Raising Sheep ( lambs for 4H )

[huntandjeep]

My oldest daughter (10) wants to raise a couple lambs for 4H this year , since she's to old for chickens this year. I have no clue about sheep other then they are white and fluffy .
 What kind of fence should I use ?
 How much space do 2 need to roam in ?
 What kind of shelter do I need to build them ?
Thanks Allen

[nwwanderer]

Sarah Smith, extension in Grant county, is the best go to for lambs.  Really knows her stuff. 
Woven wire fence, couple hundred square feet if your are providing all nutrition and a little out of the wind shade is plenty.
They are dog magnets, some of the sweetest pets you have ever seen will kill them. 
Sheep also invent new ways to die pretty regular.  Drowning, hanging, foot caught, over eating, etc.
That is enough negative, great project!!!!

[Machias]

I HIGHLY recommend you look into Katahdin sheep.  They are a very hardy, disease resistant, hair sheep....no shearing required.  Taste VERY good.  Easy lambing and after the first year normally have multiple lambs.

[huntandjeep]

I HIGHLY recommend you look into Katahdin sheep.  They are a very hardy, disease resistant, hair sheep....no shearing required.  Taste VERY good.  Easy lambing and after the first year normally have multiple lambs.

These will not be pets , they will get auctioned off after my kid shows them at the fair .

[Machias]

I wasn't suggesting them for pets, they TASTE great...they are livestock.

[jackelope]

Our 4-h club has a sheep project. Happy to put you together with our project leader if you want to talk sheep. She’s very knowledgeable.  Kids need to get their market lambs here pretty quick for fair season.

[actionshooter]

Our 4-h club has a sheep project. Happy to put you together with our project leader if you want to talk sheep. She’s very knowledgeable.  Kids need to get their market lambs here pretty quick for fair season.

Great offer....
 My kids did market Lambs... I hate the damn things, but its great for the kids. Lots of responsibility to be learned.

[huntandjeep]

Yeah she needs to have them by the end of February. 
 As for eating them there is no way my kid could eat her lambs , she had a hard enough time eating her chickens eggs when they first started laying .

[jackelope]

Also I don’t know why she’s too old for poultry in 4-H. We have kids from seven years old all away up to 18 years old participating in the poultry project.

[Axle]

I second Katahdins. And yes - they do taste great. I've had them for years now. I had American Blackbelly sheep for many years and they are awesome to own and raise. The rams get attitude after 3 years and want to kill everyone so there is a risk factor to that breed. The blackbelly sheep were also much slower growing. The next for me will the Dorper sheep. I think the market to sell them is better. And from what I've read, the meat might be a bit better than Katahdin sheep.

[jackelope]

I don't know much about sheep but I attend a couple youth livestock sales every year and have been helping with our market rabbit program. The sheep the kids have seem to all look the same every year. Before you settle on a breed, I'd talk to others in your area and see what breeds typically do the best at your sales.

WSU Extension has some good sheep stuff on their website.

https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/2070/2018/03/Judging-Sheep-and-Oral-Reasons-101.pdf

https://foodsystems.wsu.edu/animals-for-food-performance/sheep/

http://whatcom.wsu.edu/AG/documents/other_animals/FeedingSheep.VT.pdf

[jackelope]

@huntandjeep  Did your kids get lambs?

[huntandjeep]

@huntandjeep  Did your kids get lambs?

@ Jackelope , yes she picked up 2 ewes a month and a 1/2 ago. Shes enjoying them , trying to learn what she needs to do with them for showing etc . Wife meet a girl at the feed store that shows sheep so shes going to come out and help my daughter with some pointers and what she needs to work on.Think we are going to sheer them this weekend to see where they are with weight .

[jackelope]

Right on. Good stuff.

[huntandjeep]

Quick update , Both sheep made weight one weighed in @ 119 and the other  125.  She showed them both today in the market class , was pretty nervous but she did awesome . 2 1st place Ribbins in 2 different weight classes , she also showed a fellow club members 2nd lamb since both of hers were in the same weight class . Tomorrow she shows in the Sportsman class with her lambs. Then on Saturday its auction day . That's going to be a tough day for her . I'm sure her , her sister  and the wife will shed a tear  ( I might get a little lump in my throat , just for what my kids going through) .  But she knew going in to this what the outcome for them would be .