CHAPTER XVI 

 SHELTER FOR SHEEP SUMMER AND WINTER 



In Chapter XVI the discussion will consider the fol- 

 lowing items: (i) The shelter called for in winter; (2) 

 The shelter called for in summer; (3) Considerations in 

 locating a sheep shed; (4) Shelter that is not costly; (5) 

 The more essential features of a permanent sheep house ; 

 (6) A building, oblong and not too wide; (7) A structure 

 of two stories ; (8) Facilities for convenient feeding ; (9) 

 Divisions in the lower story; (10) Warm lambing pens; 

 (11) Facilities for watering; (12) Sunlight, yard room 

 and paddocks; (13) Ventilation without drafts; and (14) 

 Plans of sheep houses. 



The shelter called for in winter — The protection 

 called for by sheep in winter should be such as to shield 

 them: (i) From falling storms; (2) from winds; and (3) 

 from dampness. When given such protection and an am- 

 ple supply of nutritious and palatable food, they are not 

 much liable to be harmed by low temperatures. 



The most important item of protection is that which 

 shields them from falling storms, and especially from the 

 cold storms of rain and sleet, such as fall in winter in cer- 

 tain latitudes. Dry snow is but little harmful to sheep 

 when it falls upon them, save when it is accompanied by 

 a driving wind, such as will force it into any openings 

 that may be present in the fleece. Exposure to cold rain 

 and sleet, especially when prolonged and when the pre- 

 cipitation is copious, is always more or less harmful, and 

 in some instances the toll of loss taken from the open 

 wool breeds under such exposure may be severe. The 

 rain, penetrating to the skin, more especially along the 

 line of the back, may give rise to inflammations that result 



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