8 Days Left

Although it's a matter of weeks now before this picture of summer pasture becomes reality, winter just won't let go yet.

 

So far today we've had drizzle, hail and high winds. Tomorrow the high will be 52 according to the weather forecast.

 

We can hope.

 

In the meanwhile, the girls are all doing well, and enjoying their grain rations with great relish.

 

Evening rations

 

At this time the girls are getting 20 pounds of grain daily.  The only time the sheep get grain is during the last four weeks of gestation and the first four weeks of lactation. I start by feeding a half pound per ewe per day for the first week and increase the amount by a 1/2 lb each week until the ration is 2 pounds a day per ewe. This provides them with the extra nutrition they need, since their ability to take in enough nutrition from hay and grass is compromised due to the space the lambs are taking up.

I like to mix my own rations, for no particular reason aside from enjoying it, and so they get whole corn, whole oats, soybean meal and loose minerals.  Plenty of water, unlimited access to second cut hay and whatever grass they can find at this point.  Healthy lambs start with sound nutrition for the dam, as does ample milk supply and rapid recovery.

My experience has been that once the lambs are born and the dam is nursing them, its as if their resistance to parasites is lowered and I find symptoms of Hoemoncus Contortus, ( Barber Pole ) worm within a short time frame from lambing. Once wormed, that seems to put the problem of parasites to rest and no further treatment is necessary.

Today will be a day for working on getting the lambing jug prepared. Cleaning out, rebedding and moving the two ewes closest to lambing are all on the agenda for the next week. Lambs will be here before we know it!

Regards,
Kathryn

Single digits - 9 days left for Amelia

So much to do and so little time.

With the cool temps prevailing and the ever present possibility of freezing temps and snow, I cannot yet shear the sheep, though both me and them are more than ready.

 

Once this rain has passed I will crutch Amelia and Caden, removing the wool from around their udders allowing for the lambs to have better access and less chance of inadvertently nursing on wool tags. Then as soon as it warms up and stays warm, I'll shear the flock. Until then, I'll shear as needed prior to lambing, one at a time.

 

The best shelter for lambing that we have has been used all winter by our flock of Rouen ducks, so I will ban them from it and set about cleaning it, and re bedding with nice, deep and dry straw for Amelia and the lambs to snuggle down in and stay warm.

 

The general rule for lambing is, as many lambs as the ewe has, she should stay that amount of days in a separate pen, known as a "jug" away from gen pop ( general population ) to allow the lambs and her to bond and acclimate. So, two lambs, two days, three lambs - three days and so on.

Some ewes don't need so much time, knowing perfectly well who their lambs are, and where they are at all times. New, first timers can benefit from the ability to focus solely on their new babies without the dynamic of other sheep.

It's not uncommon for a pregnant ewe to steal a lamb from a new mom, taking over and treating it as her own. No real harm is done but the pregnant ewe has no milk and so isn't a good choice for the lamb. We've had this happen once, and were able to sort things out quickly and without mishap.

 

The grass is already shooting up and tender blades are everywhere if still rather short. By the time Amelia's lambs are ready for general population, it's very likely we'll have some pasture and the rich, lush nutrients so important to the recuperation of the ewe and growth of the lamb will be plentiful.

 

Thank God we have said Good Bye to winter.  As life quickens all around, regeneration and restoration are under way, bringing fertility and abundance of plants, animals and  birds.

We're processing the maple sap now and I expect to hear the peepers and the wood frogs very soon.

Can't wait!

Regards,

Kathryn

Waiting patiently.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amelia - 10 days left to lambing time.

 Today as I walked out to greet the girls, they were all at the hay feeder, but came running when they saw me. Amelia however, had been laying down. The best she could do was get up. She was content to stay put while the others checked out the prospect of food rations.

Yesterday was a pleasant enough day, weather wise. Sunny, but cool enough still to be comfortable working outdoors.

Today is going to rain. Not something I look forward to because of the mud and generally yuckiness of a mess it makes, nor the flooding in the streams and brook, but 'tis the season of April showers and such, so what must be must be.

Amelia has been bred to Corrigan this year, and I am curious to see what we get in terms of colors from her lambs. The last two years she was bred to Panda, a spotted ram, and she produced spotted lambs both times. Corrigan is white but I suspect he carries for spotting, and this breeding is a test to see whether we might get spots from him.

