Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-01-10
Miseellansnus.
WINTER QUARTERS AND CARE OF
SHEEP.

There is an amount of ignorance and
carelessness manifested on this subject by
many farmers that would astonish an in
telligent observer OF all stock kept on
the farm, sheep are generally the most
neglected, and in many instances are al
lowed to shift for themselves as best as
they can among the larger animals, eking
out q pfecarious 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 Of
the war. 1t should be the aim Of every
good farmer to keep everything in good
condition. 1t is too 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 mary to
let their sheep run out as long as there ia
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 us any other stock.
When they are once thoroughly wet their
wool does not dry for number of days,
and it is evident that they are uncomforta-
BILE while this wet ''coat" is on them. In
cold weather, with frost-bitten food, we
cannot expect they will thrive under these
circumstances; they do not feel disposed
to feed, but are trying to find some place
for shelter. After they are taken to the
stable, plenty of food and drink is requir-
ed. Now | have heard men say, that a
sheep did not need much of any drink,
and would even do without it; but know
better. My sheep barn is divided into
four separate pens, and water in each so
that they can drink when they please.
have watched them, and in flock Of fifty,
one or more will be at the trough drinking,
for an hour at a time, and they will eat
little, and drink few swallows. then eat
a little more.
1t is my rule to have the boys who at
tend to feeding and watering, fill the
troughs twice in the afternoon, always
commencing with the first yard. (and it is
done in feeding as well as watering), and
ending with the last
While l would advise all to provide
good shelter for their sheep, close con-
linemenf is not desirable for them-they
should be allowed to come and go to their
shelter at pleasure, and will always go
under shelter when they can get their
food there, and remain under it 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 OF dogs, it should be well venti-
lated. Many flocks get no other protec-
ton than an open shed during the winter,
and Instead OF feeding from 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 rack so
constructed that the lambs cannot run ON
the hay; as sheep are very dainty, they
will refuse anything which is not clean
quicker than any other stock.
An ordinary full-grown sheep requires
about foot OF space at the rack to eat
with comfort, and six inch Stats, with six
inch spaces, we think about right for feed
racks. Sheep appear to prefer rack
where they can thrust their heads into the
hay, and have noticed they choose to eat
at our racks with Stats rather than at the
Geddes' racks, for at the latter, not being
able to thrust the nose in very far, they
must eat that which comes first, and we
often find them half full of hay when the
other racks are entirely empty.
1t is necessary, also to have perfect ar
Irangements for keeping the troughs clean.
Mine are Kept clean by being inverted,
which is rendered easy by special arrange
ments for that purpose. Like the plan of
feeding sheep oats and bran mixed, say
one part oats to two of bran and the
lambs well brought into the winter, gill
of bran and half gill of oats per head,
with Il little green feed (say gill of turn
ips,) with full allowance of bright, fine,
early cut hay, ought under ordinary cir
cumstances to be sufficient daily allow
ance for ''store" lambs in winter. By
store lambs we mean those not fitted up
to sell, or show at fairs, or raise "brag
heeces" trom-but those intended to be
kept in the flock for regular wool growing
purposes.