Well, just when I finally make up my mind about raising chickens, (I’m going to throw caution to the wind, and probably a few chickens to the hawks, but, I’m in) I read an article in The Farm Show about two guys that raise sheep, and sell the wool. I have no interest in shearing sheep per se, but what caught my eye was that the sub-quality wool, typically thrown out because it has no value to fabric makers or what have you, now has a market: as insulation.
Anybody out there ever live on a sheep farm? I have acreage, good grass, even in Winter, and produce enough hay to supplement…but I have no idea whats involved with raising/shearing sheep. Ever since my goats became small, horned horses, I am hesitant to introduce new animals here until i know more about them. Maybe i should visit a sheep farm. (Ranch?)
I can’t believe I’m considering even more mouths to feed around here. But mark my words, I will eat a fresh chicken by Summer’s end. First, though, I have to talk the Primary Wife or The Missus into plucking the sonofabitch…
Mack:
My limited experience with sheep (a former landlord kept a flock of about 10-15 for lawn ornamentation) is that they are much dumber than stumps. For what it costs in time and money to keep them I don’t think it’s a reasonable payback. If you were gonna make some cheese from their milk or eat their babies it might make sense; or, if you were going to get some exotic woolies whose wool is worth big bucks… Oh, yeah, if you get some baa-baa’s think about getting a llama, otherwise the mouths you’re feeding might be coyotes’.
Hell, if you’re gonna have to pluck something, make it worthwhile – get emus.
I’m excited, can’t wait to see them.
jim voorhies:
Of course plucking emus is not for the faint of heart.
Mack:
I’m sure there’s some cottage industry in the Nashville area that can fabricate Kaiser Wilhelm style helmets for your poultry (with the spikes on top) just to keep the hawks honest.