Hello , is there any one out there how has sheep as pets .My vet have to many lambs and will give me one .Do they mack go pets and do they do good with calves i figured that a lamb would be an good conpanion ,Oh and do they cost much to feed ? thanks a bunch Danielle

-- Danielle (Dove@epix.net), March 17, 2002

Answers

I don't know about making good pets or not, but they make a good meal. I ate my first mutton roast last Tuesday night and thought it was absolutly delicious. After taking a few bites I started wondering why this wasn't in the grocery stores.

-- r.h. in okla. (rhays@sstelco.com), March 17, 2002.

Hey there Danielle, If you decide to get a lamb, get 2 not just one, sheep are very herd oriented and will bleat and pace constantly without a companion. If you want to keep them as pets, make sure you get ewe's, as the bucks tend to get ornrey as they grow. It seems that the more the bucks are fooled with the meaner they will get when they get older, as they are not afraid and have no respect for people. I've bought 4h raised bucks before and won't do it again. As far as running them with calves, it's not a good idea as the calves would probably end up hurting the lambs by wanting to play with them. The only thing I've ever run with mine is an old burro who protects the sheep like they were her own. The only other animals I've seen run with sheep are Llama's and stock dogs. Hope this helps some.

-- Mark (mcford@theofficenet.com), March 17, 2002.

The biggest problem with keeping cattle and sheep is the mineral. Cows need copper sheep can't have it. Yes get at least 2, they'll stick to other animals. We've kept some bottle babies and though they are friendlier than the rest of the sheep; they're no match for the pet goats.

-- Ross (amulet@istar.ca), March 17, 2002.

Hi there I love pet sheep and they love cows and calves when they get older. We have had pet sheep get the cows in for the milkings with us. We have one called bonny who yesterday went with a neighbours black ram to get mated. I don't think she realizes she's a sheep so I do hope they manage to get it together. My neighbour is watching with his binoculars!!!

Seriously though we have found that you need to keep up daily contact with your pet sheep and if you get 2 then they will be less friendly with humans since they have themselves for company. Our bonny eats fresh grass in her own paddock. She tries to get into the chook coop to get their food but then she is pretty fat. The winter time is a bit different so thats when we supplement with some meadowhay and crushed barley. Our lambs have been known as sheep to get out of their paddock and come into the houseyard, run up the flight of stairs and into the lounge. Poop everywhere. They remember where I bottlefed them with TLC. Lamb is nice to eat when you haven't seen them go of in the truck and when they are anonymous. won't eat mine, they die of old age (12 years was the last death) Poor Fat Albert. Love Karen

-- kiwikaren (fp116@ihug.co.nz), March 17, 2002.

Years ago I had a pet Barbados Blackbelly. These are hair sheep and there's no wool to shear. The lamb was more like a dog! She would jump into the truck when I went to town and lay on the seat next to me with her head in my lap. She wore a harness and leash and went into all the stores with me. She also wore her Pampers, which kept the truck and stores clean! -G- It didn't cost to feed her, she ate pasture with the donkeys, mules and horses. The rocky land kept her hooves trimmed down like the rest of the stock.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), March 18, 2002.

Sheep can be great pets. After all, even Mary had a little lamb. In some ways, they are easy keepers...eat grass and water (and loose sheep mineral) most of the year. By taking on the responsibility of being an owner, one has to vaccinate, worm, sometimes medicate and/or doctor (or have a qualified veterinarian do it),sheer (or have someone else sheer), trim hooves, shelter, and provide safe housing for your critters.

My ewes and wethers are wonderful pals. They all have personalities, different voices (I can tell who's hollering for me) and are sweet and very "pet-like." My rams, on the other hand, are personable, but not in any way "pet-like". They are powerful and can be dangerous creatures. Don't get an uncastrated lamb for a pet!

Good luck to you. See if you can get your vet to give you some help if you do get a lamb (hopefully more than one). And please don't run them with cows.

-- sheepish (the_original_sheepish@Hotmail.com), March 18, 2002.

My pet sheep is my baby goats babysitter. Over the years we have had many pets that were sheep. If purchased alone they need other animals to be with and lots of attention. I do have to say that they tend to bond strongly with people if you only have one so if you can't be with her most of the time please get two. We ran the sheep, cows and goats together to clear our field and the animals were put in at night seperately for their different feeding needs. I get the $5.00 bottle calves to feed in summer with the excess goat milk and put the sheep in with them. They love the fuzzy pillow to snuggle up against. Hope this helps.

-- shari (smillers@snowcrest.net), March 18, 2002.

Shari, where do you get bottle calves? We want to get some too and supplement with goats' milk?

-- Hank (hsnrs@att.net), March 18, 2002.

Hank, 11 years ago I got a young calf to raise to ride and drive. He's still doing it! The breeder told me to raise him on goats milk. Fortunately, there was a goat breeder down the road.

-- ~Rogo (rogo2222@hotmail.com), March 19, 2002.

Me cousins had a pet sheepthat they would harness to a cart and drive. If I recall, the sheep sort of went where it wanted to go, but it was still fun.

-- Roma Milner (rmiln@aol.com), March 19, 2002.