Re: Advice on sheep

Andrew Hickley wrote:
>> I'm thinking of some hens - is this a better idea (dare I ask)???
>
> Just thinking about it, you could consider geese. If you want to keep
> the grass cut they're pretty good: they graze rather than scrape and
> forage like chickens do and you can pretend to be a livestock farmer
> by selling them at Christmas for quite a lot of money! You can buy
> day old growers for four or five quid and it won't cost you a lot to
> get them up to size - plenty of grass and a bit of mixed corn.

And a protected heated environment for the first weeks
And a big finishing pen for the last weeks if doing them for the table
And somewhere to get them processed for the table and packed and stored
before selling
And the grazing needs to be kept in good mown condition

> However, geese are more prone to predator attack that chickens, in my
> experience.

Interesting -- it depends on how many you have -- a decent sized flock of
geese - 20 plus in our experience will take care of themselves. But below
that and they can be picked off. They need night time protection then -
electric fencing and or a secure shelter. Mucking out gooses is much more
messy.
Chickens are not at risk unless you have day time predators [electric
fencing] as long as they are shut in every single night in a secure house.


>
> If you haven't decided about the sheep yet, I have a cold shoulder of
> mutton in the pantry at the moment and its delicious...

I would second that

What breed are they Giles?
What "is" the position with the seller of the house?

--

regards
Jill Bowis

Pure bred utility chickens and ducks
Housing; Equipment, Books, Videos, Gifts
Herbaceous; Herb and Alpine nursery
Working Holidays in Scotland
http://www.kintaline.co.uk

.

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