Amelia herself is black. When bred previously to Corrigans' father Clef, she gave white lambs each time. Clef is white, but I don't think he carries the spotting gene, Corrigan on the other hand, has one solitary spot, so that would suggest he does carry the gene. We will see in about 10 days!

Shortly after Amelia has her lambs, her daughter Caden will lamb. Caden gave us five lambs last year. Four white and a black. It doesn't appear to me that either Amelia or Caden will have as many this year. I'm guessing triplets for both. 

Amelia with last years' lambs. Annie is curious and looks on.
 

 

Corrigan

Let's keep fingers crossed that the weather gets warm and stays that way long enough for the new lambs to get acclimated. Makes life soooo much easier :-)

 

Regards,

Kathryn 



 

 



March 22, 2014

I love those faces!
 

Grey - trying to figure out what I'm up to and hoping it is more grain.

As the days grow longer and warmer, the girls are getting rounder and rounder.

 It's just a matter of time now.

 

The first lambs are due on April 15th, and I'm getting a bit more observant of the ewes in general and Amelia in particular, the dam who is due to lamb first this year. 

 

 She is fairly large as usual, though she still has three weeks left.

 

She  always has big lambs and last year had four.

 

With all the fleece on it's hard to tell but I don't think it will be four this year.

 I'd be happy with twins, but triplets are more likely.

She was bred to a different ram, one who himself is all white but for one lone spot on his neck.

 

To test and see if he carries the spotting gene, I decided to breed him to Amelia who is confirmed to carry spotting. We'll see what comes in terms of color but I'm expecting white and black depending on how many lambs she has. If I get a nicely spotted ewe lamb, that would be great!

 

This year we've chosen to feed the girls second cut round bales all winter, using a Premier hay feeder which has greatly reduced any waste.

The down side to this is that they stick their heads into the feeder, rubbing away any wool on their necks. You can see this in the pictures.

 

The up side is.I don't have to worry about shearing their neck and throats this year. That is always a tricky and nervous task because I worry about cutting their throats, but so far, not a problem, and definitely won't be an issue this year.

 

While the ewes have access to hay 24/7 and now are getting grain supplements, I found it curious that several of them seem to be constantly poking in the snow. Sure that they had plenty of drinking water I shrugged and forgot about it.

Last night as I was taking these photos I realized that Amelia had located a stem or two of GRASS! and was digging through the snow much like the deer do, to reach it. God Bless her.  One of the pics shows Amelia in the foreground scoping out that pitiful little bit of grass. You can see how wide she is. Won't be long now for lambs and grass. The girls will be happy.

 

Regards,

Kathryn

 

 

 

Amelia ferreting out the grass under the snow.

Hoping for more grain.
 

Line Breeding

Sunday morning here. Slow start and then the momentum gradually picks up.

Coffee and plenty of it.

As I sip my cuppa, I think about the coming lambs and remember back to my early shepherding days when breeding stock was a new challenge.

With Finnsheep being small in number in the USA, getting unrelated breeding stock to develop separate bloodlines isn't easy, and the importation of semen from Finland was prohibited.

Initially I was adamant that my breeding animals be unrelated but quickly I learned that within five generations almost all of  the animals are related, with few exceptions.

Due to the efforts of a few Finnsheep breeders with decades of experience, there are a few lines that are completely unrelated but not many.

So I began to get familiar with terms like: inbreeding, crossbreeding, line breeding and out breeding.

Also the term " closed flock. "

Once I determined that I had the number of animals I wanted, I decided to close the flock, meaning no new animals from different sources would be allowed. This minimizes the potential for disease and gives me less to worry about.

But, what can come of it eventually, is that your stock becomes more and more closely related until such time as you do decide to open the flock and bring in new blood. Then it is time to quarantine the new animal until you can be assured it poses no threat to the established flock.

In the meanwhile, various breeding's result in bloodlines with common characteristics among the related animals and these can be good or bad or both.

In the animals with a number of very strong traits, a desire to preserve and perpetuate those traits leads a shepherd to begin considering line breeding, or a deliberate pairing of animals with common ancestors, in the hope of enhancing the existing traits or at a minimum passing good traits on to more progeny.

