Year in Review

December Sunset

It is hard to believe that the year is almost over. This year in particular feels as if time got away from us somehow.

This time last year, 2/3 of my flock was being overwintered at a friends farm to take advantage of her huge barn. Only 10 of the spring ram lambs stayed behind, and they became my pets very, very quickly.

I made the decision to move the flock based on a very strong intuitive instinct, and as it turned out, it was right that I followed that intuition even though I didn't quite understand it at the time.

About 10 weeks after the sheep had been moved and things were fairly settled both here and the host farm, DH sustained an injury at work that was unexpected and would require surgery and rehab over a period of six months. This made farm chores entirely my job, where usually we shared the tasks. And to top it off, I had taken on desk hours and personal training clients at a gym 22 miles from home. So,life was interesting during those months. :-)

I had all but decided not to breed the ewes but my fellow shepherd offered to put them in breeding groups and oversee the operation and so I went ahead. This put the lambs being born in late June and I learned that isn't a great time for lambing if you hope to sell your lambs to other breeders. Most people lamb in early spring, so by the time our lambs were here, the market for breeding stock had been satisfied.

Each year, we transition from winter snow to spring with what I've come to call, "rain season". In my opinion we don't experience the usual Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter but more like , "rain season", "mud season", "bug season" and "snow season".  

I'm now getting used to "rain season " and am good at reminding myself that we don't get that gradual, warming up and mild temps Spring usually brings. We get melting snow, more rain than usual and the resulting mud which makes all those spring farm chores darned near impossible to accomplish. Along with all that, we also get flooding. But in all fairness the sun begins to shine more often and for longer periods which makes life cheerier despite the other issues. We know it will get warmer and dryer soon, so we have hope. And, as a lead in and final farewell to winter, we have the fun and pleasure of Maple Sugaring which we enjoy very much. This has become a tradition for us and is the true herald of the coming Spring.

Usually there is a brief window of time to shear the sheep between the colder overnight temps and the horrendous humidity that makes everything feel 10 times hotter and more uncomfortable than I care to be. Since shearing here is a one man show, I catch, rump, trim hooves, shear, release and skirt the fleeces myself over a period of four or so days. The actual shearing takes just about 12 minutes per sheep, the rest can take a half hour or more per sheep, so its' slow going. Luckily I enjoy it.

We move the flock onto green pasture with portable, electronet fencing which is a handy modern day invention. This allows us to rotate pastures during the summer months taking advantage of all of the grass available. The sheep stay anywhere from two to four days on a section and are moved to fresh grass, allowing the previously grazed area to regenerate. With this method we can revisit a previously grazed section three or more times depending on how many animals are on it. It is a bit labor and time intensive, but for the most part is a pleasant enough exercise. We start in late April and finish up when the grass is gone. This year we made it to late October. This means I spent six months moving portable fencing every few days. By the end of the season, I'm ready to feed hay!

Our lambing season was excellent this year. 11 ewes produced 30 live lambs. We had 2 stillborns.
The 30 lambs included a set of quintuplets, a set of quadruplets, two sets of twins, one singleton and six sets of triplets.

Fall saw us selling sheep at auction, a first for us. Overall it was a good experience giving us a way to market lambs besides the fiber / breeding stock market.

We had the usual issues with parasites. Here, we invariably get barber pole worm, aka -  hoemoncus contortis, and I've learned to be aware and ready for it. This can be fatal if you don't catch it right away, but we've been fortunate that any sheep showing symptoms have recuperated nicely after worming.

In hindsight, I think I would have opted not to breed the ewes, if I could do it all over again. Though I can't say for sure. Lambs and lambing are such wonderful things, its difficult to imagine not having any lambs for a year.
I certainly would have done without DH's injury and surgery and I bet he'd agree with that!

Changes for the new year start with an earlier lambing season, and two new rams who will bring new blood to the flock. We've revisited the idea of selling lambs for meat, and I've reassessed the requirements for keeping certain members of the flock vs. selling them. My new goal is to offer the rams for sale more readily, and to try not to fall victim to their beguiling personalities and the rationale of " beautiful " fleece. For me personally, every fleece is a beautiful one, and so that cannot any longer be a criteria for keeping someone. With the breeding practices I've had in place over the last few  years, they ALL have beautiful fleece, so that is last on the list these days!

Though it isn't in my power, I'd surely opt for dryer spring times, accomplish more farm work, and spend more time spinning and weaving.

Heres' to 2014!

Regards,
Kathryn

Sheep - Mothers and Daughters

Just a hopeful reminder that Spring will come again!
 

As I've stated in previous posts, I am fortunate enough to be able to spend a good deal of time just observing the sheep in our flock.

We maintain two separate groups based on gender - a ewe flock and a ram flock, for most of the year.
This differs at breeding time and lambing time. For breeding purposes, select rams are given access to the ewes and at lambing time the ram lambs stay with their dams until weaning time.

One of the observations I've made repeatedly is the bond between ewes and their lambs. Call me crazy, but I have had occasion to part with a lamb, only to regain possession of it at some future date well after it has matured.

What I have seen is both consistent and bears out the idea of familial bonds that last a good long time.

When a ewe lamb now matured is reintroduced into our flock, the ewe lamb almost immediately recognizes its dam and makes quick attempts to greet and acknowledge her dam. The reactions on the part of the young ewe have ranged from approaching the dam and interacting to actual jubilant jumping and leaping about at the reunion. These young lambs are just about 12 - 18 months old at the time of the reacquainting, and the separation could be as little as two weeks, to over a year.

My first experience with this was after I purchased three ewes, who were dam, daughter and dams' sister.
Circumstances allowed me to take one ewe initially and she was not a happy girl when introduced to her new flock. Two weeks later her dam and aunt arrived and the joy expressed by the young ewe was very interesting to watch. This exuberant leaping and cavorting carried on all afternoon.

