When an Idea Runs Amok...

[Ewe Mama]

Goodness! I didn't think there would be so many responses on the journal of a newbie member. Thank you for the advice and encouragement.

The past couple of days, I have been trying to set up a fodder system in the lower level of our house. We have a little room lovingly referred to as the "sump pump room" that was unused for anything except the aforementioned sump pump. I set up a metal shelving unit, drilled holes in my sturdy trays, soaked my grain, and spread it in the trays. I am using a simple flood and drain approach, although I would like to somehow make a bin that catches the water and drains directly into the sump pump, so I don't have to lift and carry the city water to pour it out.

I know nothing of how to make PVC fittings work, so if someone could point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it! It seems like it should be easy enough to drill a hole in the water catching bin and put some sort of fitting in it with a length of pipe that will carry the dirty water to the sump pump drain, but I don't know what to purchase or how to fit it all together properly.

I also set up a dehumidifier very close by. The last time I tried this, I had a ton of mold develop, so I am hoping this helps.

 

[Ewe Mama]

As for overwhelmingly supported idea of list-making, I have been a list-maker since I was old enough to write. I have lists going all over the house. As a homeschooling mama, I have about 15 notebooks devoted to my projects along with their accompanying lists. Curriculum to use, curriculum to consider, curriculum to purchase, grocery shopping lists, birthday idea lists, landscaping plans, chicken tractor ideas, chicken moat ideas, which sheep to sell and which ones to keep, reasons to keep trying to turn this place around, craft ideas, trees I would like to have in my longed-for orchard. Those are just the lists I can think of off the top of my head.

My current most practical list is for the tools and supplies needed to make a mowing strip along the edge of my hope-to-landscape front garden bed. I am planning to fulfill that shopping list this weekend.

 

[Ewe Mama]

I totally need to make this fodder system work. My poor sheep are not doing well. They are so thin and I can worm them only so much before the warmers are rendered ineffective. I only have six right now and dh keeps telling me to sell four of them, but I wouldn't want to sell them the way they are now. I keep rotating their grazing pens every two days, but they still never gain.

If I can get the fodder to work, it should make a huge improvement.

 

[Ewe Mama]

"... to EWE MAMA - cute avatar pic!

Do you use your sheep for anything beyond yard ornaments/field mowers? Do you shear them and work with the wool?

Thank you! The picture is of Patches and Polly, born June 12th this year. They were surprises we found out in one of the grazing pens that day.

We mainly keep the sheep for grazing, but I do shear the wool and use the good portions for stuffing dolls. I have a spinning wheel but have not yet had the opportunity to learn how to use it properly. That is on one of my lists of things to do, though!

 

[Beekissed]

I totally need to make this fodder system work. My poor sheep are not doing well. They are so thin and I can worm them only so much before the warmers are rendered ineffective. I only have six right now and dh keeps telling me to sell four of them, but I wouldn't want to sell them the way they are now. I keep rotating their grazing pens every two days, but they still never gain.

If I can get the fodder to work, it should make a huge improvement.

Here's some good advice. I don't know what breed you are running, but I'd sell the breed you are dealing with now and move towards the Katahdin breed. No need for shearing, their wool comes off in big sheets filled with creamy lanolin that can be rendered and used for an emollient or waterproofing of boots, etc. They stay fat on just grass and hay, are naturally parasite resistant if you don't overuse dewormers and trend to a more natural approach to deworming....using chemical dewormers over and over just breeds stronger, more resistant parasites and does nothing to develop your sheep's parasite resistance at all, they are a milky breed and gentle for handling.

If the breed you have is not working and it's always a struggle to keep them healthy and thriving, it's time to change breeds or change methods. If you have small acreage, it's best to go for breeds that are more parasite resistant and stay fat on grass instead of needing grain all the time...this way you can keep them healthy and fat on just what you are growing~grass~and feed them a cheaper feed in the winter months~hay.

If not wanting the wool for spinning, then it's a win/win to get a breed that doesn't need shearing at all. Katahdins still have a very fine textured wool for a hair breed and they shed more completely, in large sheets, than the other hair breeds, so you can still recover their wool for felting, stuffing, insulation, etc.

If the desire is to farm smarter, not harder, then selling what you have that is not working is a smart move. Starting over with a breed and/or method that actually works in your situation is a positive move. Farming is full of reversals, do overs, changes in breeds or methods until one gets the right fit for success...but if you always do what you've always done, you'll always have what you always had. I'd listen to your husband but go one further and sell them all. Then I'd study up on breeds, culling for herd vigor, natural methods to naturally good health for livestock, etc. and make a plan for keeping them healthy instead of making them healthy.

 

[Denim Deb]

I just love directions like that. I hope you get it figured out.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Google/UTube can be your friend for all things mechanical! Those things can be so frustrating - hope it all comes together for you.

 

[Ewe Mama]

Thanks for the advice. I had tried googling, but no such luck. I tried using it again today, but it kept sputtering out after I started it. I hope it just needs more gas!

 

[Ewe Mama]

Does anybody living in the Midwest really manage to grow mold-free fodder?

Every time I think I have the right levels of water, air circulation, and humidity, the mold comes back.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

I've wanted to, but I've never tried it. I think mold would be a big issue in my steamy, humid part of the world. There might be a few weeks out of the year that would work - but unless it was done inside an air conditioned building I don't see it being worth a lot of investment.

Good luck though!