How do I buy a pet lamb? (Please read the details.)

Question

I want a pet lamb; how much do the cost? Do you need a license for one? I'm 13 and I dream of becoming a sheepherder. And where can I get a lamb and what are the best ones for pets?

Answer 1

You need to check your local zoning laws first, especially if you live in a neighborhood.  Many of them don't allow livestock.  You could search your area for sheep breeders and buy a lamb from them.  You don't need a lisence for one but I'm not sure how much they cost.  You can go to www.tractorsupply.com to check prices on fencing, feed, etc.  It would be cool if you used it for FFA or 4-H shows, and if you join FFA (there should be one at your local high school and some middle schools even have them) you can raise the lamb for your SAE (supervised agricultural experience).  Sheep are basically the same in terms of what are good for pets.  It depends on what size and appearance you want.

Answer 2

It all depends on where you live. If you're in the USA you should look into a 4H club. Every state has them you'll just have to ask around. They teach kids how to raise livestock (cattle, pigs, SHEEP, and goats) and you take them to shows (like dog shows but for livestock). If you go to a county or state fair and you see the tents where all the barn animals are, that is usually 4H kids, so you should talk to them and ask about any clubs near you. In 4H most of the kids sell their livestock after the show, but, if you wanted to keep your lamb as a pet you're allowed to. You have to have enough property for them to live on and it's better to have at least 2 so they don't get lonely. You can usually buy a lamb for 80 dollars or so, but that depends on where you live as well. Any animals are alot of responsibilty and you have to make sure they get the proper vet care. Some farmers sell lambs with their tails already docked (made short) and others will make you do it yourself so make sure to check that out too. If you plan on being a sheepherder then raising a lamb and doing tail docking will show you how it really is, it's not gross like alot of people think. Although most people think sheep are born with short tails. You have to learn how to trim their hooves and shear their wool. Its very fun raising sheep and learning from it and I hope you get to try it out. Good luck.

Answer 3

Lambs can cost between about $50 and several hundred or more, depending on the quality.  You sont' need a license, but your property does need to be zoned to keep livestock.  They are flock animals, you need to keep more than one together.  I would recommend that you join a local 4-H club in your area, or the FFA at your high school (if you're starting High school this fall).  The sheep group through them will help get you started.  The leader will help you to buy a lamb or two, or a small starter flock, of good quality, you can learn how to care for them properly under the supervision of a knowledgeable person, and you'll have someone there to help you if you run into problems.  Most kids commonly start out with a 'market lamb' which they raise, show at a fair (ribbons are awarded for the best quality lambs in each weight group), and they are auctioned off at the end, usually for meat.

If you want them to be 'pets' and keep them rather than raising and selling for slaughter, tell the 4-H or FFA leader you want to show breeding stock and not a market lamb.  Then you'll get rams and ewes and show them and be judged on which is the best for breeding, rather than which has the best meat, and they will go home with you at the end of the show instead of being auctioned. Do not get too friendly with any rams, though, if you keep one or more, they can get very aggressive with you if they perceive you are part of their flock, you can make buddies with a ewe, but I'd handle the rams as minimally as you can and still have a handleable ram.  

For a starter breed, if you want a friendlier, 'pet' type sheep, look at the Southdowns (the full sized Southdowns, not the 'babydoll' variety).  They are one of the small breeds, and tend to be very gentle, friendly, and easy to handle, plus they are adorable.  The 4-H leader should be able to help you to find and choose a nice quality lamb to start out with.  

Answer 4

contact your local Cooperative extension office.  They will have a youth agent who will offer to enroll you in 4-H and help you find sheep breeders in your area.  Sometimes the members are offered a chance to compete for an animal with an essay or some other way to show they are ready to have an animal.  If you win a comoetition you may get the animal for free but if you buy you are looking at about $100 dollars and then you need equipment to feed and care for it.  For more information on costs Google Premier livestock equipment.  they have a line of equipemnt for sheep.

If you have a chance to get a shetland sheep you will have a small animal that can be a companion for a long time.  It would be better to get a female ad the males have horns and hormone problems in the fall and winter.

Answer 5

There are no lambs that make good pets, sorry.  They stink, need room to graze, and dont have much commercial value right now.  They are cute when they are little, but they do grow up.

Unless you want wool or mutton, I would not consider a lamb a good investment.  Have you thought about a cat or dog?  Domesticated animals make much better pets than animals breed for commercial value such as sheep.

Fences and dedicated dogs are really all that is needed to control/contain sheep.  Herding is not really a full time job.  Dogs are often trained to live with the sheep year round, and protect them from coyotes, etc.