Any other reintroductions are much the same on the part of the young ewe.

My second observation has been the reaction of the dam - while signs of recognition on her part are clear, she is less enthused and maintains an air of indifference. "Oh, its you." Yet they tend to band together none the less, within the flock itself.

I cannot testify to ram lambs and their dams as I make a pointed effort NOT to reintroduce them, EVER.  My experience with the young rams is that they are happy to meet any ladies at all regardless of familial connection. My impression is that greetings between ewe and ram are minimal and whether or not a ewe is the dam of a particular ram is of no interest to the young ram.

This is just one more thing that makes shepherding animals that most folk refer to as "stupid" quite interesting. In my experience they are far, far from stupid.

Regards,
Kathryn

December 13, 2013

14 degrees here this morning. Dry, clear, cold. Really nice!

The first pic is the winter shelters for the ewes.

Pic #2 is one of the breeding groups. Three ewes and a ram.

Pic #3 is the main ewe flock leaving their Premier round bale feeder to come see me as I take their pic.

Pic #4 is Earls' Brother. Perhaps one of THE friendliest and trusting rams I've ever owned. He is a classic example of those sheep who seek out human interaction and affection. I love him!

 Pic #5 is of Freckles (R) and Andy (L). Both lively, curious and friendly boys. Andy is one of the flock sires this year. Hopefully Freckles will be too.

And last - the Percheron team, Paladin (R) and Dick (L).

Yesterday I dropped off some wool products in town at the whole foods store, and have begun to plan for a website where we can showcase and offer our hand made wool items.

Today I'll be immersed in weaving and spinning after feeding the critters.

 I'm waiting for some fiber to come back from the mill and getting ready to send out more. This time I'll send out more organic wool and some fiber to make wool mattress toppers and comforters. I've been wanting to do that for a long time. I also have a few more pelts to ship.

So, daylight is coming and its time to suit up for the feeding and watering chores before everyone starts calling to me.

Regards,
Kathryn

Finnsheep Fleece

This blog post will be mostly quite subjective on my part, so you know that going forward.

 I started out raising a mixed flock of sheep with Corriedale, Clun Forest, Border Leicester X and Icelandic sheep. I became familiar with those types of wool, and through shearing sheep for others, also became familiar with a wide range of wool types.

As a wool buyer, I don't turn down any fleeces, because I love them all and find a purpose for each wool type that I take. One of the wonders of wool in the 21st century is that, among other attributes, it is versatile and regardless of the fineness or coarseness, it all has a place in the value added product marketplace.

Finn wool, ranges from animal to animal, from fine and crimpy with a medium staple length, to britchy, straight and course on some animals. Hand spinners in the USA are only now becoming familiar with this lovely, high luster wool. In some places a good, clean fleece, free of any hay chaff, burrs, dirt etc. will bring upwards of $20.00 per pound.

Finnsheep come in a variety of colors and it appears that breeders everywhere are concentrating efforts on understanding and producing consistent colored fleeces. While spots, stripes, and many different patterns and markings are possible, white still remains the best for dyeing. White fleeces also carry high luster giving a sheen to the finsished yarn that rivals mohair. Less true for colored fleeces.

When looking at a Finnsheep for wool quality, its important to check for uniformity in the fleece, from shoulder to tail. Often there is a "britch" wool on the hind legs that becomes course and straight. Many hand spinners will toss this as garbage, some will blend it, others will separate it, mix with similar, and use it for rugs. It all depends on what you want your final product to be.

One sure way to know the wool quality of your animals is to send a sample of the fleece to Yocum-McColl who will test it and send back a full report. Often this report is surprising, contrasting with the subjective analysis that results from touching, feeling and seeing the wool.

A fine Finn fleece would be one of 26 micron count, which is, according to Yocum-McColl, the equivalent of Merino wool.

A point to remember is that as a sheep ages, their wool tends to become more coarse. Most of us are aware that a lambs fleece is very, very soft and will be the softest of any fleece the sheep will have in the future.

Wool is a sustainable, renewable and earth friendly product. Sheep grow new wool each year, and depending on the breed, may give two fleeces/ year though most are shorn only once annually, and this in the early Spring prior to lambing.

Wool is coated with lanolin which the sheep produces through numerous glands on its skin. The lanolin content differs according to breed, with some having little lanolin, others having so much that simply handling the fleece covers your hands with it. This is usually referred to as "grease" and wool that is raw, not having been yet washed, is called "grease wool." Back in the day, wool was spun raw with the lanolin still on it and this gave rise to the term, "spinning in the grease."

There is some mixed info on whether or not leaving the lanolin on the yarn as it is spun will afford any water repellent qualities to the finished product. If I were to guess I would think that as long as the garment or textile isn't ever washed that degree of water repellence will remain, but once exposed to wash, will be removed. Just my guess.

I have spun in the grease myself, and enjoy handling wool with the higher degree of lanolin. When skirting raw fleeces with high lanolin content the lanolin will give the feel of a much softer fiber than truly exists, and this can be misleading. Once that wool is washed the true coarser nature is obvious.

Finn wool has a soft, almost silky feel to it that is quite noticeable in the finished yarn. This makes it a good wool for items that come in contact with one's skin where softness is appreciated.

Finn fleeces average somewhere around 6 - 8 pounds in my flock. Having shorn sheep that yield 12 pound fleeces, this doesn't seem like a lot per animal, but in a flock of 30 animals its 180 - 240 lbs of wool, which needs to be skirted, picked, washed, carded and spun. Plenty!

Finn fleece is pleasant spun raw, or from processed rovings, and it felts nicely making it a versatile wool for most fiber artists.