Unfortunately, this can also result in enhancing of negative traits as well.

Understanding this, and having a willingness to deal with the negatives through culling, leaving only the stronger and better animals, is the intention of line breeding.

Under these circumstances it is desirable to breed related animals, and not such a scary proposition as I once believed.

In the end, what you intend to do with your flock, is what determines whether line breeding is a choice or not.
Lambs destined for the meat market are terminal early on in their lives so negative characteristics aren't going to be passed on. Line breeding isn't a problem there.

Breeding stock, especially that to be sold to other shepherds, needs to be top quality so culling of less than superior animals is a must.

If pets and fiber animals with a fleece worthy enough to keep, then some negative traits aren't an issue as long as the negative animal isn't used for breeding or exhibits traits known to impact the animals quality of life.

This info isn't intended to be a guide or tutorial, simply food for thought and one of the issues I've learned about as my shepherding experience has unfolded over time.

I'd encourage anyone who is interested to educate themselves on line breeding.

This is an interesting explanation
:
http://www.critterhaven.biz/info/articles/1_ram.htm

Regards,
Kathryn

January 17, 2014

Coyote, Deer, Turkey Habitat
 

Among the worries that plague me as a shepherd, is the concern for predators.


We live in an amazingly rural area, surrounded by thousands of acres of forest. The thrill of this is to witness forms of wildlife the mainstream will never see.

The flip side is that every body has to eat, and the wildlife is no exception.

We have coyotes here, the wolves being removed by DEC decades ago.

Our coyotes however are a hybrid of coyote and wolf cross so they are larger than your average coyote. This isn't just my opinion but scientific fact. Wildlife biologists have actually examined the DNA and determined that at some point the coyotes and wolves intermingled leaving a unique animal as their legacy.

We know there are coyotes, as we have seen them, and certainly have heard them though not lately with the windows closed.

In the seven years we have had sheep, the coyotes have never threatened them so far as I can determine, though they are always nearby.

Other farmers in the area have complained of coyote attacks on their livestock but here we are blessed with coyotes who find their sustenance among the small creatures that abound, and not with our lambs. This allows us to live peaceably enough and truth of the matter is that I personally find the coyotes to be awe inspiring wild things who are mysterious, a bit dangerous and altogether wonderful. I would hate very much to have to resort to hunting them and I am pleased to have lived this long in their presence without complaint.

We have evidence of them being very close to the house and have been awoken in the pre-dawn hours by howling that I would have sworn was just under the bedroom window.

Having discussed their presence and habits with wildlife biologists the advice we received was thus:
If they aren't bothering the livestock then leave them alone. Shooting them opens the way for coyotes from other packs, possibly with experience in killing livestock, to fill the empty place left by having shot a coyote who wasn't a problem.  Rather than allowing that to take place, we have opted to live with the "devil we know" until such time as may be necessary to take action against a coyote or several with a taste for lamb, if ever.

In the scheme of things, I'm more worried about my fellow man being a problem than I am the coyotes.

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.

Excellent concise article

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

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.










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

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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

 

 

 

 

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

Selling for Meat

Bridgette with Kari and Cwen

Touchy subject, yes.

Winter is banging on the door. Nighttime temps are freezing or just below. Hay needs to be stored up, shelters fortified and portable fences brought in before the snow flies. Any day now.

There is nothing like the anxiety of impending winter and more animals than you can adequately care for. On the other hand, the sense of well being that comes from knowing everything is in place and all will be cared for during these inclement months, is indescribable.

We have sheep for fiber, lambs and because I love, love, love them. I enjoy just about every aspect of having and caring for them except this one, selling for meat.

Trying to sift through 30 or more animals and select who goes to slaughter ( or the auction house, same thing ) is difficult because so many of them are fine animals it is a shame to kill them for food.

But, throughout time animals have fed humans and this is part of the food chain. While I will lose some very nice breeding stock, I have the ability, God willing, to make more in about six months.

Our options are:
1) sell to private buyer who pays less than auction prices, sells to the "ethnic" community and the animals will be kept alive until the private customer needs lamb, then it will be slaughtered.

2) Auction house - load everyone up on auction day, offload them at the auction house, go home, wait for a check.

