Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
pan for water. These pans are readily available from farm-supply stores and
catalogs, are nearly indestructible, and are really inexpensive. If the water
freezes in a pan during the winter, just turn it over and stomp on it.
As fl ock size increases, you can invest in a variety of specialized feed
equipment that makes it easier for you to feed and more equitable for the
less-assertive sheep in your fl ock. There are many designs for feed troughs
and self-feeders.
The Sheep Housing and Equipment Handbook
of the MidWest
Plan Service is a good source for plans (see Resources, page 403).
Creep feeders provide the opportunity for lambs to enter and eat all they
want, but ewes cannot enter because of the size of the openings. The creep
should be sheltered, with good, fresh water provided daily, and it should be
well bedded with clean hay or straw. The heavy stems of alfalfa that are left
uneaten in the ewes' hayrack make good creep bedding. If the creep is in the
barn, it should be well lighted, because that is the lambs' preference, and
they will eat better. Hanging a refl ector lamp 4 or 5 feet (1.2 to 1.5 m) above
it will attract the lambs. They can start using the creep when they are about
2 weeks old.
Creep feeders allow lambs to
enter and get extra feed, while
keeping larger animals out.
This inexpensive design comes
from the MidWest Plan Service
(see Resources) and is fairly
inexpensive to make.
Using a feed trough for grain saves
feed and cuts down on parasite
problems. Feed troughs can be
made at home or bought in a store
and, happily, don't cost a fortune.
