How To Avoid Buying Sick Sheep, I Learned The Hard Way

Рет қаралды 9,269

2 жыл бұрын

I thought getting local genetics was the missing key to my flock's long-term health. I was desperate. The only problem is that nobody makes good decisions when then are desperate. My new sheep ended in disaster.
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The three sheep that I bought came to me with a cough, and I thought they would get over it naturally. Well, after two visits from the vet, they are still coughing and my ram is dead. Truthfully, I don't know for sure if the sheep I bought got my ram sick and killed him. It could be unrelated, but it's impossible to tell now.
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ABOUT THE HIGH MOUNTAIN HOMESTEAD
Hi! I'm PJ, and my family loves the homesteading life! It's something my wife and I have always wanted to do, but we grew up with ZERO HOMESTEADING EXPERIENCE!!!!!
We grew up in beautiful southern California, 15 minutes away from the beach. As amazing as that was, we both dreamed of a life closer to land and animals. After getting married and moving to Utah, our family slowly grew. We had become a family of four living in a townhome with a small backyard filled with potted plants.
In 2019 we dipped out feet into homesteading on 1 ¼ acre lot in Utah. In 18 months we were ready to do this for real. So in 2021 we packed everything up (including our sheep) and moved to North Carolina to 12 acres and we love every inch of our homestead!
We raise Dorper sheep and have big plans for:
• grass-fed lamb
• fullblood Dorper breeding stock
• meat chickens
• laying chickens and ducks
• heritage breed pork
• honey
• row crops
• perennial food forest
• and more
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#sheep #sicksheep #coughingsheep

Пікірлер: 100

@jerrytimler773 2 жыл бұрын

I really appreciate how you share the mistakes you make. I've been following you for awhile now. I don't have sheep yet but I've really learned a lot from you. Thanks for making these videos. You are really making a difference.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks, we're all learning together.

@spoolsandbobbins 2 жыл бұрын

Agree!!

@tentamalaska 11 ай бұрын

Just came across your video. It appears you have learned much. Glad to see you're hanging in there. For others, in a nut shell, 1. Use caution introducing animals into new weather climate environnent. Desert raised will not perform well in hot humidity and vise versa. Always quarantine any new animals up to a month before intergrating them into your animals. Ask the right tough hard honest questions before buying any animal. Ask to see vet records on the animals you're interested in. Ask for contact info of others they've sold to. Never expect feed lot, barn raised animals to perform well in pastures. And county fares are wonderful events and they provide great opportunities to meet other local homesteaders or farmers in your area. They also provide opportunities to purchase quality livestock and help support many young future farmers. And there are many more advantages of attending county fairs.

@cassandratarin8046 2 жыл бұрын

I am planning out a quarantine space for exactly this situation. Expect the best, prepare for the worst.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

That's a great plan. I've never had a problem with outside stock coming in, but I've always known the people well.

@dentaliban4445 Жыл бұрын

Sad story, the seller deserves to watch this video.

@CrawfordFamilyFarm 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry for your loss. Maybe consider having a closed flock now that you have more ewes beyond new rams.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

That's a good suggestion. I'm going back to the drawing board on my plans. Thinking of a closed flock with terminal crosses. I've heard good things about Dorper St, Croix crosses.

@chorusfrog2548 2 жыл бұрын

I would be calling the lady back...and say Thank You SO much for the lesson!

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

I've communicated with her about it all. At the end of the day, it's my lesson to learn. I can't help what kind of sheep other people are selling, only what I buy.

@michellebarbour5777 2 жыл бұрын

So brilliant that you are sharing your self-reflection. Seems you've learned the hard way, like we all do. Don't feel bad just make sure you always isolate/quarantine new hens, sheep, buffalo, rabbits or ducks for a couple of weeks before integrating...guest what? I learned the hard way too. A small isolation space is better than ruining a flock/herd of anything. But you had faith and excitement and faith is a sad thing to have to lose. x Very best of luck.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for your encouraging words! I've heard some folks integrate in as little as 2 weeks or as long as 2 months.

@michellebarbour5777 2 жыл бұрын

@@homesteadingwithPJ May have replied once or 3 times..who knows? I'm old. Wrote some words. Hope they helped. Can't see if anything I wrote is here. Good luck.

@Shadowridgeacres 2 жыл бұрын

Hello from Ontario Canada. I just brought in two rams from Saskatchewan and they were on many trucks, barns over 17 days to get to me. They had many different diets and I gave them an antibiotic with an anti inflammatory on arrival. I think with changes in feed and environment and stress any animal can get compromised. I always quarantine for at least 30 days with any new animals. I also run fecals as my vet says you don’t want to bring in a new parasite either, as your flock may not handle a different parasite. So my vet rule of thumb, is quarantine, fecals, worm them, blood work to rule out diseases before introducing them to your flock. I brought in a ram locally and he only came from 1/2 hour away and he developed a cough, different hay, different forage etc can effect their respiratory system, barn vs outside. Sorry for the loss of your ram. Wishing your flock improved health and healthy lambs. Shadow Ridge Acres Dorpers.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the advice, that's a lot of homework to bring a ram in, but it prevents death and disease spreading into the flock, it's well worth it. Especially for commercial producers, or really any one with a flock size larger than my small flock. Really great advice!

