Cheyenne record., 1917-11-15
HANDLING SHEEP
IN BAD WEATHER
Dryness and Protection From
Draft Two Things Of Most
Vital Importance.
PROVIDE AMPLE YARD SPACE
Animals viii Not Thrive In Dampness
or Darkness-Proper Ventilation
Of Quarters Essential-Market-
Ing Hogs Comparatively.

The site for permanent buildings for
sheep should first of all be dry and
well drained. Ample yard space that
Is dry and sheltered should be avail
able adjacent to the main barn or
shed. A southern slope with sandy
soil is especially satisfactory for this
purpose.
On most farms it will be advantage
GUS to have the buildings and yards
easily reached from the regular pas
lures or from fields used to grow for
age crops for summer pasture. AS the
flock requires attention many times
daily during part of the year, con-
venience of location In relation to the
farm dwelling and to other buildings
will effect an economy Of time In the
performance of routine labor.
Warmth, Dryness and Light.
Since sheep do not require quarters
that are especially warm, single wall
will ordinarily insure sufficient
warmth. If lambs are dropped in
very cold weather, temporary COW
ering over the lambing panels will
answer the purpose, or n small
space can be partitioned off, In which
to keep few ewes until their lambs
become strong.
Dryness and freedom from draft are
most important. Sheep cannot pos
slbly thrive in quarters that are damp
or dark. In fact, the flock should be
shut in only during storms. Abundance
of light in all parts of the building
and at all times is necessary, not only
for the health of the sheep, but for
convenience Of the shepherd In caring
for them. One square foot of window
for each 20 square feet Of floor space
is necessary. Windows should be
placed at height to insure good
distribution of light, and particularly
direct sunlight for the lambing pens
during the period the ewes are lamb
ing.
Ventilation Essential.
Close confinement in poorly venti-
lated pens is very injurious to breed
ing ewes. While they should seldom
be shut indoors, n part Of the flock
will usually lie inside at night. At
lamblng and during storms doors
should be closed. For such times 1t
is necessary to provide means of Sc
curing fresh air without creating
drafts. In very large building with
numerous doors and windows 1t is
often advisable to build Cne or two
partitions from floor to ceiling to pre-
vent drafts. Fresh air can be admit
ted through muslin-screened windows
opened on the side opposite to that
from which the wind Is blowing with
out causing drafts If all other sides of
the building are tightly closed.
In very cold sections, or where
lambs are to arrive in the winter
months, specially arranged outlets for
foul air and inlets for fresh air will
be necessary. Foul-air fiues should ex-
tend from the ceiling with as few
bends as possible to the roof. They
should be of sufficient size and number
to give eight to ten square inches for
each sheep in the building. Fresh air
may be admitted through arranged IN
lets near the floor line. Some atten-
ton Is required to adjust such inlets
to the variations In wind and tempera-
ture, and the same Is true where win
dows are depended upon. There is
no enlcient automatic system Of ven-
tilating sheep buildings.
Level and well-drained clay-surfaced
floors are satisfactory and economical.
Sheep pack the surface very firmly.
and If there Is proper drainage the
only objection to this floor IL that It
does not exclude rats. Concrete floors
for alleys and feed rooms are neces-
sary. but will seldom be called for In
the pens.
Cornstalks tstovsr9 contain 70 peg