livestock--another consideration. Dh and I do hooves and all the vetting ourselves.

We also co-op with neighbors for breeding. We have a buck and our neighbors have a ram. This has helped us control costs and keep the barn considerably safer for me and the kids.

[diuid bhaird]

Originally Posted by she

I want a handspinning flock myself, icelandics, jacobs, shetlands and a couple of alpaca

And a musk ox or two... maybe a yak as well... some angora rabbits... and, and, and...

[she]

...angora goats....

however did you know?

[mnnice]

Originally Posted by PenelopeJune

Thank you, she! Yes, I want to learn to spin, that was a bit of my plan. (Plan? Ha. I mean daydream. )

I think I'd mostly like to have a small flock of sheep, for wool for our own use. I can just imagine all the cozy things I could make from the wool. And then I was thinking that I could sell what we don't need at places like craft fairs and such.

I think I would take a spinning class first and buy and eat some grassfeed lamb first. I attempted to learn to spin and for me it was very frustrating and I got it out of my system as a hobby Now eating lamb is another story. I really only started eating often the past few years and I really, really like it. There are breeds that are good for both eating and wool.

[diuid bhaird]

Originally Posted by she

...angora goats....

however did you know?

Don't forget the bison!

[Caneel]

Originally Posted by 1jooj

As livestock go, I have found sheep to be wonderful. They can be friendly (but it takes time and care), they are hearty, they don't need super-expensive feeds, and they are just sweet to spend time with. But lambing season can be a joy or a heartbreak, and a sick sheep is not an animal with good odds. In my case, I have no local vet for my livestock--another consideration. Dh and I do hooves and all the vetting ourselves.

My dad kept a flock of sheep for years. It started out with one and just grew, and grew, and grew. Like above, he did all the vet and hoof care himself. Most were gone by the time I came along and the remainder left soon after.

My parents had several friends that had sheep, hobby farm type of thing, and I remember everyone had lambs in the kitchen for one reason or other during lambing season. (not for fun but so the lambs didn't die)

[terrabella]

Originally Posted by diuid bhaird

And a musk ox or two... maybe a yak as well... some angora rabbits... and, and, and...

Originally Posted by she

...angora goats....

however did you know?

Originally Posted by diuid bhaird

Don't forget the bison!

YES!

W have bison up here, and every time we drive by them, I'm sorely tempted to hop the fence. DH just and tells me that a handful of fiber isn't worth my death, and why don't I just by some?