Check out these links for further info:

http://www.finnsheep.org/colors-markings-guide/



Excellent pictures and explanations:
http://www.internationalfinnsheepregistry.org/finn-wool.html


http://www.ymccoll.com/

To the right is Finn Ram, Clef with long staple, high luster wool. This sheen is readily apparent in yarn spun from his fleeces.

December 11, 2013

Bygone Days

December 11, 2013 here.

Snow on the ground, cold temps, clear air and weather that changes moment to moment no kidding.

The sheep are all settled in their winter enclosures.
Breeding has begun and indeed, is almost completed.

Spring 2014 will see new lambs again and I will be midwife to the ewes, a role I don't mind because it almost invariably has me playing a supporting part, one which allows me to simply watch.

Lambing time is stressful to say the least, much of which I bring on myself, admittedly since I can't stand the excitement of waiting for the lambs and feel I have to check on the ewes hourly. This ritual starts a good two weeks before I know they are due in the hope that I can stare the ewes into labor somehow. To date, no such luck!

There is little else that compares with seeing a long awaited and hoped for lamb, newly out of the
wrapper ( ewe ) shocked into this world and valiantly struggling to breathe, stand and nurse. Those first few moments and hours are tense for me and each year I vow not to put myself through it again, only to anticipate the next breeding season as soon as the current one has seen the last new lamb to be born for the year.

Now, winter is the time for weaving, spinning and gearing up for Spring. Around here this is often a phenomenon we have come to term " mud season".  Rather than a nice gradual warming up and flourishing of plants and creatures, we have snow which melts all at once causing flooding and making the ground obnoxiously muddy. This gives way to "April Showers" and our Spring is curtailed due to rain, mud and sometimes ice that makes the idea of starting spring farm chores a joke. Yet, we somehow survive and get things done anyway, and have come to anticipate this cycle.

So for now, I'll skirt fleeces, spin fiber and weave up as much as I can get done because its only 126 days until the first lambs are due! But...........who's counting?

Excellent concise article

http://www.stillmeadowfinnsheep.com/finns_in_print.html

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Today dawns blustery, snowy and cold. It is the wind that brings the element of brutality to the climate. Without a doubt you understand immediately the life or death balance any mammal will face without adequate protection from the wind combined with the freezing temps.

Oddly enough, the ducks are happily paddling away on the stream which they will do all winter regardless of wind, cold, snow. They do very well on the water all year long.

Tomorrow will be an interesting day here on the farm as I am receiving three yearling ewes into the flock. These ewes were bred and born here, leaving to join another flock last winter. The flock has been disbanded and I was given the option of taking the yearlings back, so I agreed and tomorrow they arrive.

As far as I know now, that will be the end of any new animals joining our flock this year.

We are still offering three high quality ram lambs for sale, as well as two mature rams with proven breeding records.

In terms of ewes, I will be selecting replacements for some of the girls who are moving into older age. This will be hard to do because the breeding records for them have been superlative.

The three yearling ewes are all colored ranging from solid black ( which I love ) to HST ( head, socks, tail all white ) to piebald.

My intention is to expose the ewe flock to the rams at Thanksgiving which still gives me time to finalize the goals I'm creating.  I mull over the breeding pairs scrutinizing the pros and cons with an eye to eliminating as many cons as I can while instilling as many pros as I can. Then we will watch as nature takes its course, and wait.

In the beginning I am full of enthusiasm at the prospects but eventually this subsides as the day-to-day tasks overtake me, and for a few blessed weeks I forget the girls are bred but then......about six weeks from lambing time I start with renewed excitement. I think its a combination of knowing that winter is almost done, spring is almost on us, and imagining the lambs when they are born.

I watch the ewes like a hawk, checking on them every few hours and sometimes just sitting with them in the pasture for several hours at a time. This is therapeutic for me and seems to be okay with them too.

Despite my best efforts to be present for all lambing, I have a few girls who prefer to wait and lamb in secret, presenting me with freshly born, still wet lambs to help dry and monitor. 

Some ewes are seasoned dams and know what to do without any assistance from me, while the new mothers are sometimes a bit shell shocked and need some direction as they sort out their lambs, the feeding routine and all of the sensations they are bombarded with at lambing time.

This year the plan is to lamb in mid to late April, a full 8 weeks ahead of last years schedule, and I have a back up strategy for meat as well.

All things considered here it is a wonderful life albeit one where tough decisions have to be made to preserve the well being of the flock in general.

This has been a real learning year for this shepherd, bittersweet in many ways, but 2014 lies ahead and hope springs eternal!

Regards,
Kathryn

Ram lambs from 2012

 

Monday, November 18, 2013

Alpaca Blanket in Progress

Wow!

We are on the downhill slide to year's end and it doesn't seem possible!

What an incredible year in so many ways!

We started the 2013 year with only 10 of the umpteen sheep we cared for, having boarded the ewe flock out with a fellow shepherd in exchange for some of the ewe lambs.

Leaving us with only 10 Finn ram lambs, we had no idea at the time of this decision what events would unfold to make that the best decision ever.

For the most part, it was an intuitive nagging at me that urged me to seek an arrangement for the overwintering of the flock last year. While I thought the possibility of a nasty winter was the motivation for the decision, in reality and quite unexpectedly DH sustained an injury at work that made it difficult to care for the few animals remaining here over the winter. Who knew? But what a God send to not have to worry about the girls.

The little ram lambs did fabulously and provided a much needed distraction from all things droll.

Spring saw the ewes reinstalled on their home pastures and awaiting June lambs, and by the first of July the flock had expanded from a mere 21 to 61. Gotta love those Finns and their multiple births!

Lambing went well, with girls holding off while I made a quick trip overnight, and all in all it was a good lambing season.

