anyone pet sheep keepers here?

[geekgrrl]

I'm planning on getting some sheep in September to keep the grass on our field down - just a few really, maybe 4.
I was wondering how much work sheep are? My friend has about 600 and has been a farmer's wife for decades, so her estimate time-wise isn't reliable.

how big is your field? 4 sheep won't make too much of a dent on anything other than a small field. you will need to top the field before you put them on it (or graze some cows on it maybe) as they will only eat short grass, not long. they aren't that much work in themselves (depends on the breed) but they do need to be shorn etc and it is the devils own hassle finding someone to come and shear 4 sheep. mind you if your friend has 600 and is local you can borrow her sheepshearer.

you know you need to have a defra number, keep movement records etc etc etc don't you

thanks, I know about the admin stuff; am going to up the number of sheep to 8 eventually - just wanted to start off with 4 and breed some more. I think the shearing will be ok too due to being in sheep county (Yorks. Dales) and having said friend nearby.

The field is only 1 acre and I was thinking of splitting it into two grazing areas and rotate?!

I don't think you can keep 8 sheep on an acre year round... 4 maybe... but you should ask your friend as she knows the quality of the land and grazing etc.