Hi Ron,
I know San Diego well. I went to UCSD in 1986-1988. You indicated that you had signed up for the listserv, but it didn't come through so I took the liberty of signing you up manually and also copying your email to the list and replying to it publicly so that you can get input from other folks on the list.
Here would be my plan if I were in your shoes--it's pretty much what I did on my farm until I was able to get it all fenced. I don't know how much money you are willing to throw at this venture, but this is the least expensive plan spread over the longest period of time so that you can budget for it.
1. Purchase some t-posts and a roll of electric fence wire as time and budget permit and put up a 4- or 5-strand electric fence around the perimeter of your 4-acres. Eventually you will want to divide it into several paddocks that you can easily move the sheep from one to the other. A 4-foot fence is plenty high. If you have predators, you may want to use field fencing instead of electric fencing. Premier has a really good information on various kinds of fencing at http://www.premier1supplies.com/store/fencing.html
2. Connect the electric fence to a solar-powered fence charger. I highly recommend the ones sold by Premier. If you call them up and tell them the distance you need to fence, they will match you up with the right battery and charger. They can be trusted.
3. While you are talking to Premier, order a 150-ft role of their ElectroNet or TensionNet fencing.
4. While you are erecting fenceline, set up the battery charger and the ElectroNet fencing and put your poor ram in a temporary paddock. While supplementing him with hay, move the paddock around your acreage so that he can run and play like a sheep is supposed to do. Get him a wether to play with or a girlfriend if you want lambs. As you erect the permanent electric fence, use it as one of the sides of your ElectroNet paddock.
5. Give your ram some cover if there is no natural cover on your acreage where your ram can get out of the sun and wind. He won't mind the cold. You can do some very creative light-weight building using PVC conduit bent in a U to form the hoops of a hoop shelter. There are lots of examples on the Internet. The shelter does not need to be large, but it should be portable at this stage. When you are ready to start erecting the internal paddocks, carefully plan and position a central shelter to house your hay and animals. If you are clever and the lay of your land permits, you can make this "barn" like the hub of a wheel, where your paddocks are the spokes. Put a water source and electricity in the barn.
That should keep you busy for awhile. It may be much more than what you need or want, but from experience I can tell you that these sheep grow on you and they multiply like rabbits. Sooner rather than later you will be thinking of getting another sheep, and then another...and you will wish that you used some foresight when you still only had one.
Carol At 03:06 PM 8/25/2004 -0700, you wrote:
Wow! Thanks for the quick reply and great info.
I was afraid that you were going to say that he is going to get more dangerous as time goes on. I'd love to get a ewe but don't yet have my property fenced. I have recently moved on to 4 acres and am still trying to figure where to do what and how to pay for it!
I should also mention that we live in the San Diego area and, because of the wildfires last Fall, everything around me was burned to the ground. I tried to get some rye to grow but, with a dry Spring, had pretty limited success. I should have some coming up in the Spring but, for now, he's left with some late season mustard weed and a few other odds and ends.
For fencing and assuming we were to get a ewe, what do you suggest? Is a 5' fence high enough? How much should I alot for the pair of them? Do you suggest a covered shelter (he hasn't had one so far and our winters are extremely mild, we get some nights below freezing but not too many).
Some other friends of our kept him for a a couple of weeks last Fall (because of the fires) and, while they really like him and he got along with their ewes, they did mention that he damaged their chain link fence by butting it. Once they put him back on the tether he behaved himself and pretty much stayed put.
I signed up for the listserv earlier today and am anxious to get in involved with other owners. As you can tell, we're very, very green sheep owners!
Thanks again! I'll stay in touch as other things come up.
From: "Carol J. Elkins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: "Ron Brewer" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Re: Barbado Ram Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2004 10:57:05 -0600
Hi Ron, thanks for writing. See comments below.
At 09:21 AM 8/25/2004 -0700, you wrote:He has a habit of butting ocassoinally so we have to be pretty careful around him. I think it's just play but wonder if he's of the age when this might be some aggressive 'male' behavior coming out. I should mention that he's about 2 years old and has not been 'fixed.' Is this the kind of behavior we can expect from him? Is he too old to be castrated?
At 2 years of age, his hormones are kicking in. He will very quickly go from "playful" to "dangerous." Because he has no fear of humans, he will be even more difficult to handle from now on out. Castration at this age would need to be a surgical procedure; he cannot be banded.
We're not sure how much to feed him. We have less natuarl weeds that the previous owner so pretty much all he's going to get from us what he give him. Can you suggest an amount of type of feed for him?
You didn't say where you are located, and what to feed a sheep really depends on what is available in your area. Here in Colorado, I have good summer pasture and zero winter pasture. During the winter, I give my sheep alfalfa hay free choice (I put a bale in a feeder and let them eat what they want; they do not get fat on hay.) In addition, I feed 1/2 lb of grain (whole corn or a sweet oat mixture) per day for a ram; 1 lb for a gestating or lactating ewe. See http://www.awrittenword.com/listserv/scrapbook/scrapbook.html (at the bottom of the page) for photos of a home-made hay feeder that I built out of old pallets and a scrap of galvanized metal roofing.
Finally, is it bad that he's alone with no other sheep or animals (other than our dog)? I'd planned on having some goats in the area I have him currently; would it be OK to have them together?
Yes, it is bad that he is alone. Sheep are flock animals and are always stressed when by themselves. If you want sheep, keep him and get a ewe in there with him. If you don't plan to get any more sheep, then butcher this ram as soon as possible. Once you taste meat from a blackbelly, you will be hooked. It has no muttony flavor (even for a 2-year-old ram) and will be fairly tender (rams whose hormones have kicked in will be a little tougher than had he been butchered at 12-14 months.) He can get along well with goats, but he still needs a sheep for companionship. If you do not want to breed him, then buy a castrated ram (a wether) as a companion.
Hope this helps. Stay in touch!
Carol
Carol Elkins Critterhaven Estate Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz T-shirts, mugs, caps, and more at the Barbados Blackbelly Online Store http://www.cafepress.com/blackbellysheep
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