This past two weeks has been tough as I've re-evaluated the numbers and made decisions about letting certain animals go, but I am feeling optimistic and at peace with those decisions having learned a great deal about life this week especially.

Breeding will commence in earnest Thanksgiving Day which is close at hand as I write.

The looms have been busy and I have fallen into a creative modality in weaving saddle blankets for the time being.

Regards,
Kathryn

Finished wool saddle blanket.










Saturday - Opening Day for Hunting

 November 16, 2013

Opening Day!

Its a beautiful cool, clear and sunny morning here for opening day of the 2013 hunting season.

We live in an excellent area for all types of wild life and deer are abundant so we hear and see quite a few hunters throughout the season.

Many of the small and not-so-small camps are bustling with activity and the traffic up and down our otherwise quite road, explodes.

Like most people, we have company - an old friend
and hunting buddy of the D.H.

As it happens, he's also a duck carver of many decades.

These past few years he's expanded into other
creatures and this year we were gifted with a very
unique and unusual carving of our beloved pet
Finn ram - Earl.

To say the carving looks like Earl is an understatement.

We are thrilled with the unexpected gift and honored to give it a place on our wall. How cool is that?

 

Over the last few days I've been preparing to finish off some textiles I've been working on.

The pictures are of a saddle blanket, a rug and a rug made solely from rovings. I'm still working on a throw blanket even as I prepare the loom for another saddle blanket. This one will be from Alpaca.

 

The rugs and saddle blanket are not yet finished, though the weaving is done. Remaining is the hemming and fulling and final touch with a steam iron, but in my impatience I went ahead and posted the photos knowing they aren't exactly the best. Can't help myself ! :-)

 

We are now down about 26 sheep from our original total this summer of 61.

While I feel I've culled, sold and parted with everyone I could afford to, we are still a bit on the heavy side as winter eases its way in.

 

As sorry as I am to see any leave as I love them all, I feel confident that those remaining are the beginning of a new core group that will advance the flock over time.

 

I've learned quite a few lessons from all of this selling of sheep.

 

1) Really, don't keep a ram longer than 2  years

 

2) Fiber being the priority for me, I see value in every sheep because it simply has wool. It is just as easy to have top quality sheep with excellent fleeces as it is to have lesser. Go for top quality.

 

3) Make up your mind from the beginning that sheep die, and be okay with orchestrating that when the time comes. As shepherds, we are both the midwives and the grim reaper when the need arises.

 

4) Because my role as shepherd is primarily one of care giver, it is understandably hard to STOP caring when the time comes to part with any animal. Be patient with yourself as you learn to do this.

 

At any rate, life moves on, things are good, hope abounds and we look to the future about five months from now, while we take the winter to hope, envision and expect new life in due course.

 

God is good!

Regards,

Kathryn

Premier Round Bale Feeder

Finnsheep Ewes

Now that summer pastures have gone dormant and snow is on the ground, we've started feeding hay.

We've been feeding a combination of round bales to the horses and square bales to the sheep because the square bales are small enough for me to handle without the need for equipment to move them.

While square bales are easier for me to handle, round bales are more economical. Our hay supplier does both so we have access according to what we want and need to feed.

In the past we have opted for round bales for the sheep, both with a traditional round bale feeder and just plopping them on the ground. Either way there seemed to be a good deal of waste as the sheep pulled out, trampled and laid down on the hay. Additionally, I found that hay in the wool was problematic too.

On the recommendation of a friend and fellow shepherd, this year we opted to try a round bale feeder from Premier Livestock supply in Iowa.

This feeder consists of square panels with square holes cut into them at two different heights. This allows both lambs and mature sheep access to the hay at the same time. The square panels are easily assembled and you can purchase as many as you think you need to make a small bale feeder or a large bale feeder.

Ours has been in place about four days now, and the difference was seen immediately. There is NO waste of hay with this feeder.  It is wonderful not to see the ground strewn with hay. The lambs can get to and reach the hay while the bigger ewes feed. This eliminates the tendency for someone to wait to eat, assuring that everyone is getting fed, not just the piggy ones.

The downside is that I cannot move the round bales myself but have to rely on D.H. Of itself this isn’t really a bad thing we just need to plan to move the new bale at a certain time.

The final downside is the shipping cost for the feeder. As far as I know the only way to get equipment from Premier is to have it shipped. This can be costly, but having considered this, I believe it is well worth the cost.

Check it out:

http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=99

 Regards,

Kathryn

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Blech!

7 a.m. and still dark-ish out, certainly overcast and snowing. I am not, not, NOT ready. Blech.

On todays' agenda, among many things, is making a final decision on who goes to the auction this week. I have mature rams, ram lambs and ewe lambs. If I'm to be honest and really harsh, there is even a mature ewe or two that should be on the trailer this trip.

BUT...ahem...flock goals, what about flock goals? Seems like lately I've lost track of what those were if I ever knew to begin with.

My first elementary goal was to have fleece. Any sheep would do, didn't matter breed, gender or even fleece quality in the beginning. I was so thrilled to have my own ovine I wasn't picky.

Then the reality of caring for a growing flock set in. I've always been athletic-ish, and strong, able - bodied but as time marches on I find myself slowing up just a bit and becoming a tad bit pickier ( is that a word? ) about the tasks I take on and under what circumstances.

Gradually I made the transition from a mixed flock to a purebred flock of Finns because they are just plain delightful and easy to work with. Easy to move, fun companionship, colorful fleeces and the cutest lambs in the world. No brainer.

Of course it doesn't take much to increase the flock. I brought in new breeding stock with the idea of selling some of the older animals, had 30 lambs, and assimilated animals from a friends' flock and here I am. Too many sheep for the resources.

They are all wonderful, each with its' own special quality that makes it somewhat of a consideration for keeping. No lamb left behind and all that.

