20 Hours Later

I checked on the lambs and Amelia off and on all day, and they seemed fine.

The weather forecast was for rain, so I made sure that the shelter was fortified, and around 7 p.m. gave one last check and headed in for the night.

Within a half hour a hellacious downpour complete with high winds hit and wreaked havoc for about 15 minutes. It was the closest thing to a tornado I've seen, and I was glad to see it pass.

I can attest to the fact that here on our little mountain, the weather is turbulent to say the least. I've seen drops in temperatures as much as 50 degrees in 12 hours or less, as well as rises of the same amount, snow, ice, sun, wind,hail, freezing rain, calm,sun and snow again all in a matter of an hour, and then the cycle repeated itself. I would not be the least surprised to see snow in July here one day.

This morning's feed/water/ check-in revealed three wide awake and active lambs, and their dam seemed to be fine as well. Momentarily. I thought about letting them out but the ground is wet and rain is immanent and I didn't want to risk it just yet. They are cozy and dry so I'll leave well enough alone for the time being.

Sadly, tonight the temps will drop to 20 or lower and snow is on the menu. I'm debating lamb coats as the temps won't go about 35 during the day and will stay low for the next three nights before climbing up again.
Currently I'm leaning away from the coats for a variety of reasons but we'll see as the day unfolds .

The next ewe due to lamb is Caden on the 21st. She also looks like triplets this year and I hope to shear her before the blessed event. Demi will be close on her heels, followed by the others in succession over a period of weeks.

As much as I love lambs, lambing can be exhausting.

More pics this evening.

Regards,
Kathryn

Amelia - Haircut

 Yesterday was gorgeous, up in the 60's.

Everyone enjoyed the sunshine, but were hot with the fleeces on.

I finally couldn't stand watching Amelia anymore and used the hand blades to shear her. She was much more comfortable afterwards.

Lana wanted to be shorn too, but daylight was fading and I only got a small portion done around her neck. I'll try to finish her today.

Problem is...tomorrow night will be rainy and down in the 20's. Not a good temp for sheep with no wool. That is why I used the hand blades vs. the electric shears which would have cut closer and faster.
Amelia will still have enough wool and lanolin to help protect her against wet and cold. And of course they have the little run in shed which is deeply bedded for them to burrow down in.

I expect Amelia to have her lambs on Friday. After removing her fleece, I thought I'd have a better chance at predicting how many lambs, and I always waffle, but I still think triplets.
Could just be twins though. Either way I'll be happy.

More than how many, I'm looking to see if they are colored or white. While I hope for spots, I'm betting on white. Again, we'll see.

With a hefty appetite, and a friend for company, Amelia is doing well, feeling more comfortable and just soaking up the milder weather.

What to do with her fleece??  Oh the possibilities and its the first one of 2014, too!

I hope the weather forecast is wrong about those 20 degree nighttime temps. I really want to shear these sheeple soon.

Regards,
Kathryn

Amelia - Holding

Amelia is enjoying the milder temperatures, her new space and the company of her companion, Lana.

She gets rations twice a day of whole corn/ soy meal / minerals and some choice second cut hay to provide the nutrients both she and the lambs need.

Plenty of water and fresh air are also available and she rests or moves about as she feels inclined.

She is in good health and fine spirits, with a hefty appetite.

Positioned in a small area behind the house it is ideal for me to keep a regular watch for any signs of deviation from the regular behavior. As I go about the chores of housekeeping, weaving, and fiber business, I can look up and quickly get a visual on her. This all but ensures I will know when she is in labor and be present as the lambs are born.

Unless she decides to have them in the middle of the night. Not to jinx myself, but she has had all of her lambs so far, during the daytime, and so hopefully this will be no different.

Can't wait, can't wait!!!   Its like Christmas, birthday, Valentines Day and Anniversary all rolled into one.  Woo Hoo......hope the weather holds :-).

Regards,
Kathryn

7 Days and Counting - Naming Lambs

Amelia with four lambs.
 

Early on we decided to go with the alphabetical order of naming the lambs, a different letter for each year. This year the letter is "G".

What this does is allow us to quickly recall what year a lamb was born in, according to the letter. "G" means its 2014, and our seventh year of lambing.

Now I excel at a great many things, but naming more than three lambs, is not one of them. I run out of ideas, so this task falls to hubby who is very good at it. He will research the internet and coming up with several options, presents them to me for a vote. I can yea or nay the name, and usually know right away if it is a fit for the lamb in question. Once in awhile I'll have to think on it a bit, then decide.

Hoping to get an early jump on it this year, I've considered some "G" names and typically have come up with my three - George, Giselle and Gaspar. Then of course the popular Gretchen, Gretel, Georgia, Gabby, Gwendolyn, Garth, Gary, Geoffrey. Well, looks like a good start anyway. By the end of lambing season we'll be long out of these names since I think we'll have about 40 or more lambs when its all said and done.

We do also tag the lambs with a number, but calling a cute little lamb # 181 just isnt' the same at all. And they ooze personality which fairly demands identifying them with a moniker that captures that personality. Being a small hobby farm, we can be as hokey as we like and at times I carry it to the max. Naming is one of those times :-).

At any rate, I need three "G" names by next week. Don't know if they will be girl or boy names yet, but I should have at least six - three of each just to be sure. Interestingly, I just noticed that without hesitation I said, " I'll need three "...hmmmmm......intuition?  Could be. Guess you'll have to stay tuned to find out how good I am at predicting how many lambs a ewe will have. I think this year will be triplets for Amelia. Care to bet?

Regards,
Kathryn

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.
 

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

Saturday - January 4, 2014

You can now find some of our hand spun yarns and hand woven items here: on Etsy.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/oldschoolhandwovens?ref=si_shop


Oh glory day! The sun is bright and shinning on the mountainside across the road, making an inspiring invitation to arise, step out and participate in the coming day!
What an awesome and promising moment in time, Thank You God!

That said, I find myself daydreaming in the early days of the new year. So much to look forward to now that we have turned the corner from old year, to impending Spring. Such promise.

These days in between Christmas and New Year found me spinning like crazy. I have alot of fiber that needs to be taken from its raw ( in the case of shorn fleeces ) or processed ( in the case of mill processed roving ) state into its spun, woven or felted state and the sooner the better. I like the tactile nature of creating things from dyed, blended and spun fiber so I don't find it a chore but rather a delight for the most part.

These are some of the most recently spun Finnsheep yarns.

They came directly "out of the bag" of roving from the mill, spun as they unwound, no choosing of colors on my part. The yarn on the left is a single - ply, the yarn in the middle is a two - ply and the yarn on the right is a two - ply bulky.

66 yards, 180 yards and 40 yards, respectively. In the meanwhile I've done something similar with the Border Cheviot I've been spinning as well as blending, so I've been productive this past week.

Soon it will be time to get back to the looms, but for now, I'll just spin and day dream!


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

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

 

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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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