Sometimes sheep want a break from the daily rigors of eating grains, grass, and other feed. This means that you can add a bit of fruit or vegetable to their diet. One thing that many people consider giving their sheep, particularly during the summer months, is watermelon.
We all know that watermelons are a delicious and refreshing summer treat. But did you know that they’re also healthy for sheep? That’s right, watermelons can be a part of a healthy diet for sheep.
So, if you’re wondering “Can sheep eat watermelon?”, the answer is yes! But there are a few things you should keep in mind.
Can Sheep Eat Watermelon?
Watermelons are not only safe for sheep to eat, but they can actually be beneficial for them. Watermelons are a good source of hydration, as they are made up of 92% water.
Watermelon is actually a bit more beneficial than other fruits that you can give your sheep. For our sheep, watermelon is always the go-to fruit, particularly during the summer months.
Watermelon does have a few nutrients in it. However, as the name suggests, there is a whole lot of water in it too. This can actually be great for helping to keep sheep hydrated, while also giving them a tasty treat too.
Of course, it is not something that you should be giving them often. While watermelon contains a lot of water, it also contains a lot of sugars. These sugars are not something that you want your sheep to be consuming regularly.
In fact, too much sugar can upset their stomach, and there is a risk of a condition called acidosis, which can be fatal.
So yes, sheep can eat watermelon. Should they? Only in moderation.
How Much of a Watermelon Can Sheep Eat?
This is actually a tricky question to answer. This is because it depends.
Normally, we wouldn’t recommend giving your sheep more than a couple of small chunks of watermelon at a time. It is just a treat, and you don’t want them to consume too much of it.
However, during the summer months, you may want to bump this up to around a quarter of a watermelon per sheep, just for the water benefits.
That being said, in both cases, we still wouldn’t recommend that you give the sheep watermelon more than 2-3 times per week. This is because it can cause issues with their standard diet and, as we mentioned, there is always the risk of acidosis.
When feeding watermelons to sheep, it’s important to keep in mind that they should only make up a small part of their overall diet.
How To Prepare Watermelon For Your Sheep
Remind the rind from the watermelon. While some people claim that their sheep are fine eating the rind, we don’t give it to ours. They can just eat what is inside. There are more nutrients there anyway.
We suggest that you cut the watermelon up into small chunks. It is easier for the sheep to digest, and it reduces the risk of them choking.
During the summer months, you may even want to freeze the watermelon for your sheep. It freezes well due to the high water content, and sheep will appreciate the fact that you are giving them something that they can cool down with.
However, if you are going to be freezing the watermelon, then keep those chunks really small. You really want to ensure they aren’t choking.
Final Thoughts
Sheep can eat watermelon, and it may actually be one of the more beneficial fruits you can give them.
Sure, watermelon is high in sugar, but it is also high in water which is great for keeping them hydrated.
Related article: Feeding bananas to sheep
