CARE OF SHEEP 171 



DRY COLD Cold doesn't matter not to a sheep in his winter woolens! 

 IS SAFE Cold is what stimulates the fleece to grow. But there must 



be no moisture, and no draught. Windows should be close 

 up to the eaves to guard against draughts. A good plan is to run the shed 

 north and south with windows at each end, thus avoiding east and west 

 exposures. When the wind blows from the north make that end tight, 

 and open the shed at the south end for ventilation; and when it blows 

 from the south, vice versa. Have the roof sound, or rain and snow will 

 soak the fleece. Ordinary snowfall the sheep can easily shake off from 

 the outer fleece, so that it never wets the skin. But if the whole shaggy 

 suit of wool is matted and wet there is nothing for it but to let the heavy 

 fleece slowly dry on them. You can imagine just how this feels or if 

 you have no imagination just put on several heavy woolen suits and jump 

 in an ice bath in freezing weather, then stand outdoors while you "dry off." 

 Breeds with long open wools, parting clear to the skin along the line of 

 the back, should never be exposed to snow, or wet conditions. Then too 

 a wet fleece loses its "yolk" or "oily substance." The wet, cold animals 

 crowd up together, heating and matting the fleece, pressing it into "felt," 

 destroying its weaving value. It becomes "cotted," as we call it. 



SEPARATE PENS And while making that winter shelter, just separate 

 it into convenient pens or apartments, with movable 



gates. You'll find plenty of reasons for doing so when you make ready to 

 feed and want to work in one pen without bother and without damaging 

 the fleece with falling chaff, etc. Then later on you'll want to separate the 

 breeding ewes from those to be fattened. Or you'll want to separate the 

 lambs according to ages, or pen off a part of your flock for a buyer or 

 butcher. Penning has many advantages. 



FEED RACKS Racks for feeding save time and trouble. Also put up 

 a permanent trough for salt and preparations to hinder 

 internal parasites, such as the excellent formula given on page 46. 



Don't feed too frequently in the same place, as the breath will spoil 

 the food, making it unpalatable. It is necessary to use Conkey's Nox-i-cide 

 Dip and Disinfectant regularly to disinfect all racks and troughs used in 

 feeding sheep if you expect to keep the flock from contagion. More about 



disinfecting on page 125. 



r 



THE FLOOR Feeding racks for sheep on farms should be carefully con- 

 PLAN structed. Many sheepmen favor a long shed plan for a 



sheep-house with racks in the center where all can get at 

 them. This plan gives a good area and is cheaper to build than the square 

 or round barn type. If you want double capacity, make it double deck 

 sinking the first floor about three feet below the surface of the ground, 

 raising the second floor about four feet above the ground, thus giving 

 room for a man to stand upright in the lower part. Make runways to 

 each floor for the sheep. You will find this plan highly satisfactory in 

 practice. Sheep don't need costly housing. A light structure with plenty 

 of floor space will always answer. Of course a square building gives more 

 floor space than a long narrow building. The octagon and round style' 

 give most of all. Round buildings are expensive. But did you ever 

 investigate an octagon* style and see how .strong- and cheap it is for 

 building? '** > *;*- 



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