[Jacob-list] Chickens and sheep

[Katherine Wisor]

Kathey>   I have everything together . There are some problems with a 
horse in with the babies  as  most of us know... I don't have a problem 
with the chickens /ducks /turkeys in with the sheep because I don't 
feed them crumbles in the pasture !  I let them clean up the left over 
corn mixed with goat / sheep pellets.   The have good weight on them 
and are really meant to forage for food anyway, so it works out well !  
     The problems I do have is  A)  The hens lay eggs in hidden places 
to "set" .   B) They  become adept at roosting up in the trees ( 
sometime 40-50 feet up)  so I can't catch them when I need to.  C) they 
become wild....    You will have to weigh out the positive with the 
negative   and see what you can live with.  I'm in the city and animal 
control HATES anything loose  ( A control issue as far as I can see) I 
see it as great bug control !  They will be loose (except for  heavy 
breeds) because they can fly anywhere!    My neighbors have stopped to 
tell me they like them loose because it bring back memories.....  ALSO  
as I'm reading all the problems you guys have with your aggressive rams 
I wonder if how I've raised mine make a difference?  I've had sheep 
over 40 years and only remember as a child having aggressive rams that 
were encouraged to be "cute" and butt hands or where chased in fun as 
young lambs by visitors !    Since then I keep nothing separate and 
have not once had any control issues with  them .  My oldest Ram  
(Nicholas) is now 12 years old and still walks on a leash.  People are 
more unpredictable than animals to me.   Maybe too it's because I have 
NEVER had a adult  ram brought here or raised by another person  .  I 
also spend  much of my time with them so maybe  I'm  just a trusted  
FAMILY  member and not a threat...  They also see new people constantly 
  coming and going  in and around the pasture  from the time they are 
born ... .... Just a thought...
Katherine       Creeks End Farm     Charlotte, North Carolina
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