The Backyard Sheep

Preface

Part 1: Learning About Sheep

1. Sheep Throughout History

Sheepish Origins - Sheep in Great Britain - Sheep in the Americas - The Rise of the Merino - Sheep in the Rest of the World

2. Introducing the Sheep

The Five Senses - Open Your Mouth and Say Baah - Social Behavior - Play Behavior - Feeding Behavior - Flocking, Moving, and Catching Behavior - Cast Sheep - Behavioral Tidbits

3. Choosing a Breed

What Are You Looking For? - Breed Classifications - Horns 101

4. Buying Your Sheep

Where to Start Looking - Finding a Responsible Seller - Evaluating Sheep - Identifying Sheep

Part 2: Keeping a Few Sheep

5. Housing Sheep

Providing Housing - Constructing Pens - Building Fences - Everyday Equipment

6. Feeding Sheep

Your Sheep's Digestive System - Feeding Hay - Feeding Concentrates - Feeding Minerals - If You Switch Feeds, Do It Gradually

7. Doctoring Sheep

Finding a Sheep-Savvy Veterinarian - Keeping Sheep Healthy and Well - Being Your Own Vet (Sometimes) - Sheep Illnesses and Afflictions - Coccidiosis - Internal Parasites - External Parasites

Part 3: Making More Sheep

8. Breeding Sheep

Owning Your Own Ram - Using Someone Else's Ram - Handling Rams - The Sheep-y Birds and Bees - Handling Ewes Post-Breeding - Feeding Pregnant Ewes - Late-Gestation Tips - What to Do Before Lambing Starts - Is It Time?

9. Lambing Season

First-Stage Labor - Second-Stage Labor - When Things Go Wrong - Here Be Lambs!

10. Caring for Lambs

Dealing with Rejected Lambs - Lamb Poop 101 - Tails It Is - Feeding Dam-Raised Lambs - Raising Bottled Lambs

Part 4: Enjoying Your Sheep

11. Producing Quality Fleece

First Things First - More Ploys for Growing Better Fleeces - Sheepshearing 101 - Washing (Scouring) Fleece - Storing Fleece

12. Got Milk?

Choosing Your Dairy Ewe - Milking Basics - Handling Milk - Sharing the Bounty - Selling Milk

13. Training Sheep

Taming Sheep - Training Basics - Teaching Your Sheep about Targeting - Teaching Your Sheep to Lead - Picking Up Feet

Glossary

Appendix 1: Common Mistakes

Appendix 2: Trimming Hooves

Appendix 3: Promoting Your Sheep

Appendix 4: Emergency Euthanasia

Resources

Recommended Reading

Credits

Index