3) combo - send select animals to custom slaughterhouse for our freezer, the rest to option 2.

All together there is a total of 26 animals ( ewe lambs, ram lambs, yearling rams, adult rams )that need to go by next week, so I want to select who will remain now, but it is proving harder than anticipated.

If you see someone interesting in our pics, contact us before next Tuesday, October 29, 2013.


Regards,
Kathryn

Shearing

My favorite winter ensemble. Carharts', flannel and sheep!

When I considered one day becoming a shepherd, I knew that I would shear my own sheep. Something about the gritty, skilled labor was appealing.
Sheep shearing is very physical and exhausting, perfect ground for developing all manner of injuries from repetitive motions and spending so much time bent fully over in a position that at first, I didn't think was humanly possible.

 

There are many ways to shear a sheep and many types of equipment.

 

But there is only one right way to do the job.

 

Cornell Shearing School was instrumental in providing much of the hands-on supervised instruction that is a confidence builder, and I enjoyed the first weekend session so much that I attended again the following year.

 

During the two day course, we learned about caring for and setting up our equipment, how to catch and rump a sheep ( set it on its butt ) and most importantly, how to hold said sheep with your legs while your two hands are completely involved in the shearing process. This technique takes some getting used to and relies on both the shearers' position and taking advantage of the animals own weight and natural instincts.

 

There is a pattern to follow in shearing a sheep, endorsed by the New Zealand Wool Board, and originally developed by Godfrey Bowen.

http://www.fao.org/docrep/v9384e/v9384e08.htm

 

It took me 100 sheep before I felt like I could begin to tackle the animal from memory of the shearing pattern. For many shearings, I kept my pages of instructions within reach, often stopping to refer to them for the next step.

 

The main reason for shearing is to obtain the valuable wool, but there are health considerations that necessitate shearing as well. One of these is the incidence of "fly strike" where the wool around the tail area becomes laden with feces. During warm months flies lay eggs that hatch into larvae and proceed to eat the flesh of the sheep. In worst cases the sheep can die. This is easily avoided by shearing in a timely fashion. Usually once a year, in the spring.

 

Fleeces differ in size depending on the sheep breed, and can range from 2 - 4 pounds from a Shetland or Baby Doll Southdown, to 12 - 14 pounds for a Merino, Hampshire or Corriedale.

 

Because of the rigorous nature of shearing, many people take a different approach and use everything from kitchen Fiskars, to small hand held dog clippers trimming and shearing while the sheep stands on its feet, usually contentedly munching on hay.

 

While this process can take longer it is much kinder to the person doing the shearing and depending on the nature of the sheep, can be enjoyable for it too.

 

In my experience, ( at this time I've shorn 500 + sheep, not a lot but enough to have an educated opinion about the process ) I think it is vitally important to clean the belly and underside of the sheep. This is best done when access and the ability to clearly see the area is achieved while the sheep is on its butt. From that position the rest of the shearing process is a natural progression of movements, much like a dance, that allows the shearer to stay balanced, minimize exertion, keep the sheep relaxed and facilitate getting the fleece off often in one piece, making it much easier to skirt.

 

It takes me just about 12 minutes to remove a fleece. In the 365 days of the year, one 12 minute session isn't a big deal for the sheep, leaves them cool, clean and lighter, and allows me to get on with the rest of the flock in a speedy manner. Then I can dive into all that glorious raw fleece!

 

 

Doug can remove an entire fleece in five minutes or less - so, while the sheep may look uncomfortable, it only stays in one position for about 20 - 40 seconds before it is moved into a different position.  The process allows the sheep to be totally relaxed.  If it struggles then the shearer repositions until it is comfortable. Can't shear a struggling sheep!

 

 

Dough Rathke

Internationally acclaimed, award winning sheep shearer and instructor.

http://lambshoppe.com/sheep-shearing/about-doug-rathke/

 

 

 

Ram Aggression

When we began our shepherding journey, our very first Finnsheep was Treble Clef - the boy on the right. He came to us at about six months of age.



Brothers Panda and Treble Clef

I was struck by his friendly nature and wanted a sheep in the worst way, so a deal was made and this fledgling shepherd brought home the first ram, and first Finnsheep.

