Sheep Care Information

The following recommendations work well for our farm. We accept zero responsibility for the wellbeing of anyone’s animals when these recommendations have been followed. We suggest finding a veterinarian that is knowledgeable about livestock and work on a care plan using their expert advice.
Diet Recommendations
  • Lambs under 6 months old:
    • Southern States Medicated Sheep Feed (Sweet or Pelleted)
    • Tractor Supply Medicated Sheep Feed (Pelleted)
    • Other sheep feeds formulated for lambs (Medicated)
    • All of these feeds are “complete”; meaning they contain the proper amount of digestible fiber, as well as the necessary percentage of protein. All of these feeds also contain coccidia preventative medicine.
  • Lambs / Sheep over 6 months old:
    • Southern States Sheep Pellets (non-medicated)
    • Tractor Supply All Purpose Feed
  • All Ages:
    • Coastal Hay or Bermuda Hay MUST be available 24/7. Provide fresh hay at least every other day
    • Feed up to 1 cup per animal per day of pellet feed
    • Provide clean, fresh water daily
    • Keep an eye on your animals’ “condition”
      • If too thin, increase amount of food
      • If too fat, decrease amount of food
      • If not eating the hay, decrease amount of pellet food
  • Wethers (Castrated Males):
The recommended feeds are the only feeds that we trust to provide the proper nutritional balance that is vital to preventing urinary calculi (urinary stones) from developing in your pet wether. Urinary calculi often develop when the calcium/phosphorus ratio in the feed is incorrect. This is a painful and deadly condition. The best course of action is prevention. Following the feeding instructions above is the best way we know to prevent this condition. If you have wethers or bucks, you may want to purchase loose ammonium chloride to sprinkle on their feed. This can help prevent calcium deposits. ​
Supplements / Minerals:
  •  Free-Choice SHEEP Minerals (specifically formulated for sheep) - other minerals have too much copper and can cause copper toxidia 
    • Southern States Sheep Mineral
    • If you cannot get Southern States brand, ask your local feed store / veterinarian which loose mineral they would recommend. 
    • We do NOT recommend mineral blocks, as the sheep can potentially break their teeth
    • Baking Soda - sheep will eat this if they feel an upset stomach coming on. 
    • It is BEST to purchase a “mineral feeder” and keep one side filled with baking soda and loose salt, and the other side filled with the sheep minerals. Mount the mineral feeder above rump height and set a step or cinder block below it to keep the feeder clean.
Shelter:
  • Clean, shaded, draft-free, dry place to go whenever they choose. If YOU can sit in their shelter and be comfortable, then so will they. 
  • Check shelter for wet bedding, ammonia odor, and stool. Remove soiled bedding immediately. 
  • Bedding: Pine shavings, hay, or straw
  • Agricultural powdered lime helps to neutralize ammonia odor, but you MUST cover it with bedding before allowing animals back into shelter. ​
Deworming:
  • We advise to deworm your sheep every 6 months or as needed to treat / prevent parasites. Rotate using various dewormers to prevent resistance build up. 
  • Recommended Dewormers:
    • Fenbendazole - give by mouth - 1cc per 10 pounds
      • Treats: lungworms, roundworms, stomach worms, tapeworms, intestinal worms, nodular worms, liver flukes (adults)
    • Valbazen - give by mouth - 1 cc per 10 pounds
      • Treats: lungworms, roundworms, stomach worms, tapeworms, intestinal worms, liver flukes (adults). DO NOT give to pregnant animals.
    • Ivermectin - give by mouth - 1 cc per 30 pounds
      • Treats: lungworms, roundworms, lice, mange mites, external parasites
    • Cydectin - give by mouth - 1 cc per 20-25 pounds
      • Treats: lungworms, roundworms, lice, mange mites, external parasites, barberpole worms
    • Albon - give by mouth - 1cc per 5 pounds FIRST DAY, then 1cc per 10 pounds on days 2-5
      • Treats: coccidia
Vaccines:
  • CD/T
    • Given at 4 weeks, 12 weeks, and then once per year
First Aid Kit:
  • Pepto - helps to treat diarrhea
  • Aulmet, Albon, or Corrid - helps to treat coccidia
  • Sheep Nutri-Drench - boosts immune system for weak lambs
  • Penicillin (Pen-G) - antibiotic
  • Karo Syrup - for weak / down sheep
  • Re-Sorb / Bounce Back - for bottle babies
  • 1-2 of the dewormers listed above
Great Resources:
Bottle Babies:
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​Bottle Feeding Schedule
  • Feeding Schedule:
    • 2-4 weeks old: bottle feed 3 times daily
    • 4-6 weeks old: bottle feed 2 times daily (1st CD/T vaccine at 4 weeks old)
    • 6-8 weeks old: bottle feed 1 time daily (1st deworming)
    • 8-12 weeks old: can be weaned - bottles as treats are okay (2nd CD/T at 12 weeks old)
  • Recommended Milk
    • Save-A-Lamb
    • Southern States Lamb Milk
    • If you choose to use a different milk, transition your lamb to the new milk by mixing the 2 milks together
Health Concerns - Call your veterinarian immediately!
  • Diarrhea
  • Bloated / distended stomach
  • Grinding of teeth
  • Runny nose / coughing
Must Haves
  • Re-Sorb / Bounce Back - give when your lamb has diarrhea to prevent dehydration
  • Albon
  • Sheep Nutri-Drench
Signs of Illness - Call Your Veterinarian NOW
  • Not interested in eating
  • Lethargic 
  • Runny nose or eyes
  • Coughing
  • Loose stool / Any other form of abnormal stool
    • For diarrhea - 6 cc of Pepto given every hour until it stops will help. 
    • Diarrhea is usually caused by eating something “different”, eating too much of something, or parasites. 
  • Bloated / Distended Stomach
    • Caused by a variety of factors. If you notice your sheep won’t eat, is acting painful, grinding their teeth, kicking at their stomach, call your vet NOW. In the meantime, give your sheep mineral oil or safflower oil. You can also give a soapy enema using dawn dish detergent. It is important to get them to pass as much gas as possible. The most common causes of bloat are: overeating, new grasses, poisonous plants.