If I were to revisit flock goals and look at simply growing wool, then 40 would be about right. Finn fleeces aren't overly large and as a weaver I use a lot of wool in my projects, so the more wool critters the better from that stand point. No need to breed any more unless I lose someone to sale or death.

The flock is predominantly white, with a few colored animals tossed in because we are just beginning to have a few generations that are displaying color. I like the white most especially for dyeing, but it sure is fun to look at all those colored sheep in the field too.

Then there are bloodlines. I'd like to establish three or four separate and distinct bloodlines to allow for greater diversity in breeding groups and of course that requires a few rams I wouldn't usually need.

I'm seriously considering not breeding this year, just to give myself a break, and this could be a viable plan but how sad to be lamb-less come the regeneration of Spring.  Sometimes I think lambs are the sole reason for having sheep. So much cuteness all in one package. Not to mention genetic potential for furthering the breed.

Well, frankly, my head hurts. And to be honest there are those moments where I think everyone should just go, and be done.

I have my original rams who've done a great job with the gene pool, have excellent fleece and I had hoped for them to retire and die of old age here.

I have some of their offspring, also rams, that for one reason or another I haven't gotten around to using yet, but someday....

I have ram lambs that are outstanding in confirmation , temperament and fleece with exactly the right bloodlines I need, I cannot bear to part with ...yet.

There are ewes that are the matriarchs and too good to let go, their daughters who are just getting warmed up, and their daughters who are too young to breed this year, but will give grand fleece in the spring.

Geeze, wish me luck!

Regards,
Kathryn

November 11, 2013 Veterns' Day

As a new shepherd one of the things I had to learn was how to care for the flock when things aren't quite right.

Keeping the flock healthy isn't very hard, but when an unusual medical situation crops up unexpectedly, you either handle it yourself, or call your vet.

There are two main reasons to reserve calling the vet, one is distance. Our livestock vet is an hour away, and since they schedule rounds for most days, they aren't  immediately available to drop what they are doing and drive an hour to my farm. This is a consideration before I pick up the phone.

The other is cost. A farm call is $75.00 and this just covers their coming on the property, no treatment. Weighing both of those things against the need is always a consideration.

In the early days of our shepherding, things went well for the most part. The first call for our vet was to draw blood on the sheep for Johnnes and OPP as a matter of routine. Though some people do this themselves and send to an independent lab, I'm squeamish and would rather the vet do it, quickly, efficiently and easily.

This initial visit allowed us to ask questions and meet the vet prior to any emergency that might arise later on. We didn't want our first contact to be a cold call.

Over time our relationship has grown to a point of trust and co-operation and I feel very strongly that our livestock vet truly has the best interest of the animal at heart.

We have an option for saving the on-farm call fee, by transporting the animal to the vets' office, and we've done this on several occasions. Each time it has been for a lamb, so transport was easy as was the office call. This is a good option.

We have also sought advice via phone call, and have requested certain medications via email, which have been mailed out without problems.

We can give injections, treat wounds, administer oral medications, cast limbs, handle some obstetric situations up to this point,  (God I'm not asking to be challenged here :-) ). Our vet has responded to my request for additional knowledge of certain illnesses with detailed emails on how to perform invasive procedures when there is no other option. Not the best solution but if it is that or death, I'd just as soon pull out all the stops and try to save my animal.

This past spring we had a case of what I believe was bloat in which, despite my efforts and a call to the vet, we lost the animal anyway.  Sometimes it happens and you remember that the other side of life is inevitable death for all of us someday.

The highest priority for an animal that is ill in our flock is to reduce the amount of suffering they may be experiencing. Sometimes this means death and its not easy when you have invested much in bringing the animal as far as it has already come.

All in all, for six years now, we've done okay in terms of emergencies and unforeseen complications, having cared for just about 80 sheep in this time period.

What I've learned is to stay humble, watchful and always ready to learn.

Regards,
Kathryn


In Memory of Mary ScholefieldFriend, fellow shepherd and teacher. You taught me so much!
Rest in peace dear friend.

January 19, 1960  - November 12, 2011

More Lambs for Sale

Available until November 13, 2013. We are happy to accept a deposit to hold your lamb, arrange for board until you can pick it up, and accept Paypal!



 

Flash
Demi FBA # 26536
Panda FBA # 24239
Flash is a piebald and carries for spotting. He is a triplet with excellent bloodlines and a soft, crimpy fleece.

Demi just prior to lambing triplets 2013

 

 

Flash at Five Months

 

 

 

 

Panda - Sire of Flash

 

More For Sale Lambs

Freddie FBA # 23715

Available until Wednesday, November 13, 2013. These lambs are well bred with fine fleeces. We can accept deposits to hold them and in the event that pick-up cannot be arranged for some time, we can also create a board agreement until pick up can be scheduled. We accept Paypal!


#30 Ewe lamb
Gwen FBA #26344
Freddie FBA # 23715

This lamb comes from a bloodline known for large, growthy lambs, strong maternalism, prolificacy and high quality fleece. Although she herself is white, she is likely to carry for both spotting and black, head/socks/tail markings.

 

 

Gwen FBA # 26344

With this years' litter of triplets including the ewe lamb above.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For Sale Until Wednesday, November 13, 2013

These are some of the lambs available for sale. I am happy to take deposits and also to arrange for board if the buyer cannot pick them up for some time, and....we accept Paypal!






Panda

Freda
Amelia FBA # 24203
Panda FBA # 24329
Contact for price and further info.


Freda is a quadruplet from a black dam and a black piebald sire.
She carries for spotting.
DOB - June 24, 2013

 

Frankie ( yes, he's peeing ) But it was suuuch a good shot! :-)

Frankie -ram lamb
Frankie is litter mate to Freda
Frankie displays both large spots and small Dalmatian ticking pattern

Amelia with 2013 litter


 

Choosing a Breeder

Wowza!

