Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-01-26

+ From the American Stock Journal.l


WINTER QUARTERS AND CARE oE
SHEEP There is an amount of ignorance
and care essness manifested on this subject
INV many farmers that would astonish an
intelligent observer. OF all stock kept IL
the farm, sheep are generally the most
neglected, and in many instances are al
lowed to shift for themselves as best they
can among the larger animals, eking out a
precarious existence at the straw stack, or
getting an occasional mouthful of hay
dropped from the cattle racks, or thrown
out of the stable on the manure heap.
Especially has this been the case since
the fall in the price of wool at the close
If the war. 1t should be the aim of every
good ftrmer to keep everything in good
Condition. It is to often the case that
sheep are obliged to shirk" for them
selves after it is time they should be in
the stable; and it is the practice Of many
to let their sheep run out as long as there
is no snow, whether there is any feed or not.
do not see why they do not need as much
food late in the season as at any other
time. They need to be protected from
storms as much as any other stock. When
they are once thoroughly wet their wool
does not dry for a numLer of days, and It'll
is evident that they are uncomfortable
while this wet coat is on them. In cold
weather, with frost bitten food, we cannot
expect they will thrive under these circum-
stances they do not feel disposed to feed,
but are trying to find some place for shell
ter. After they are taken to the stable,
plenty of food and drink are required.
Now, | have heard men say that sheep
did 70. need much Of any drink, and
would even do without it. NY sheep
barn is divided into four separate pens,
and water in each so that they can drink
when they please. l have watched them,
and in a flock Of fifty one or more will be
at the trough drinking, for an hour at a
time, ard they will eat little and drink
few swallows, then eat little more.
1t is my rule to have the boys, who at
tend to feeding and watering, fill the
troughs twice in the morning after feeding,
and twice in the afternoon, always com
mencing with the first yard, Gas is done in
feeding as well as waterng,) and ending
with the last.
| would advise all to provide good
shelter for their sheep. Close confinement
rs not desirable for them-they should be
allowed to come and 60 to their shelter at
pleasure, and viii always 60 under shelter
when they can get their food there, and
remain under il most Of the time, except
IN wet weather, when they should be
driven to it, and compelled to remain out
Of reach of rain or wet snow. If they
require to be shut up in a close building,
AS protection against wolves or dogs, It'll
should be well ventilated. Many fooks
get no other protection than an open shed
during the winter, and instead Of feeding
from a good rack, are allowed to run over
and eat what they can, after the hay has
been strewed around the yard. | like the
plan Of a rack so constructed that the
lambs cannot run on the hay as sheepl
are very dainty they Will refuse anything
which IS not clean quicker than any other
took
An ordinary fulI-grown sheep requires
shout foot Of space at the rack to eat
with comfort, and six inch Stats, with six
uch spaces, we think about right for feed
racks, Sheep appear to prefer a rack
where they can thrust their heads into the
hay, and ! have noticed they choose to eat
ut our racks with Stats rather than at the
,p' .-lro ~ t5r,Ist tho roso in yery far
I, "D az t w., 7rb;nb non,os fire., and
Wv! Gl' eaJ ,,a,, b.,IC rIT IF how 1rbon
a gi'o ra n,i aro on ,t' amnty
o''il ,,ac",sar,, al.o to haTa rareart
...,,..,.,..,r. %r keaning the tronobs
oI,.n Nh. -. l,srt clean bv being
,.',..r,.l ,,l,;aI is rantarao fs.U Inv snecjaj
..r,no,.rn.rt- FIR that nurnose, Like the
'.,o + Gediro sheen oats and bran mixed,
-sv ana mart oats to two Of bran; and
ny. gmbs we'll irouqbt into the winter, a
Oh. If bran and half a Ell of oats per
head with little green feed (sav gillI
r,.ni,s) with full allowances ofJyiqht,
A.. l7,Jgr,,t Iav This, under ordinary
Circumstances. c.,g!.t to be a sufficient
daly allowance fo1 slole" lambs inI
winter BY " store lamb5 vs. meanI
those MOI fitted ND to sell. or show at fairs,
N, raiya 5. brag freezes " frcm-but those
Intended to be Kent in the flock for regular
wool growing purposes.
FEEDING A WEANiN,. CoLT.-The
system of raising and feeding the colt. va
RES so much with the quality Of the food
and the id,osyncrasy Of the animal that
it is difficult TO lay down any rules that
quarters during the frs. winter is roomy
box, with a small yard or paddock adjon-
mo Shelter from the weather should |