Neighbours have moved 2 sheep into back garden!!

Miss_Behaving

Contact DEFRA as the will need to register the land used to keep sheep and also get a flock number.  More info here… https://www.gov.uk/guidance/sheep-and-goat-keepers-register-your-holding-and-flock-or-herd

FreeBear

cymruchris said: I'm not sure the legalities of keeping sheep - but I can't imagine they'd be prohibited as they're not a dangerous animal

Are there still prohibitions on moving certain livestock (foot & mouth restrictions) ?

Certainly not illegal to keep sheep as long as regulatory rules are followed - I could keep most types of livestock here (suburban garden) except pigs due to a restrictive covenant.

Section62

Keep_pedalling said:

youth_leader said:

I remember an article a few years ago about people slaughtering sheep outside their home in the street, halal style. 

If the OP’s neighbours are Muslims then it is quite possible that the sheep have been obtained for Eid al-Abha which occurs early in July.

AFAIK it is only lawful to slaughter sheep at home if the meat is for consumption by the 'immediate family' who are living at the address.

Slaughtering in the street, or for meat for consumption by friends, or family not living at the address, would be unlawful.

How many people have enough 'immediate family' living with them to be able to eat two whole sheep?

movilogo

I was thinking of keeping 2 sheep in my garden  Initially I thought of goats and ducks. Goats are notorious for breaking fences, and ducks can be eaten by foxes. So I narrowed down to sheep. They are quite docile animals. 

Please report your neighbor's experience. I shall be closely watching this thread. 

ProDave

Their name is not Tom and Barbara Good is it?

(I bet that has gone over the head of anyone less than about 50 years old)

longleggedhair

Thank you for all of the replies. Well it was a dreadful night, I had read sheep are more vocal at night and I can now attest to that. As can the neighbours-we we’re texting at 4am as we had all been woken up!

No they’re not Muslims or Welsh. May go and have a discussion today and hope we can get some clarification & then move forward from there depending on the response.

TripleH

How big is the garden?

I thought sheep were quite destructive as they pulled grass out by the roots as opposed to cows who 'cut' the grass to eat.

2 sheep in a modern shoebox garden is completely different to 2 sheep in an acre garden.

We could do with sheep for our hill.

_Sam_

Section62 said:

AIK it is only lawful to slaughter sheep at home if the meat is for consumption by the 'immediate family' who are living at the address.

Slaughtering in the street, or for meat for consumption by friends, or family not living at the address, would be unlawful.

How many people have enough 'immediate family' living with them to be able to eat two whole sheep?

Out of curiosity and thinking back to early 20th century smallholders people would slaughter a pig for their family but due to amount of the resulting produce they couldn’t eat or preserve all, so they would gift small packs to neighbours/friends, invite them for dinners and then when it’s the neighbours/friends that have an animal to slaughter they would return the favours.

is the law you refer to prohibits this now, cannot a family slaughter an animal in preparation for a gathering such as wedding or other celebration? Or is it more to prohibit people slaughtering for commercial purposes.

maisie_cat

TripleH said:

How big is the garden?

I thought sheep were quite destructive as they pulled grass out by the roots as opposed to cows who 'cut' the grass to eat.

2 sheep in a modern shoebox garden is completely different to 2 sheep in an acre garden.

We could do with sheep for our hill.

I think they need 1/2 acre each

koalakoala

Lucky if they stay in the garden. Sheep can get out very easily