Delaware gazette. [volume] (Delaware, Ohio) 1855-1886, 1864-12-16
A q r l G U I'll q r A l..
Winter Treatment Of Sheen.

Hu4lSI 4EoabHleLL VI ouSSp'
Having practiced for several years the sys-
TEN of keeping my sheep in close confinement
during winter, do rot hesitate TO recommend
it 10 others. For two winters kept one hun
dred wehers under a hay NOW, 90 by 30, wiib
side rack around the outside on the sill, and
a double rack through the center which divid-
ed the flock into fifties One four and half
foot door was opened at a time for an hour
in the middle of the day, giving its Fifty an
opportunity to go into an open yard for wat.
er All the rest of the time they were kept
shut close, with only just room to lie down
They did better than those with more room -
My ewes were divided into hocks of twenty
five, and were penned by turning two open
racks at right angles, giving the ewes chance
at two sides of rack.
These are watered by setting a box Is by
"a inches, and inches deep, in the rack and
the water carried to it with pail This al
lows two focks to drink from one box. Be
fore foddering, the box is turned over and left
ia the rack, A little meal thrown into the
box will stop all leaks.
Ten good sized ewes will drink three pals
of water, but will do very well with half that
amount daily. The watering should be
during the warmest part of the day, and once
a day is sufficient. Care should be taken not
to over feed.
think it is equally detrimental to over feed
sheep on hay, as it is horses or cattle on grain.
1t is pot as well to let horse or an OK have
free access to the oat bin, as to give them a
regular meal twice day. So with the sheep,
they should only have what they will eat up
clean, in from one hour to one hour and
half Some practice giving the sheep more
than they want, and then clean out the racks
for the colts A careful feeder will only give
what is needed, aud with very little care can
come very near the actual wants of the flock.
I do not hesitate to say it is far better for the
flock than over feeding, whether fed on hay,
straw or grssh.
The practice OF stacking sheep out, and at
best giving them an open shed, cannot be too
highly censured. The sheep is very regardless
of the future. They will frequently stand out
during u sharp rain and chew the cud, when
they might as well seek near shelter. The
fleece forms a temporary protection, and a
sheep feels the storm very little through it,
unless accompanied with wind or severe cold.
1t is the days that follow a wet fleece that
tell on The health aud constitution Of a flock
of sheep. Il is this that The flock master must
look to with especial care, as the sheep has only
the instinct for his present vents The future
depends on the sheF herd. The objection most
frequently urged against this method Of win
tering sheep, is that the eve has too little
exercise for the health and strength of the
lamb. feared that myself hut practice has
proved my success. os my flock Of lambs can
uow speak for themselves, as nearly as a dumb
animal can speak They can at least speak
nnders auuia2jy 20 the eye of practical
,gool grower. The flock sheuld be toddered
soon after daylight 10 the morning, and early
enough at night to allow them time to clean
all up before dark. Sheep kept in This way
will have a sprighIly look from the eye, and
when standing at ease are inclined to stand
with their fore and hind teet apart. While
'hose exposed 10 all The incemeneies Of the
weather, will stand with all The feet close to-
getber, roach back and dull eye Too much
ventilation is a source Of annoyance to a flock.
When keep all the slides closed for weeks,
my flock does better than when they are left
open.-T American Stock Journal.