Cold and raw today.  Snow flurries. A good day for the wood stove. Winter is making its presence known.

Now is the time that most shepherds are putting their breeding groups together and this leads me to a discussion of Finnsheep breeders in general.

There are two organizations for Finnsheep here in the U.S.

The first and oldest of them is The Finnsheep Breeders Association:

www.finnsheep.org

There are 50 breeders listed throughout the 50 states. Fossil Creek Farm is NOT listed though we are indeed members.

Then there is the second Finnsheep breeders group. This group is newer and has a different focus than the first. We are listed in the breeders directory with IFR.

http://www.internationalfinnsheepregistry.org/

There are 40 breeders listed there and we are included in that directory.

Our farm, like many,  has dual memberships with both registries.

Since Finnsheep are a relatively little known breed in the US, with a small population of purebred, registered animals compared to other breeds, many of the breeders listed in either directory are newbies, such as myself.

Choosing a breeder to supply animals for your flock means that depending on your location and your budget you might choose to buy from a long standing experienced breeder or a knowledgeable, passionate but new breeder.

Registered Finnsheep breeding stock can range between $200.00 - $800.00 depending on the shepherd and the various qualities present in the sheep.

Almost all breeders, established and new, breed for the usual things.

• Confirmation ( breed standard )
• Fleece quality
• Temperament
• Maternal instinct
• Parasite resistance

Not necessarily in that order.

Some breeders focus on Scrapie resistance. Scrapie being a deadly disease that if detected will result in confiscation and euthanizing of a breeders entire flock. Scrapie is similar to "hoof and mouth " disease. For the most part, the USDA seems to think it much less of a threat than in previous years.  . Animals with an inherent resitance to Scrapie will have RR or QR blood types. These animals are usually at the higher end of the price scale and appeal to commercial flock shepherds.

All breeders start their flocks with bloodlines from an established flock. Through strategic pairings of various animals, new bloodlines are established, particular to that shepherd, but essentially the foundation animals have common ancestors in their lineages.

Some shepherds raise sheep as a commodity, others as a passion. Some for commercial purposes, others as fiber pets. Some for a livelihood, others for the shear joy of it.

What's important in selecting a breeder is that he/she knows and understands your flock goals and suggests animals that are suited to those goals as opposed to selling you an animal they no longer want.

Most flocks have a few culls - animals which for one reason or another do not fit the breeders criteria as breeding stock.

Different breeders manage culls differently. Some will keep them and breed them anyway which can often result in diminished quality of the flock in general. Others will neuter the rams and sell them as companions or fiber pets. Many go to auction and/or directly to the freezer which assures their genes will not eventually find their way into the pool and keeps the integrity of the breed intact. Its possible that a cull might appeal to a buyer if that buyer doesn't intend to breed, but use the animal strictly for fiber or meat.

Whether you are thinking of purchasing from an experienced and well established breeder, or a new and passionate breeder it pays to do your research before hand and be up front with your flock goals.

Talk with several breeders, visit the online breeder organizations and learn what the breed standard is, the organizations' mission is, and what your own goals for your flock are to be.

Your potential breeder should be willing to mentor you and your flock as you become established, via phone, emails and in person if feasible. This may or may not reflect in the cost of your foundation animals.

Membership to one or both of the breed organizations will be helpful. A point to consider here though is, the International Finnsheep Breeders Registry is not reciprocal with the Finnsheep Breeders Association. If you buy animals registered through IFR, they are in effect the same as unregistered as far as the FBA is concerned. So, if you choose IFR animals they will not be appealing to people who favor membership with FBA. At this time I do not believe dual registry is an option for IFR animals.

You can register FBA animals with IFR and achieve dual registry in that manner, but IFR animals are not registrable through FBA. This is a consideration and one which should be carefully weighed when you determine your flock goals.

Regards,
Kathryn

November 4, 2013

 Breeding season is upon us.

Finnsheep can breed all year long, but many people, myself included, prefer spring lambs, so breeding is timed for fall.  November breeding will bring April lambs. Depending on the year, maybe a bit late for Easter, but otherwise in time for the lush new grass and a good time for the lambs and ewes who are lactating.

A common practice with sheep is to "flush" them prior to breeding. This means they are offered the best possible nutrition in grain, supplements and hay that is available. The theory is that nature will recognize a well fed and well nourished animal and conditions will encourage multiple lambs because of it.

In some towns throughout the U.S and one on Long Island that I have first hand knowledge of, the name FLUSHING MEADOWS crops up, and even Queens has a borough known as FLUSHING, though the part about the meadow is absent, perhaps having been dropped over the years.

This refers to an area once designated for the purpose of putting animals out on pasture, flushing them with the nutrients available on the new grass. Who knew? And how interesting to envision Long Island and Queens as the once rural, agricultural areas we know them to have been.

Finnsheep however, are able to have litters of as many as 7 lambs at once, with litters of four and five fairly common. Due to this I personally do not flush the ewes prior to putting them with the ram.

Last year we had 30 lambs from 11 ewes. One singleton, two sets of twins, one set of quintuplets and one set of quadruplets, all the rest were triplets.

The single lamb was born to a first time dam.


Of the lambs offered for sale are two remaining ewe lambs that are from a quintuplet litter.

These lambs were sired by Ben. Caden is the dam.   Cadens' dam gave quadruplets this year. 

This was Cadens' second lambing, having produced twins last year. The lineage is one proven for large framed, prolific progeny with outstanding maternalism, hand spinning fleeces and docile temperaments. 

No flushing necessary!

