I have recently gotten into raising hair sheep, specifically Katahdins. I was told by a friend that use to raise Suffolk for 4H shows that sheep will need some type of shelter. We live in TN and it does not get terribly cold here and only snows or ices 3-6 times a winter, if that. Due to her advice I built a small hoop shelter for the sheep to get into when it rains; however, I have rarely ever seen them get into the shelter. We had a cold spell in November and it got to 16*F here and windy. The sheep were lying in the wet grass chewing their cud and seemed unimpressed with the temperature, even when it rained that evening.
A few months ago I bought an Anatolian from a family that raises Painted Desert Hair Sheep on their farm in KY. They said that their sheep stay on pasture 12 months a year with no shelter, even during lambing.
So my question is how necessary is shelter for Katahdins? Seeing as how they are a breed developed in Maine I presume that they are hardier than needed for our mild southern winters.
Thoughts?
A few months ago I bought an Anatolian from a family that raises Painted Desert Hair Sheep on their farm in KY. They said that their sheep stay on pasture 12 months a year with no shelter, even during lambing.
So my question is how necessary is shelter for Katahdins? Seeing as how they are a breed developed in Maine I presume that they are hardier than needed for our mild southern winters.
Thoughts?