Gearing Up

This girl needed some extra attention.

Before the animals arrive, I've got some serious shopping to-do for fencing, feed and putting together a veterinary kit to have on hand. My Grandma wanted to take me shopping for a birthday present so that I could pick out what I really wanted. The real answer is "I want a weedwacker", but in this case I think the correct answer is "let's go dress shopping".

Turns out garlic can be used to keep internal parasites at bay. You mix garlic with some molasses and water and give it to the sheep by mouth a few times a year. It helps to do this in conjunction with the right kind of mineral supplement. Sheep need their minerals kind of like people take vitamins. It will be in a container out on the pasture with them so they can lick at it as they please. This will be kind of an experiment for me because I haven't worked in a production system that isn't reliant on conventional wormers, but I'm happy to give it a shot. 


Many of the things I need aren't readily available in stores nearby because they are kind of specialized for sheep and pigs. It makes me nervous not to have everything I could possibly need on hand in case of a veterinary emergency - I'm trying to strike a balance between being prepared and hoarding.

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