@lorenzomendoza5237 2 жыл бұрын

Aww man thats horrible. Sorry about your ram. I definitely appreciate sharing the knowledge. Now I won't make this mistake for my future flock. Keep it up! One step back but the experience will take you 2 steps forward.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, one step back, two steps forward. Everything is a learning experience! Best of luck for you and your future flock.

@spoolsandbobbins 2 жыл бұрын

Keep being real. Fantastic videos!! This is nothing compared to your precious sheep but we purchased a rabbit last year for a PRICE, and she was coughing, sneezing and runny nose for about 5 months. We fed her a diversity of healthy greens, grasses, acv, and kept her stress free. She got better and is in great breeding condition. You’re on the right track!

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

That's great to hear. Those ewes are pretty good these days, it's been weeks since I've heard coughing (aside from occasional coughs when they eat salt or whatever). I think they are on the mend, glad to hear about your rabbit too!

@Platypus2012 2 жыл бұрын

I can hear it in your voice. Sorry you got a bum deal; thanks for sharing your trials. It takes a while to become a good buyer. Experience is priceless so don't beat yourself up too much.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the kind words.

@kingjohndavidsr9720 Жыл бұрын

Sorry to hear you lost your ram! I guess seeing how they live before purchase and quarantining after purchase is the BMP👍🏾

@homesteadingwithPJ Жыл бұрын

For sure! Learning as we go! Thanks.

@PaulJWong-yk8uw 2 жыл бұрын

lessons learned the hard way are expensive lessons but ones you never forget. sorry to hear your herd has caught the ick. hope your losses have stopped now. really reminds us all of the importance of buying smart and isolation when they come.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, I hope so too. Thanks for stopping by Paul (AKA, Canadian PJ haha!)

@rebeccagrider7359 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing so frankly, and yet so graciously…. You were very kind!!!!

@asktodd2000 8 ай бұрын

Very informative video! Thanks for sharing your experience.

@lindasaad2184 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing 🙏 We would never think of asking what they feed their sheep. Sorry for your experience, we will definitely learn from it.

@jessayaki9496 2 жыл бұрын

Such a bummer. I appreciate that you honestly share the setbacks and well as the wins. As we all know, nothing in life is perfect. Glad I found your channel.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Yeah it's a bummer, but these things happen. You keep living and keep learning. Thanks for stopping by the channel.

@tagladyify Жыл бұрын

Too many people out there acting like they know what they are doing and take on animals with no research or proper infrastructure to care for them. I have never kept larger animals, just chickens, but I quarantine new animals away from my flock before adding them. Two weeks is the recommended time, but even in one day you will notice if there is a big problem. It may be a good idea to keep new animals separated in the future and treat any problems observed before adding them to you flock.

@homesteadingwithPJ Жыл бұрын

Agreed. I just didn't have the infrastructure at the time, but have since learned my lesson and built a small corral just for this purpose.

@tagladyify Жыл бұрын

@@homesteadingwithPJ good job

@mn4056933 Жыл бұрын

Serious, important questions to ask and observation! We live in southern New Mexico, hoping to purchase two lambs!

@homesteadingwithPJ Жыл бұрын

Exciting!

@diyfferent 2 жыл бұрын

Wow. I don't know what to say but that sucks. This is all info I had no idea about so I appreciate that you shared it. I don't know if we'll ever have sheep, but it's good to know what to look for and what to be aware of. It's difficult enough moving to a new area and trying to adjust, and then having things like this can really be hard on you. But I hope you guys pull through and build your dream flock.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks! you've been with me since the start, so you've seen there's been a lot of ups and downs. Here's to a dream flock one day!

@CelticRootsFarm 2 жыл бұрын

Christmas blessings to you and your family! 🙏

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you, and likewise!

@Mryamahaz71 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry about losing your ram, that really sucks. Nothing worse then losing an animal you've been trying to treat and get back to healthy.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Sad, but sometimes the weak die, and it's all for the better in the long run.

@lhatfield0786 6 ай бұрын

I wonder if I got sheep from a rescue place... I'm not planning to do meat or dairy production, just need foraging to keep the grass in check on steep hills. I'm only planning to get 3 or so wethers and let them live out their days with me if they can help me with the grass and weeds.... if I go this route, I will ask a lot of questions based on your experience. (For now, it's all just a pipe dream. Or counting sheep when I fall asleep...)

