sheep questions.

[doomey!]

why do sheep follow each other?
also, what do the different colours mean on sheep? (ie blue, green, red)

[hocky]

Maybe sheep follow to see where the other sheep are going!

As for the colours - the rams have harnesses fitted with different coloured chalk in them so that when the ram mates with a ewe he marks it. Thus the farmer knows which ewes have been mated and to which ram.

[juliacornwal]

With sheep it's a safety in numbers thing, that's why they follow each other, and as for the colours - well certainly in areas like Dartmoor where the sheep are free range, so to speak, each farmer marks his sheep with a different colour dye, so that when the round up come along they can claim their own back without dispute.

[pussnboots]

My house looks onto farmland and there are loads of sheep in the field. They are so funny. When they are grazing they are all facing the same direction, and when they are sat down, the same thing. I watch the farmer bring them hey and feed and they all troop off together at the same speed. I'm looking forward to lambing, they are not due yet here, the lambs jump about all at the same time.

[pussnboots]

Right about the colours, all farms round here have different colours for identification.

[Metz]

Just an observation..do they ever stop chewing???

[Noweia]

Every farm will have a different flock mark - every animal belonging to that farm will have a certain mark of a certain colour on the same part of its fleece.

Other colors are used as hocky says, so the farmers have a rough idea what ewe is due to lamb when - thats the mark on the rump of the sheep.

Other marks again may be used to identify sheep with specific problems or which are going to be culled/treated/sold etc to help the shepherd keep track of what sheep are going where!

Sheep are typical herd animals in that where one goes, the others follow, even if it's into danger!

[pussnboots]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWJA-VPVmUQ

[heathfield]

How about these?