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Everything you need to know about keeping sheep

Everything you need to know about keeping sheep

Written by Kelsey | February 25, 2026

Sheep are often kept as hobby animals or for grazing. These herd animals require specific care. In this blog, you will read what is important when keeping sheep.

Herd animals

Sheep are true herd animals and should therefore be kept with several other sheep. When kept alone, they may develop stress and display avoidant behaviour.

Different types of sheep

There are more than 900 sheep breeds, differing in size, fleece type and purpose. Some sheep are kept for their wool, others for grazing or simply as hobby animals. Consider the purpose for which you want to keep sheep and the living conditions this breed requires.

Housing

Sheep need a spacious pasture with sufficient grass to graze and move around. They also require proper shelter from rain, wind and sun. The shelter must be dry and free from draughts.

Feeding sheep

Sheep mainly eat grass, which makes the amount of available grass very important. If there is not enough grass available, for example in winter, you will need to provide supplementary feeding. In that case, you can give sheep feed.

Always ensure there is plenty of fresh drinking water available.

Relevant products

Hoof care

A sheep’s hooves should be checked regularly to prevent problems such as lameness. Wet or muddy ground increases the risk of hoof conditions, which makes good pasture management very important.

Shearing sheep

Sheep with a wool fleece must be shorn at least once a year, usually in spring. This prevents heat stress during warmer periods such as spring and summer. A long or dirty fleece can also cause health problems, such as skin issues or parasites. It is therefore important to shear sheep in time. Shearing a sheep requires sufficient experience to prevent stress and injuries.

How old does a sheep live?

A sheep’s lifespan depends on the breed, living conditions and care. On average, sheep live between 10 and 12 years.

What do you need to keep sheep?

When keeping sheep, you should consider the following points:

Sufficient grazing land
Suitable shelters
Feed
Hoof care
Fleece care
Daily care

Also read our other blogs

Deworming Sheep

Deworming sheep and lambs is an important part of health management. However, it is not advisable to deworm as a standard, routine measure. Frequent and ill-considered use of wormers leads to resistance in worms. And resistance is irreversible. That is why a well-considered worming policy is essential.

Vaccinating Sheep

Good health care is essential for the wellbeing and productivity of sheep. Two important pillars are vaccination and a well-considered worming policy. In this blog, you can read which diseases you can vaccinate against. Vaccination policies for sheep vary by country and often depend on the local epidemiological situation, the presence of specific diseases (such as bluetongue or sheep pox), and national legislation. This blog is based on the situation in the Netherlands. Always consult your own veterinarian about the vaccination policy in your country.

Liver fluke in sheep: recognising, preventing and treating

Liver fluke, or Fasciola hepatica, is a parasite that mainly affects grazing animals such as sheep, goats and cattle. The infection damages the liver and bile ducts and can lead to serious health problems. Liver fluke occurs worldwide, including in the UK, especially on wet pastures or grazing land with large numbers of snails. In this blog, we explain what liver fluke is, how sheep become infected, what the symptoms are, and how you can recognise, prevent and treat liver fluke.

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