The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1918-01-17
HANDLING SHEEP
IN BAD WEATHER
0ryness 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 Essentiai-Market.
Ing Hogs co-opsrativeIy.

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 Il 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
mock requires attention many times
daily during part Of the year, con-
venience Of location In relation to the
farm dwelling and to other buildings
win 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. n single wall
will ordinarily insure sufficient
warmth. II lambs are dropped In
very cold weather, temporary GOV.
ering over the lambing panels will
answer the purpose. or small
space can be partitioned or. In which
to keep few ewes until their lambs
become strong.
Dryness and freedom from draft are
most important. Sheep cannot pos
sibly thrive In quarters that are damp
or dark. In fact. the flock should he
shut In only during storms. Abundance
OF light In all parts of the building
and nt all times is necessary. not only
Tor the health of the sheep. but for
convenience of the shepherd In caring
for them. One square foot OF window
Tor each 20 square feet Of floor space
Is necessary. Windows should be
placed at a 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, part OF the flock
will usually lie inside at night. At
lambing and during storms doors
should be closed. For such times Il
Is necessary to provide means OF Sc
curing fresh air without creating
drafts. In a very large building with
numerous doors and windows II is
often advisable TO build one or two
partitions from floor to ceiling to pre-
vent drafts. Fresh air can he admit
ted through muslin-screened windows |
opened on the side opposite to that |
from which the wind Is blowing with. |
out causing drafts II all other sides of |
the building are tightly closed.
In very cold sections, or where
lambs are to arrive In the winter
specially arranged outlets for
foul air and inlets for fresh air win
be necessary. Foul-air fues should cx-
tend from the ceiling with as few
bends as possible TO the roof. They
should be OF sufficient size and number
to give eight 10 ten square inches for
zach sheep In the building Fresh air
may be admitted through arranged In
let's near the floor line. Some atten-
ton is required TO adjust such inlets
to the variations In wind and tempera-
lure. and the 6Sme is true where win
hows are depended upon. There is
no efficient automatic system Of yen-
Hating sheep buildings.
Level and well-drained clay-surfaced
foors are satisfactory and economical.
Sheep pack the surface very firmly.
Ind II there Is proper drainage the
'nly objection to this floor is that II
ioes not exclude rats. Concrete floors
'or alleys and feed rooms are neces-
'ary, but will seldom be called for In
he pens.