Living With Sheep: Everything You Need to Know to Raise Your Own Flock

by Chuck Wooster, Geoff Hansen (Photographer)

Sheep are one of the most beloved of farm animals, and also the most versatile. They produce a myriad of goods from soft wool to fine meat, and of course, tender companionship. This guide contains a wealth of knowledge for raising and caring for a flock of sheep, and is unique in its delicate balance of practical wisdom and touching anecdote. With its gorgeous, full-color photographs and information on everything from feeding to raising lambs to gathering wool, Living With Sheep is the ultimate guide to sheep.

Genres: Animals, Nature, Nonfiction

238 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2005

Reviews

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an insightful and helpful book on Sheep, Rams, and baby lambs. On Predators, on raising and sheering, lambing and breeding. All kinds of information and all attainable. Excellently written too.

[Crystan M.]

Written for the absolute beginner. Lots of beautiful photography.

[Jennifer Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great place to start if you are thinking about getting a few sheep. The author covers a wide range of topics and gives some excellent general advice. Besides lacking a bit in the chapter on wool (no details on washing and carding for example) this is an excellent introduction to sheep. As someone interested in keeping sheep primarily for wool production however, I was a bit disappointed with that particular chapter. Leaving the wool out for birds to use as nesting materials was mentioned twice. Beyond having someone come shear your sheep, initial discarding of debris and bad wool and how to store the fleece until selling it, shipping it off to someone else to handle or giving it to the birds there was no information on how that wool could be processed on site. If such information was covered it would definitely be a five star book.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic book for the uninitiated shepherd. He has a great author voice. I really enjoyed the fact that he does not have a holier-than-thou attitude and is actually very relaxed and funny at times. He covered many topics, some in depth further than others but always left with a sense of understanding even if I desired more information on a topic. The back of the book lists resources for everything discussed in each chapter which will be extremely useful later next year when we get our first flock.

If you're looking for a book to help you decide if shepherding is right for you, or if you are just interested in where your wool or lamb meat comes from, this is most definately the book to read.

[Kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. It was easy to read. The author really clears up a lot of fear that I have about getting sheep. He makes it seem easy, although not without effort.

This is a super basic book though, which he frequently reminds the reader. If you want more detailed information about particular subjects, you need to get another book. But if you just want some basics, this is a great book to have.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you find yourself raising a flock of sheep, with absolutely no experience and preparation or training, this is the book you want on hand. The book was written by an author that did exactly that -- and he presents the information from the point of view of a farmer who learned on the job. He answers the questions you will have with plain, easy to understand direction and logic.

[Diantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I needed sheep information fast, and this delightful book obliged. A good read even if you are not facing a ram that thinks of humans as target practice. Geoff takes you from sheepless to shepherd, basing it on his experiences aquiring a flock in Vermont. This is basicly theory, not a how-to, but still a good first sheep book. His discussion of pasture applies to keeping any grazing animal.

[Kat]

I love yarn. I want my own sheep for my own yarn.

I was ok with everything in this book until....the "slaughter" chapter. The author dealt with it honestly and humanely but it was still too much for my delicate constitution.

[Joe Vess · Rating 5 out of 5]

MUCH better than the other sheep books I've seen. I really appreciate that he starts from the perspective that the reader is completely new to the topic, and it's full of helpful, simple advice and answers the basic questions.

[Joann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book for the beginning sheep person. I dream of owning a sheep, but then reality sets in. Darn!
Love the book - it is clear and concise.

[Dean · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very easy, entertaining, and accessible introduction to sheep husbandry.