Sue Weaver

Backyard Sheep : an Introductory Guide to Keeping Productive Pet Sheep

636.3

23

Trade Paperback

Pets, House & Home, Technology & Engineering

1603429670

9781603429672

Yes

Trade

0.7 in

9 in

15.7 Oz

7.7 in

SF371.5.W43 2013

English

224 Pages

2013

Storey Publishing

Raise a flock of sheep in your backyard. Even with a limited amount of space, you can enjoy homegrown fleece and fresh milk, as well as the endearing company of these family-friendly animals. Sue Weaver provides all the instructions you need for selecting a breed; housing and feeding; harvesting fleece; and milking. With simple recipes for making cheese and yogurt, and tips on processing fleece for wool, you'll enjoy the varied and numerous rewards of keeping sheep., An informative guide for anyone looking to keep from two to twelve sheep for fleece, dairy, or companionship.

Preface Part 1: Learning About Sheep 1. Sheep Throughout History Sheepish Origins - Sheep in Great Britain - Sheep in the Americas - The Rise of the Merino - Sheep in the Rest of the World 2. Introducing the Sheep The Five Senses - Open Your Mouth and Say Baah - Social Behavior - Play Behavior - Feeding Behavior - Flocking, Moving, and Catching Behavior - Cast Sheep - Behavioral Tidbits 3. Choosing a Breed What Are You Looking For? - Breed Classifications - Horns 101 4. Buying Your Sheep Where to Start Looking - Finding a Responsible Seller - Evaluating Sheep - Identifying Sheep Part 2: Keeping a Few Sheep 5. Housing Sheep Providing Housing - Constructing Pens - Building Fences - Everyday Equipment 6. Feeding Sheep Your Sheep's Digestive System - Feeding Hay - Feeding Concentrates - Feeding Minerals - If You Switch Feeds, Do It Gradually 7. Doctoring Sheep Finding a Sheep-Savvy Veterinarian - Keeping Sheep Healthy and Well - Being Your Own Vet (Sometimes) - Sheep Illnesses and Afflictions - Coccidiosis - Internal Parasites - External Parasites Part 3: Making More Sheep 8. Breeding Sheep Owning Your Own Ram - Using Someone Else's Ram - Handling Rams - The Sheep-y Birds and Bees - Handling Ewes Post-Breeding - Feeding Pregnant Ewes - Late-Gestation Tips - What to Do Before Lambing Starts - Is It Time? 9. Lambing Season First-Stage Labor - Second-Stage Labor - When Things Go Wrong - Here Be Lambs! 10. Caring for Lambs Dealing with Rejected Lambs - Lamb Poop 101 - Tails It Is - Feeding Dam-Raised Lambs - Raising Bottled Lambs Part 4: Enjoying Your Sheep 11. Producing Quality Fleece First Things First - More Ploys for Growing Better Fleeces - Sheepshearing 101 - Washing (Scouring) Fleece - Storing Fleece 12. Got Milk? Choosing Your Dairy Ewe - Milking Basics - Handling Milk - Sharing the Bounty - Selling Milk 13. Training Sheep Taming Sheep - Training Basics - Teaching Your Sheep about Targeting - Teaching Your Sheep to Lead - Picking Up Feet Glossary Appendix 1: Common Mistakes Appendix 2: Trimming Hooves Appendix 3: Promoting Your Sheep Appendix 4: Emergency Euthanasia Resources Recommended Reading Credits Index

The

Sustainable Living, Agriculture / Animal Husbandry, General

Storey Publishing

9781603429672