Regards,
Kathryn

November 3, 2013

Cold and wet here today. Filled all my water receptacles last night so I wouldn't need the hose until the sun can warm it up later in the day.

The critters all seem to be content for the moment.

In an effort to consolidate groups and minimize space requirements I introduced the remaining ram lambs to the two remaining teen aged rams. This went very smoothly and everyone seems quite happy with the arrangement, so I am happy.

Reintroducing adult rams is NOT one of the necessary actions I enjoy, but I do it because I enjoy it far better than watching them back waaaayyyyyyy up and hit each other full force with an unforgettable crack as they connect. I cannot stand to watch it and even less to hear it, so when the time comes to introduce them again, we squeeze them into a tight, tight space for 24 hours or so, from which they emerge a bit more civil towards each other.

Except for the one time this summer when I had a band of rams roaming about free grazing the property. I took a risk and introduced two other rams to them and there was very little interest or posturing to my relief. Absolutely no head butting at all.
But this is breeding time and the boys know it so they are more inclined to show their dominance than they were in mid summer heat with nothing much going on.
For the time being, I'll have two ram groups.

I'm pleased to say that Dallas seems to have taken a liking to little Asa, though Cwen is still out on the subject, but that is okay.
Asa admires Dallas too but seems to be figuring out logistics.  I'm rooting for the little guy but Dallas is going to have to help him I think. Time will tell.

Yesterday was spent procuring materials to fortify the shelters. In a previous post I discussed hoop houses and completely forgot to mention we also use chain link dog kennels as kind of free - standing stalls.
These are enclosed with tarps to make them wind, snow and more or less water, proof. With a nice deep pile of straw frequently added to, everybody seems cozy enough for the winter, even though we don't use a conventional barn.

On another note, we still have some fine breeding stock available for sale.

Two teen aged rams - white - 18 months old

5 ram lambs - all colored - 5 months old

8 ewe lambs - 6 white, two colored - 5 months old.

They will be available until November 10, 2013.

After that we will begin taking deposits on 2014 lambs.


Regards,
Kathryn

November 2, 2013

Asa seems to be asking ...What?




 

Yesterday was a busy and fruitful day by anyones' standards.

Raining and windy in the morning I set about doing chores, but soon the rain gave way to blue sky and lifted everyones' spirits a bit.

The day started with worming and trimming hooves on two mature ewes, Dallas and Cwen who are to be bred to Asa, for their new owners.

Asa is a young ram that I purchased from Stillmeadow Finnsheep, to bring in some different bloodlines this year.

Unfortunately, the girls don't seem to appreciate his affections at all, and he is left wondering what to do next.
They don't let him come near, though every sign says they are warming up to him and will be best buddies soon enough.

We also said good-bye to two ewe lambs and a fine ram lamb, sending them home with their new shepherd who will add them to her flock for fiber and breeding stock.
We are thankful and happy to see these beautiful lambs go to a home that appreciates them, but also sad to see them go.


I wove off the Shaker Rug and will finish the roving rug today, just in time to warp for the saddle blanket due before Thanksgiving.

We still have four quality ram lambs available and 6 ewe lambs for anyone hoping to expand or start a flock of their own Finnsheep.
This is an excellent opportunity to acquire well bred progeny from strong lines, for a great price!

We are accepting deposits on 2014 lambs now as well.

The first picture below is the wool rug woven with rovings. Fun, soft and given to felting with time, this rug washes well and makes an excellent beside mat, bathroom mat or entry way rug.

The second rug is woven with wool yarn completely grown and processed here in Chenango County, N.Y.  This rug pattern is also available in different color combinations, and as a saddle blanket. The difference between a saddle blanket and rug, is the dimensions. Saddle blankets are square - 34 " x 34 " while rugs are rectangular - 24" x 36".

Today will be filled with more of those farm tasks that I truly enjoy as well as more weaving and God willing maybe even some spinning!

Regards,
Kathryn

 

 

 

 

Post Auction Day

Here we are a day later and the smoke has settled from the sale of the boys, both teenagers from last year and lambs from this year.

10 went to auction all together, and as sad as I was to see them go, I'm over it ( for the most part ).

There will be another trailer load to go in two weeks, depending on whether or not I've managed to sell any in the meanwhile, the remaining lambs may all be leaving at that point.

With an eye to excellence I sorted through the ram lambs and held back several that I thought were superior, hoping to find shepherds looking for high quality rams. I also intend to keep several for my own flock, at least for this year.
Of these, one rather handsome black fellow could be a color powerhouse in the flock. He himself is a black with white blaze and socks, with excellent fleece, but I believe he carries for badger grey and piebald so if I'm fortunate and choose the right ewe, his litter might have white, black, badger and piebald, which would be really cool!

I have retained for my flock, Frost, Finnegan, Freckles and the little boy described above. 

For sale are Flash and Ferdinand.

At any rate, I'll be a busy shepherd over the next few weeks.

Ewes Dallas and Cwen are separated and ready for their breeding to Asa and will go to their new flock in mid-December.

New breeding groups for the rest of the ewe flock are being planned now for November 23 which should give us Apirl 15th lambs.

And the Circle of Life continues.


Regards,
Kathryn

Octobe 30, 2013

Luca   FBA #  24518

Up and at 'em on this wet, overcast, raw day!

Today will be a big day as we learn from our first experience with the livestock auction house.

We'll be loading up a mix of the ram lambs and teenaged rams and saying goodbye to them today.

This will give us some breathing room, though we expect to take another load in two weeks; then we should have the flock down to a manageable size for winter.

Awaiting pick-up are two ewes that will be exposed to our new ram, Asa and sold bred, and two ewe lambs and a ram lamb that will be going to fiber homes, with potential for breeding next year. They will be picked up on Friday.