Although I had heard many times, never to trust a ram or turn your back, my experience with young Clef was such that aggression on his part was non-existent and our blissfully happy relationship continued this way for more than a year. As one might imagine, I forgot all the dire warnings I'd heard, and came and went from the sheep pasture with ne'er a thought as to consequences.....until....one day.

 During routine chores I entered into the sheep enclosure ( by this time the ewes were also in with Clef as it was breeding season ) and proceeded about the task of picking up the rubber feed dishes without regard for where Clef happened to be in the pasture.

Suddenly, rudely and without warning, my beloved ram and friend, charged me full on and connected in a rather painful butt. Stunned by the unexpectedness of it, I stood dumbfounded as he came at me again, and again. My first reaction was to clock his head, which was merely an invite to continue, not a good choice (I later reasoned). Eventually it occurred to me to rump him, set him on his butt much like one does when shearing, to show dominance. This finally convinced him I was the boss, and after a bit of humiliation on his part, I let him up and he walked away without further incident.

I'd like to say that was the last of it, but that would be untrue. A handful more times over the next two or three years he tried it again but I had found the key, and immediately rumped him which invariably ended the session.

We've been shepherding partners now for six years and our relationship is a good one. We respect each other and enjoy spending time together for those scratches, rubs and invariable kisses. He has been my foundation ram leaving many progeny which show no signs of the same behavior.

I've learned that breeding season brings a whole new level of behaviors which I can anticipate and also, never to turn my back on any of the boys regardless of time of year. They seem to think of me as their ewe and competition for my attention can sometimes cause a bit of pushing and shoving which I watch out for.

My yearling ram boys have never, ever made an attempt to do such a thing even at breeding season and I have no reason why that is true. But I still keep an eye out when I'm in with them just to be on the safe side.

While many people feel strongly that a ram's act of aggression toward the shepherd should be met with a visit to the slaughter house, my perspective is that I don't want to eliminate all tendency toward aggression because I don't want to end up with a sheep that doesn't have the instinct to protect itself or its offspring. This may be a loose connection but I've read of other breeds where this became an issue, and so its always stayed in the back of my mind.

Had I eliminated Clef after the first aggression, I would have missed out on some very nice lambs and the opportunity to see where this experiment in sheep behavior would end up. Fortunately for us and our farm, its ended up well.

Whatever your thoughts are on ram aggression, or your experiences are, you must do what you believe to be in the best interest of your flock and farm. I am not suggesting that all rams be allowed to confront and be aggressive toward their shepherd by any stretch. I am simply offering my experience as food for thought.


Regards,
Kathryn







 

Ram lambs from 2013

All of these ram lambs have been sired by the adult rams on the Ram page. Many have been sired by Freddie. Our white ram BEN isn't yet listed on the ram page as I haven't gotten a good photo of him yet, but he has produced nicely built, exceptional ewe and ram lambs over the past two years, including the quintuplets born to Caden this June. Pic coming shortly.

As I stood to take the first photo, I got the groups attention. Then as I continued to photograph, their curiosity overcame them and they started toward me to try to determine what I was up to. Eventually they got bored and resumed their grazing, one by one.

Within the flock are several piebalds. The most striking one is the boy with the black and white face. The other piebalds are more subtle and as their fleeces grow some of them appear to be simple HST's, yet are indeed piebalds.

I find it interesting that out of the piebald lambs we've had here in the last two years, its the ram lambs that display the majority of that trait. I'm not sure if that is coincidental or just my luck so far, but it will be interesting to see how it plays out in the future.

The last two years, we've had grey lambs from the same sire/dam duo, and I love the color and fleece on these lambs. Last year we had one ram lamb with grey, this year a ewe (sold) and a ram lamb. The grey is not the same as the silver or black badger coloring but more of a steely grey color. I definitely intend to keep that in the flock.

I hope you enjoy looking at the boys. They are for sale, and you can direct inquiries through the comments on this blog or to : fossilcreekfarm@yahoo.com

Regards,
Kathryn

Our Breeding Rams

Treble Clef

This is our Finnsheep Ram - Treble Clef

FBA # 24328

Dam: FBA # 22320 Ruby Shoes

Sire: FBA # 22815 Boychick

Clef has been the foundation ram of our flock and contributed a nice big boned body as well as long, wavy, high luster fleece to his offspring.




