Do We downsize?

ina · Post: # 97384Post **ina** » Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:53 pm

Thurston Garden wrote: OH has been keen on goats, but I know they will be left to me and I am less keen.

Believe me - they need deer type fencing!

Thurston Garden · Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:54 pm

ina wrote:
Thurston Garden wrote: OH has been keen on goats, but I know they will be left to me and I am less keen.
Believe me - they need deer type fencing!

Excellent. Thats something less to consider!

Thurston Garden · Sat Apr 19, 2008 10:59 pm

Bees. Now there must be room for one hive. (Prompted by lighting our last candle!)

ina · Post: # 97410Post **ina** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 6:40 am

Always get two - they don't take up that much room, and if they turn out weak after winter or so, you can combine them and still have one.

Millymollymandy · Sun Apr 20, 2008 11:55 am

250m2 is very small - I was told at least 1/2 acre just for 2 or 3 Ouessant sheep and they are tiny little mini sheep.

For those that can't visualise the space - 1,000m2 is about 1/4 of an acre. So 250m2 is a quarter of that size!

Thurston Garden · Sun Apr 20, 2008 12:04 pm

3M it is small. That's my concern. I would be taking in a couple of orphan lambs and putting them away just as soon as they are ready.

Just trying to weigh up the options.

ina · Post: # 97530Post **ina** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 1:45 pm

You'd have to buy in feed to get them to a decent size - and at today's prices, don't know whether that's worth it!

Thurston Garden · Sun Apr 20, 2008 4:17 pm

Ta Ina. That's kind of blown plan number one. We will probably still be putting both areas down to grass - well doubling the back lawn. Looks like lamb is off the menu then

ina · Post: # 97602Post **ina** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 4:34 pm

Well, not necessarily. If they are just for yourselves, you don't need them to get to the "normal" size - I was, of course, thinking of the ones that go for slaughter, finished, from here! They are over 40kg, and they need to get there fairly quickly, so as to avoid making a loss... In your case, you could just let them grow at their own pace and as long and as big as you like.

red · Post: # 97637Post **red** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:18 pm

we have 3 sheep on about an acre. we have been a bit tight for grass .. it is just starting to grow enough now.

However lots of people raise a lot more sheep on less land.. just have to feed them..and as Ina says.. feed costs. if you can manage to raise them on grass alone then the getting them to weight thing is less of an issue.

Thurston Garden · Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:26 pm

If I took orphan lambs now, surely I would have them at the right time of year - just as the grass is growing? They would be for our own consumption so I don't suppose there would be a target weight. If I kept both paddock areas and rotated the lambs for say 2 weeks on/2 weeks off, would there be enough grass to get them to a reasonable size by the end of the year?

red · Post: # 97644Post **red** » Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:36 pm

well yes - we have too much grass in summer. and you do need to rest the paddocks.

so it could work yup

Thurston Garden · Sun Apr 20, 2008 8:37 pm

Plan number one could be back on then!

Just need to find somewhere for the pigs now

ina · Post: # 97714Post **ina** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 9:37 am

You'll still need to get the milk replacer for the lambs, though!

red · Post: # 97720Post **red** » Mon Apr 21, 2008 10:13 am

ina wrote:You'll still need to get the milk replacer for the lambs, though!

and the bottles

and lots of teats as they can get through them.. or you can get one of those feeder thigns like a bucket with teats stuck on...