Set up

Starting the Sheep Operation

We began our flock with 12 ewes as breeding stock, aiming to grow to 20. Since our acreage wasn’t yet pasture-ready, we kept a low stocking ratio to avoid overgrazing while we built up the land’s ability to sustain livestock.

The sheep run on 10 acres, divided into five rotational sections, with about 5 acres of usable pasture. Perimeter fencing is cattle panels, while the interior sectioning is a mix of cattle panels and solar-powered hot wire.

Rule #1 for sustainability: only keep what your land can support after lambing. If you exceed that, you’ll end up selling fast and cheap just to avoid overloading the land. Too many mouths = stripped pasture, higher feed bills, and a parasite playground.

We lime the pasture most years, and fertilize every 2–3 years. We've never sprayed with pesticides or chemicals—keeping it clean and simple.

Health & Maintenance Schedule

We gather all the sheep into the feed pen for health checks twice a year—end of April and end of September. Keeping them in a small space makes it easier to catch and work them one at a time.

Checks include:

• Eyelid checks (FAMACHA)

• Deworming (if needed)

• Hoof trimming

• Shearing (if needed)

Lambs get a CDT shot when they start grazing.

From April to November, they live off whatever pasture and woods provide. We give a small amount of pellets every two weeks to keep them trained to follow a bucket—makes moving them a lot easier. Sheep mineral is kept out year-round.

Come late November, we switch them to hay daily and increase pellets to 2–3 times per week.

Land & Fence Setup

The property originally had no pasture—just woods and thick undergrowth. We hired a dozer operator to clear out the denser stands of Virginia pines. The land is mostly hilly, with poor soil, so we cleared the flattest sections for pasture.

We chose cattle panels for fencing because woven wire is a nightmare on uneven terrain. Panels cost more, but they’re quick to install, durable, and we’ve never had a single issue with coyotes or stray dogs. For a small farm, they’re worth every penny. Bonus: this reliable fencing means we haven’t needed a Livestock Guardian Dog—one less mouth to feed year-round.

Seasonal Grazing Plan

• Winter: Sheep are kept in the smallest paddock (“Ram Lot”) to prevent pasture damage while the grass is dormant.

• Spring & Summer: They’re rotated every 2–3 weeks through the pond lot and back two lots.

• There’s also a slow-growing shaded grass section in the barn lot woods. We graze it occasionally when the undergrowth needs knocked back.