Sheep Health and
Flock Management Tips
On this page I have provided links that either I have developed or that I have discovered on the internet as they pertain to sheep care and management. I hope that you will find this information useful
(DISCLAIMER - I am not an expert by any means - I am trying to share what works on our farm. Each farm flock, sheep breed, individual management style and climate will greatly affect what will work on YOUR farm. Just like raising children, there are many ways to do it! Some of our management techniques will differ from what the books say. Always consult your own veterinarian before treating your flock.)
(A Quick Checklist)
January
At some point you can separate the rams from their ewes (we usually leave them in groups for about 6-8 weeks). If it has been a good cold winter with hard frost, we don't worry about deworming the sheep through the winter months. Try to remember to check and trim hooves each time you handle your sheep.
February
A quiet time here. It's important to get fresh water to the sheep daily. In winter's cold climates, this is the biggest challenge to the shepherd (chipping ice is not fun work!) The best thing we ever did was to get hydrants and electricity near the barn so we could use tank heaters.
March
Depending on when your lambs are due, ewes should be shorn and their CD/T vaccinations (2 cc) given about 4 weeks prior to lambs arrival (The llamas also need a 2cc booster of CD/T yearly). Remember to trim hooves. Anytime you handle the sheep, do a quick check of their gums and eyelids to make sure their tissues are pink - white membranes indicate anemia and possible parasite overload. We feed grass/mix hay all winter, switching to an alfalfa/clover blend after lambs arrive. We do not routinely grain the flock. The ideal weight for newborn Icelandic lambs is 5-7 lbs.
April
Prepare your lambing jugs in case any lambs or ewes need some "alone time" after delivery. Keep a "delivery kit" available in case ewes or lambs need assistance with lambing. We keep "Lamb Drench" as well as CMPK gel and iodine handy in the barn, and frozen colostrum (collected the previous spring). We give lambs a Bo-SE shot after they are born (1/2-1cc depending on size of the lamb). This helps to prevent white muscle disease due to selenium deficiency. Make sure the lambs are getting enough milk -- occasionally stick your finger in their mouth. If it is warm, they are fine! We bring the ewes (after they've successfully lamb & nursed each lamb) into the barn into a pen for 24 hours and deworm them.This puts the worms they pass into straw in a pen, rather than out on spring pastures. We clean each pen after the ewe & her lambs vacate it and ready it with fresh, clean straw for the next family. We believe this helps to keep the wormload off the pastures, by bringing the ewes into the barn for their deworming.
May
Remember to vaccinate the lambs with their first CD/T (2cc each) at 6 weeks of age and repeat at 8 weeks. We sometimes give a 2nd Bo-SE shot at that time and also deworm the lambs either at 6 or 8 weeks of age. Monitor lamb's weights on a regular basis to make sure they are growing well. This also helps track which of your ewes are the best milkers.
June
Watch those fast growing lambs for any sign of selenium deficiency.
July
Deworm the flock as necessary. Monitor eye membranes for signs of parasite infestation. Watch for signs of heat stress (See article link below). You will need to tag/tattoo the lambs before they can leave the farm.
August
Lambs should be weaned by 12-16 weeks of age. Separate the ram lambs from the ewes to prevent any "unwanted" pregnancies.
September
Take lots of photos of your flock -- this is when they are at their prettiest, in full fleece. You may want to begin "flushing" the ewe flock prior to breeding. Check fencing and shelters to make sure rams stay where you want them during breeding season!
October
Schedule shearing by mid-October, depending on where you live. Trim hooves and prepare your "breeding groups." Icelandic ewes usually start to cycle by the end of October. We've found that most of our ewes breed by the 3rd or 4th week in November.
Click here for a handy "lambing date" calculator.
November
This is when we have the most work, since we have as many as 12-13 breeding groups and need to take out hay, water & minerals to each separate group of sheep. But because it's cooler here in Michigan during the fall, the stress from summer heat is abated and the sheep are healthy & happy.
December
We take apart our breeding groups by the end of December. Sometimes we put all of the ewes with one "clean-up" ram for a few more weeks. Once the rams are all back as one group and the ewes are back together, the work load is reduced. It helps to have water near hydrants and electricity for tank heaters.
www.garlicbarrier.com
Rams at end of breeding season
also known as OPP
is available as PDF files on-line. Or you can purchase a hard copy of the book from us. See our books page.