I am holding back a few of the nicest ( hard call, they are all nice ) ram lambs and all of the ewe lambs in hopes of selling them to individuals before the next auction sale.

Already planning breeding groups, and after six years, the flock is going through some major adjustments this year in terms of replacement ewes, and starting new and separate bloodlines.

I have been reviewing flock goals and specific breeding animals to see if they fit in with those goals, and making adjustments accordingly, but sometimes it hurts my brain.

What I've learned is this...its just as easy to have lovely fiber animals, and companions with outstanding genetics as it is to have lesser quality fiber animals/companions. Not that any going to auction have anything to be ashamed of, they are all quite lovely. But from here on 
with a very critical eye to producing the best of the best, my fiber pets will need to be top quality to stay in the flock.

I look forward to reporting on how it unfolds at the auction house.

Regards,
Kathryn

October 29, 2013

Ecclesiastes 3

There is a time to every purpose unto heaven.

And so there is a time to sell our sheep, a time to cull, a time to put meat in the freezer and a time to make way for the future. Sigh. Doesn't mean I enjoy all these times though.

Today will be spent getting ready for tomorrow, auction day. There are a few things wrong with sending livestock to the auction house, one of which is prices are not guaranteed, nor are they always good. I'm expecting $20 a head for my rams which is sad since their fleeces alone would bring at least three times that. URGH! Nothing I can do about it now. Just accept that it is time to let go.

Today I will also be lost in the throes of weaving and spinning, tasks that I enjoy and a cathartic. I will also be planning out breeding groups, truly a pleasant past time. And planning next weeks trailer load for the auction..sigh.

At any rate, what I've learned from having an unforeseen flock of 61 head, is that they are Gods' abundance for our farm, and a good thing. We had a phenomenal lambing season this year, bought in some new bloodlines, and brought back some animals that were originally bred here, sent to another farm and subsequently sent back here. So, our flock expanded rapidly. Who knew???

The problem comes from wanting to keep them all and then some. But Gods' plan is not for us to keep them, but rather to exchange them for the things we need.
Therein lies the benefit of the abundance, along with the knowledge that within a few months, there will surely be more.

This year has also brought about deeper relationships with other Finnsheep breeders which is a wonderful thing.
Being able to share your lifestyle and passion with others of similar ilk is a true gift and adds much pleasure to the day-to-day life of shepherding. There are few things as fun, interesting or informative as spending time talking to and visiting with other Finnsheep breeders.
Invariably the conversation turns to pedigrees, generations, color genetics, temperaments and ...fleece.

The other shepherds I know are as much fiber addicts as I am with a creative bent that is expressed through their use of the wool the sheep bear. Even though busy with the farm chores and often times off site employment they still find time to wash, pick, card, dye and spin, knit, felt or weave beautiful and creative one of a kind items for the shear ( pun intended ) pleasure of it.

They are also nurturing souls, enjoying the exchange between sheep and shepherd, one of providing for the flocks'  basic food, shelter, well being while the flock in exchange provides our food, warmth and well being.

So, all things considered, life is good, sheep are good, God is great!


I'm sharing a link to a blog I thought some would enjoy. Classic example of like minded shepherd!

http://gypsyspinner.blogspot.com/


Regards,
Kathryn

                                                     Home Textile Tool Museum

More on Ram Aggression

Here is an excellent and well written, thought provoking article on ram aggression.



http://www.plfkarakuls.com/art-ram.html

Using Our Wool

As a weaver who likes to use my own wool, I have run into a few glitches with supply.


The loom takes alot of yarn to operate. A 2 ft x 3 ft rug or a 40 x 60 throw blanket will use as much as five pounds to complete the textile.

When I first started spinning and weaving I did it all by hand, myself and gained experience along with many fruitful hours creating threads.

But once I had my own flock I realized that time was more of an issue and best spent tending the critters, so I opted to send my fleeces to a mill. This turned out to be a great decision for a variety of reasons.

The mill I use - Dreamweaver Creations in Sherburne, N.Y., is located a mere 17 miles from my home affording me the opportunity to just load up my truck and make a trek over. Once there I have the gift of being able to talk with mill owner Heather Lathrop about my plans, the fleeces I've brought and what I want the end result to be. Often she will show me something from another customer or her own fiber ( she raises Blue Faced Leicesters ) that may convince me to alter my plans somewhat. This face - to - face time is invaluable.

Our flock usually hovers around 15 animals give or take, which provide about 75 lbs of fleece after skirting. During processing I might lose 8 lbs of that leaving me with 68 lbs. Turning that 68 lbs into a 2 ply yarn gives me just enough for 13 projects. Not really as much as I'd like but overwintering more sheep isn't feasible either.

I have gone outside the Finn breed to local shepherds who aren't using their wool and arranged to purchase from them, incorporating that resource into a variety of projects and saving the Finn wool for special items only.
In this way I've had felt, roving and batts made from organically raised Clun Forest sheep nearby, lovely yarns and rovings from Border Cheviot sheep raised in proximity of the fiber mill, and a host of other breeds and types including alpaca and mohair.

Ideally I'd love to arrange to purchase unused good Finn wool from other shepherds, and utilize more of it in my special projects but most Finn shepherds use their own wool and the supply is limited so I work with what I have. Perhaps one day I'll be able to arrange to purchase unused Finn wool from other shepherds and expand my supply for hand woven items from my loom. Till then,

Regards,
Kathryn

Organic felt sheets and batts

 

Detail of commissioned saddle blanket

Detail of Wool Rug

 

 

Reproducing 19th Century Venetian Carpet

 

Throw Blanket in Progress

 

 

                                                  

                                                         

     Hand spinning organic roving

 Handspun Organic Chunky Yarn

 

 

Thick and Think Finn - Mohair blend

 

100% pure Finn Thick and Thin