The sheep year has a fixed rhythm: the ram in autumn, pregnancy in winter, lambs in spring and shearing when it gets warm. If you know that rhythm, you know in good time which supplies need to be ready. This section follows that year. For three ewes in the orchard or a flock of a hundred, you will find equipment here for every stage, from lambing cord to shearing machine.
The section by season
| Period | What it is about | Section |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | Ram in with the ewes, making matings visible | Marking |
| Spring | Lambing, colostrum, bottle feeding, warmth | Lambing |
| Late spring and summer | Shearing, keeping fleece and skin healthy | Skin and fleece |
| All year | Foot trimming, footbath | Foot care |
| All year | Minerals, vitamins, handling animals | Health |
| When needed | Giving liquid products with a syringe or gun | Dosing and drenching |
What a small keeper should have at minimum
For a hobby flock, it does not need to be much. A foot-trimming knife or foot shears, a few marker sticks, gloves, a lambing cord and lubricant, a feeding bottle with spare teats and a heat lamp cover most of the year. Your own shearing machine only makes sense if you have more than a handful of sheep or cannot find a shearer nearby; otherwise, hand shears are enough to keep the back end clean.
Choosing by flock size
The more sheep, the more it pays to invest in saving time. An automatic drench gun with tank, a footbath the group walks through, a raddle harness with interchangeable colour crayons and a lamb bar for several lambs at once quickly pay for themselves with a large flock. With a few animals, a hand syringe, a single bottle and a marker stick work fine.
Good to know
Sheep generally have to be identified with ear tags and the holding registered, even as a hobby; check the rules in your country. Products against worms or other conditions are not in our range: for those you go to the vet. Minerals also call for caution: sheep are sensitive to copper, and that sensitivity differs per breed. So choose minerals intended for sheep.
Do you keep other animals too? See goats, cattle or pigs, or go back to the overview farm animals.
Frequently asked questions
What do I need when I get sheep for the first time?
Registration and ear tags as required in your country, a dry shelter, good fencing and basic tools: foot-trimming knife, marker stick, gloves and a feeding bottle for emergencies.
Do I have to shear my sheep myself?
No. Many hobby keepers have a shearer come in. Your own machine mainly pays off with a larger flock.
Do you sell wormers for sheep?
No, veterinary medicines go through your vet. You will find drench syringes and drench guns with us for dosing.
Can I use goat supplies for sheep?
Much of the equipment is shared. But be careful with minerals and licks for goats or cattle: they can contain more copper than is good for sheep.