@homesteadingwithPJ 6 ай бұрын

Oh yeah, so long you have enough land, the sheep will probably just take care of themselves. If you get old sheep, chances are they are good sheep.

@curtjohnson7910 2 жыл бұрын

to need to separate any new arrival's on your farm for at least 2 months that's just basics

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, I've heard that. Easier said than done when you have such a small flock and very little land.

@TheBradshawKids 2 жыл бұрын

So sorry to hear about your ram

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you. Onward and upward.

@elim2234 Жыл бұрын

Thank you for sharing your experience! It is sooo timely! We will be bringing sheep home from another state(6hr drive). Would you recommend giving them antibodies upon arrival? These 3 lambs will be our starter flock. We get a ram lamb a few weeks later. Of course we will quarantine. Does anyone know what antibiotics (and anything else) to have on hand for “just in case” emergencies? We are total newbies, and reading a few books just doesn’t cut it... unfortunately. Thank you, everyone, for tried and true suggestions you may offer us! 🕊

@homesteadingwithPJ Жыл бұрын

You'll want to keep a dewormer on hand, but I've never administered antibiotics.

@ianspingle8865 2 жыл бұрын

Great videos, I heard that dorper are prone to foot problems what do you think?

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

I don't have anything to compare it to, but I would be inclined to agree. Mine had no problems in Utah (dry), but here in North Carolina (wet), I saw some of sheep start to limp in the rainy season. Usually a sign of bad feet. But after a week of dry weather they usually heal up on their own.

@cottagecreekfarm3800 2 жыл бұрын

So sorry all this happened to you

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Live and learn! We are moving forward. Thank you.

@okaminess 2 жыл бұрын

Buying a sick lamb - yes, huge headache. It had a crazy mouth disease that didn’t improve even after the vet intervened. We saw the people likely sold it because of that.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Ugh, that's awful. Sorry to hear it.

@okaminess 2 жыл бұрын

@@homesteadingwithPJ We had to give the lamb away to someone who wanted it. They liked that this lamb had all black wool so they were happy to have her for free. Somehow they got the disease under control, but it likely cost them as well.

@kishstreedragons8393 2 жыл бұрын

I am sorry that this happened to you. Please please, isolate any and ALL new stock you purchase. It would have saved you a lot of heart aches.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, I agree. I just didn't have the infrastructure at the time. As always, my ambition exceeds my infrastructure. Next time though...

@vandres1328 8 ай бұрын

what dewormer do you use on them ? care to share the name of the antibiotic that you gave them ? i have one that i have heard coughing .

@homesteadingwithPJ 8 ай бұрын

I didn't use an antibiotic, the dewormer I've used is cydectin, and sometimes safeguard. Although coughing probably is separate to a worm issue. I'm not sure what drugs you'd give a sheep for coughing. I'd rather them get over it eventually, which mine did after about a month.

@ryankullar9754 2 жыл бұрын

Where did u get that done looking sheep shelter at or did u make that shelter

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

It's from Shelter Logic.

@samuelgriffith86 Жыл бұрын

You need to learn how to use copper sulfate to deworm with. Probably wouldn’t of saved a sick sheep but could have helped with your sheep you moved.

@arthurharvey5419 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry to see what happened to your RAM that's very sad

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, that was sad. We were thinking of swapping him out any way (he became REALLY mean, and I wanted to cross my sheep with something else next year), but its still hard.

@kanddfamilyfarm 2 жыл бұрын

So sorry that you lost your ram, is it possible that it was barber's pole worm that you mentioned. That one is nasty and wormers and 100% effective.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

It's possible, however I dewormed with cydectin like 6 weeks beforehand and he was eating hay almost exclusively. So I think it was pneumonia more than a worm, but it could have been the BPW.

@SuerteDelMolinoFarm Жыл бұрын

Oooh. Good things we wish you.

@Doors-bv3vk 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for sharing your experience. What the seller did is unethical and awfully. I hope that the sheep and ram are recovering

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

The ram passed away, but the ewes eventually shook the cough and just lambed!

@taraseltz9801 2 жыл бұрын

Pssst......add a little St. Croix ;) You are not far from some awesome sheep. Sorry for your loss and bad luck.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

I am absolutely considering St. Croix. I'd like to see how a terminal X situation would do, like a handful of St. Croix ewes with a terminal Dorper sire.

@taraseltz9801 2 жыл бұрын

@@homesteadingwithPJ Keep working on that pasture. As it is, even a St. Croix would have a tough go of it. It all takes time. A grazier once said that the top 1/3 of the grass is the cream, the middle third is the milk, and the bottom third is the carton. lol. Plus that bottom third is where all the parasites are hanging out. I started with pure St Croix and don't see myself changing breeds for anything. Great sheep.

@itisfinished7377 2 жыл бұрын

@@homesteadingwithPJ what do you mean by terminal dorper male?

