[quiet mountain farmer]

Can sheep live okay without shelter? Since our ram decided to have a war with our steer, we've had the sheep in a separate field. We're planning to build them a shelter, but haven't yet. We're planning to try them back together in December.

They sleep together on a pile of hay, against the dividing fence, sometimes with the two steers on the other side! Everybody sharing warmth.

Last night there was a driving rain/sleet, and I worried about them.

There was no visible shelter at the ranch where we bought them.

Opinions?

 

[pilot_34]

If they eat well they will probably be ok!on the otherhand a little shelter wouldnt hurt ! A wind break?lots start out with a 2 sidething facing away from thw wind then add a roof later . Come lambing time you want to put lambing pens under atleast hat much shelter if not for them for your comfort!
You may not have seen shelter at the ranch they come from for the simple reason that it might have been in a different place! Often sheep are pastured on different pastures in different seasons

 

[Kasidy]

I live in northern Montana where it also gets pretty cold. My sheep have only a wind break of trees until shearing time. With all that wool they do just fine. But you MUST have a good draft free shelter well bedded with straw after you shear (unless you shear in the very late spring or early summer) And you will lose lots of lambs if you do not have shelter when they are born--unless you lamb late with warm dry weather. And even then you need a place to put each ewe with her lamb/s for a day or two to mother up. You need to check them at night when you are lambing and it is easier to see what is happening in a well lit barn rather than a pasture with a flashlight!

 

[quiet mountain farmer]

We've built a shelter now, and are working on better winter plans. They love it, too!