Freddie

FBA # 23715 Witt VA26-212 aka Freddie

Dam: FBA # 19231 Witt 6522 

Sire: FBA # 23088 Witt VA 26-201

Freddie brings to his progeny a different genetic than Clef and this allows for some diversity in breeding. His offspring  are prolific giving large litters, with  consistent fleece from shoulder to hip.  Freddie is a black " head, socks, tail which he also passes on to some of his lambs.













Asa

 

Asa is new to us this year, coming from Stillmeadow Finnsheep in DeRuyter N.Y.

We feel that Asa will bring diversity of genetics plus a proven bloodline of temperment, fleece quality, size and color to our flock.

Asa's registration is in progress.

 

 

 
Panda is a black piebald who brings spotting genetics to his offspring. Panda is big boned, and quietly tempered making him a pleasure to work around.
Pandas' Dam is:
FBA # 22320 Ruby Shoes
Sire: FBA # 22815 Boychick
 

Panda

Panda is FBA # 2429

Ben

FBA # 25259

Ben is a white ram who carries for black and possibly Badger Grey though we have yet to see that in his lambs. Bred twice to Caden, they have produced both black and white lambs in both litters. Their lambs are striking in their steady growth, correct confirmation, long staple fleeces and large eyes/ears on pretty faces.

Ben is sired by: FBA #23901 Zephyre 

His dam is: Luca FBA # 24518

                                                                                                              

          

 







Prolificacy

Registered Finnsheep Ewe - Amelia

This is our 6th year raising sheep and our 3rd year raising Finnsheep exclusively. Amelia, shown in the photo at right, had quads this year after having given triplets last year, twins the year before that and a singleton the year before that.
She and her daughter Caden, born here at Fossil Creek Farm, lambed at exactly the same time and caused this shepherd to be hustling a bit trying to keep up.
Caden had quintuplets, so in a brief period of about 30 minutes, the flock grew by 9.

We've had quads before but quints was a new one for our farm, and this was Caden's second lambing. She had twins last year, so to go from twins to quints was a big leap for her, and I wonder what next lambing season will hold.

Both Caden and Amelia are exceptional dams, caring for their offspring with a devotion that deserves admiration. Attentive, protective and ample supply of milk for their lambs.

One thing about breeding Finnsheep is that you cannot really predict how many lambs will be born from any particular ewe though I make myself crazy at lambing time trying to.
It's a wait and see situation, and for about a month prior to the actual lambing date I start watching the sheep in hopes that they will go early and give me a surprise.

Needless to say, I love lambing time though it is stressful trying to be vigilant, observant and unobtrusive as the girls pass their days waiting, and I anxious and excited try to contain myself until such time as it is obvious there are lambs about to be born.

Sometimes the girls fool my best attempts and manage to have lambs without me, which is both a relief and an insult/disappointment. Finding lambs up and nursing, all dry and happy is pleasing in that I no longer have to agonize over whether things will go well and the lambs will make the first few hours of life without obstacles to overcome.

During lambing time I try not to go anywhere, ANYWHERE ( for days and days ) and make sure I check on sheeple regularly in case they need my help for some reason, and I love being present when the lambs are born as it's much like Christmas, waiting for a package to be unwrapped with the anticipation of what might be inside.

Because Finnsheep can have as many as seven, yes, seven lambs at once, I feel a responsibility to do all I can to be present at lambing time to offer assistance where needed. Personally I am a big fan of not interfering with a natural process, but since these are domestically bred animals, who have been bred to have many lambs, I see my role as protector and facilitator.  And it's in the farms'  best interest to assure a positive outcome for dam and lambs, both financially and in the time invested.

This year we had 30 lambs from 11 ewes with two stillborns that couldn't have been predicted.

I feel this is a successful outcome, and am happy with the lessons I've learned and their application to this years' lambing time.

But what I've come to appreciate is ...no matter how well I managed this year and what valuable lessons I've learned, the outcome is not due to my skill or experience and you can never have enough of either. No where in my life is God more evident than in this little band of creatures I am fortunate to watch over. If the flock prospers, it is more likely in spite of my efforts rather than due to them and what the next lambing season will hold is anyones' guess.

Regards,
Kathryn