Sheep
Our sheep are used primarily to graze ahead of our meat chickens to keep the pasture growth at a short height for the birds. We have a small flock which varies year to year. The sheep are 100% grass fed and a wonderful addition to our enterprise. Each day the shelter and area where the sheep are grazing is moved forward through the pasture. This provides fresh grass for the sheep to graze, reduces the impact on the land by eliminating over grazing, and helps to spread manure evenly through the field. The chickens follow behind the sheep and scratch their manure into the soil helping to incorporate it and reduce disease. The chickens and sheep are great companions!
We received a two-year Sustainable Agriculture and Research Grant in 2008 to explore the viability of adding sheep to our chicken enterprise. Check back soon for the results of this trial.