@Not_all_as_it_seems 2 жыл бұрын

Just out of interest, did they shake the cough? i would assume so once thier throats healed & allergies left, from eating the hay. I still feel you did ok with the deal, life is a learning platform, this is where that *experience is gained. Enjoy your sheep :)

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the great message. So true. Yes, they did shake the cough. Took almost 3 months, but they all shook it. All three lambed, however one got worms over winter (which is crazy because we had a very cold, snowy winter, and fed dray hay all winter). The one I had to deworm was a shifty mother, but eventually accepted her lamb. She's cull stock though. But 2/3 making a full recovery isn't bad!

@Not_all_as_it_seems 2 жыл бұрын

@@homesteadingwithPJ nice, i instantly thought of your pumpkin trick lol, i am going to try it very soon, autumn here

@Kberrysal 2 жыл бұрын

What do you think about sheep tractors 🚜

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

They look cool in practice, I think The Grass-fed Homestead uses them with good success. I'm not interested in using them though. I'd rather just move the sheep with electric fence. Seems like they are good for short-term needs. I don't like the idea of sheep spending their life on pasture in a confined space.

@sandro5535 2 жыл бұрын

What prize would be reasonable? Knowing what you know about the sheep. What would you pay for them? 500 dollars for all three?

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Free is the only price I would have paid for them knowing what I know now. However if I had the infrastructure to truly separate them for longer, then I would have paid $500 for all three.

@johnh1353 2 жыл бұрын

Sorry about your ram, but goes to show, a good referral goes a long way ... and if not, witnessing with your own eyes the living conditions of livestock you want to purchase

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

So true, lesson learned... the hard way.

@shanerobbins1501 2 жыл бұрын

Such a bad turn for your flock, hate that for you. I have always heard that Dorpers are great if you can keep them alive. I was hoping the truth in this statement was only due to bad management. What are your thoughts on this as far a a breed vs. others? Hope you are able to get your flock built back and stronger in the near future.

@rashonryuu 2 жыл бұрын

He actually has two videos about his comparisons of breeds. They are quite informative. He made them when he was still in Utah, so I am curious if he would change anything, but they are still good.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Yes, like Rebecca said I have another video comparing meat sheep breeds. Right now I'm seriously considering St Croix ewes to cross with a Dorper ram. They are renowned for parasite resistance and general health and hearty demeanor. Next year I'll be making some improvements to the flock.

@shanerobbins1501 2 жыл бұрын

@@homesteadingwithPJ I've been thinking about the St. Croix/Dorper cross for sometime myself. But actually that would be what a Royal White breed is, right? I've often thought the Royal White would be a superior hair sheep breed. Your thoughts?

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

@@shanerobbins1501 You're right in that a Royal White is an excellent breed, I've never worked with them, but everything I've heard is positive. And yes, Royal Whites were created by selectively crossing White Dorpers and St Croix sheep. However, Royal Whites breed true, meaning that thier gene pool is refined enough that you can reliably get pretty much the same sheep by breeding a RW with another RW. Whereas a true cross, like the D x SC would be a mutt until you selectively bred for the traits you wanted over multiple generations until you could reliably expect the same sheep over and over in future generation. But in theory a Dorper and a St. Croix could get you a Royal White, however that sheep's offspring may not breed to the same standards. Sorry for the long response, it's way more than you asked for, because you are right in that the RW sheep is a cross between D and SC.

@shanerobbins1501 2 жыл бұрын

@@homesteadingwithPJ Really appreciate the in depth response. Looking forward to how you move ahead w/ your flock. Best Wishes

@sleepersix Жыл бұрын

How are those ewes doing now?

@homesteadingwithPJ Жыл бұрын

All of them lived. One had a complicated lambing. But all are good. I ended up selling all of them (I was 100% transparent with the buyers, they even saw this video).

@colemoore3156 Жыл бұрын

Give 5ccs la200 they'll be fine

@Millenialhermit 2 жыл бұрын

Pls Give them a chance (the sheep). They are surely adjusting because they used to eat pig feeds and now they are living like sheep for the 1st time in their lives and their first time to eat grass so their rumens are still adjusting.

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for the perspective, you are so right. They look so much better than they did when they arrived. I'm hopeful for their success over here.

@Millenialhermit 2 жыл бұрын

@@homesteadingwithPJ and thank u for giving them a better life ♥️. Loving all your episodes. I love sheep and goats too.

@Kberrysal 2 жыл бұрын

Why did you have a vet check them out after buying them

@homesteadingwithPJ 2 жыл бұрын

As opposed to having them checked, before I bought them? It wasn't really realistic for me, they were delivered to me from out of state. Also they came to me with papers from a recent vet visit from the previous owner. I did not look closer at the papers from their vet.

@jenniferu8145 Жыл бұрын

Vet bills are extremely expensive