The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1869-01-01
Wintering Sheep.

Farmers Owning Snecp OuSnI u
see that their quarters for winter are
comfortable before the cold season
is at hand. Plenty of room should
be provided, for sheep will not ds
we'll i'm close quarters. Their shed:
or pens should be well ventilated
A covering Of straw makes good
roofing. The floor should be vel
Uttered once in three or four days
and as often cleaned. The straw
and excrements should be added to
the manure pile.
Sheep should be fed regularly.
Hay should be disposed OF in racks,
easily reached while feeding, yet
high enough to be clear of any con
tact with their feet or on the ground.
They should be given oats or what.
ever is given them besides their hay
at regular hours. Much advantage
is gained by regularity, in all matters
pertaining to the farm or farm-yard.
If farmers understood this fact, and
put it in practice more than they do,
they would be gamers by it.
They should not be fed too highly
Mere is lost by high feeding than
gained. An old uncle of mine,
having had a long experience in
sheep raising and keeping, used to
say that one spoonful of oats per day
was sufficient, and that sheep would
do well enough on that allowance,
with plenty OF hay. Salt should be
given at least once a week.
Care should be taken when build
ing the pens or sheds to make the
entrance large enough. Sheep ought
not to be crowded in gong in. and
out. Many fine animals have been
injured in that way, for sheep gener-
ally go in and out of their quarters,
when feeding time comes, with rush,
and huddle up close together. II
tie entrance is sufficiently large,
there need be no danger from crowd
ing.
All weakly, scrawny lambs or
sheep ought to be separated from
the rest in good condition, and be
allowed an extra allowance to catch
up. Poor, and scrawny sheep never
stand much chance among q flock of
fat thrifty ones. They are Knocked
around, and leldom get their share
of food.
We are glad to see that farmers
are waking up to their interests, and
getting sheep of improved breeds.
The old fashioned long snd coarse
wooled kinds ought to give place 10
such sorts rs the Southdown, Cots
void, or Merino. Not only is the
yield Of vol greater, but it Is of a
very superior quality, and brings a
much higher price.-NOrh Rcstern
Farmer
OATS Oats are of course a most
important article in stable management
and these, as everything a horse eats,
ought to be of the finest quality. 1t
may be thought that the weight of
oats is not a matter of great conse
quence, nor, in fact, is it to common
horse, but it is quite the reverse to
such as we are particular about as to
stamina, wind and condition. Horses
are generally fed by measure, not by
weight; consequently, in giving light
cats, we actually rob the horse of his
proper quantum of meal, giving him,
nusks instead; and if we feed him by
weight, going on the principle that a
pound OF feathers and pound of lead
are both pound, the principle would
he a very bad one as regards oats, for
in that case, though the horse gets his
pound weight, ii he gets an undue
portion of husks he is only filed with
that which is of no use TO him; So in
every way light oats are bad for choice
horses