Very Important...need Advise Asap!!!

[myrandaandkids]

i may be given a pair of sheep that were born outside in the middle of winter, one of them is short one hoof and the other is dhort two hooves, they froze off during the winter.... (these are being braught to me as rescue more or less) they do both walk and run and frolick like any other lamb, i need to know if there are any major things i need to know about caring for this kind of animal, has anyone ever done this? what kind of care will their feet need? any dangers in doing this? any tricks for getting them through each winter? doggy boots? any info will help, and i will respect the opinions of those who see them as immediate butcher prospects if all comments are kept in a civil tone.

[ann fr]

I keep both sheep and goats but have never incountered hoof problems so I can't advise you there. But sheep can not have copper in their diet.It will kill them.I get around this by feeding lamb creep ( 16% proten, no copper) to every one except my milking does who only get their ration that contains copper on the milking stand. I also keep mineral blocks that have copper in them placed high on the barn wall so the goats can stretch to reach it but the sheep don't.

I'm sorry I can't offer more advice butbest of luck.
Ann.

[Freeholder]

Personally, I would accept them and put them in the freezer. It's easy enough to come up with healthy animals if you want to keep sheep. And the comments about copper are on the mark -- it is difficult to keep sheep and goats together without either the sheep getting too much copper for their health, or the goats not getting enough copper for their health. If you can get around that issue, go ahead and give it a try.

Kathleen

[animalfarmer]

Hi,I sent you a P.M. It may be of value.