Hello Diane, Thanks for the additional information. When my animals see me they are ALWAYS ready to eat. I think most breeders have their own feeding program depending on what feed is available in their area.
>From the information that you have given do you know the quality (protein/nutrition) of the hay that you are feeding as third cut hay? You might want to bump up the protein with a little grain if your quality is not high enough or get some hay (maybe first cutting) that has a higher protein. If anything additional is needed you would have to determine the least expensive route giving you the best for your money. I have found that my animal like the stalk pieces the least. So dealing with my animals in your situation I would give them more hay if the protein is good. If the hay is low in protein then I would use hay with higher protein or use the same hay as filler and use some other means like grain to bring up the protein. If they look healthy, good kidding etc. then I would say everything is ok and your animals are like me dealing with ice cream...I love it at any time of the day and as long as it is in my freeze I eat it like I am starved...smile I hope this helps some. Keep us informed!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! James Harper Virginia Regional Director BBSAI -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Diane Wright Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 3:57 PM To: Blackbelly List Subject: [blackbelly] How much is enough... in snowy Michigan?? Hiya, What's that saying, third time's the charm? ;-) Well.. let's see!! I posted this: I was wondering, as I was looking at my fluffy looking flock... are they fluffy? or are they fat??? The breakdown: 4 ewes are of unknown age... probably 3-5 yrs 1 ewe is a 2 yr old 3 lambs will be 1 in early February 2 lambs will be 1 in mid April 1 lamb will be 3 months old on the 8th How much is "enough"?? How much are "y'all" feeding your flocks? My current batch of hay is 3rd cutting....they eat almost EVERYthing. Very few stalky, weedy pieces that they drop & ignore. **** I am in Michigan's lower pennisula. About mid-way between Lake Michigan & Detroit. I'm just a bit east of the the "lake affect" snow area...where they reaaaaallly get dumped on, snowflake wise. Right now.. we have maybe 4-5 inches or so on the ground. Last week, we had none :-) but we had mud. As I have 4 house dogs, I prefer snow to mud :-) My small flock has a good sized brand new pole barn to live in. It has one light (no electricity wired to the barn as of yet) & one heated 75 gal rubbermaid water trough. The flock was wandering around the fields as late as last week eating stuff... but since the snow, they're not. According to the site that Carol posted http://www.case-agworld.com/cAw.IU.framescore.html I'd guess my sheep are 3s working on 4s. I am only guessing, I didn't actually go out & try to feel spines or traverse processes ;-) Some of the ewes might be pg as they are living with a ram. I refer to my flock as 'stomachs with legs' as they always seem to VERY interested in food. ;-) I think they'd go with a wolf who offered them a pail of corn ;-) I give the flock grain very, very, very rarely. On suuuuper cold days (which we really haven't had yet) & for treats & as bribes when I wish to catch them up. So... How much should I be feeding them? (They are currently at 2.5 bales every other day). Oh.. and there's a small donkey living with them. THANKS in advance!!! :-) Diane =============================================== This message is from the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep mailing list (http://www.awrittenword.com/listserv/index.html). To respond to this message, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe or change your membership options, go to http://lists.coyotenet.net/mailman/listinfo/blackbelly To search the archives, go to http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ =============================================== This message is from the Barbados Blackbelly Sheep mailing list (http://www.awrittenword.com/listserv/index.html). To respond to this message, send e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe or change your membership options, go to http://lists.coyotenet.net/mailman/listinfo/blackbelly To search the archives, go to http://www.mail-archive.com/[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
