Guests Visiting, Sheep and Chickens Summer Days
We've had a lovely visit with our friend Alan. He's a much better photographer than I am so I've included a few of his shots here. flickr photo shared by cogdogblog under a Creative Commons ( BY ) license Moving sheep flickr photo shared by cogdogblog under a...
Moving Sheep
We are well into the movement of sheep to manage the grazing. Currently we are running 4 separate groups of sheep, ewes with lambs, pregnant ewes, yearling ewes and all the rams. The yearlings are being used as lawnmowers all around the house. Pregnant ewes are being...
Meat Chickens
Every year we raise one batch of meat chickens for our use and for a few select customers who order birds in advance. This year is no exception. We get just hatched Label Rouge birds from a local hatchery. They are installed in our chicken barn and doing well.
Lambing Continues
We are still lambing. So far only 8 ewes have lambed and we have 10 live lambs. We did lose a ewe and her twins to a really bad dystocia but those are the only losses we've had so far. Our AI girls are looking like they will pop if they move too fast. We are really...
Lambing
We actually started lambing yesterday but today was when I got some pictures. This was a large ram lamb, over 8 pounds, that was upside down and had to be turned before he could come out. Mom and lamb are both fine now.
Finally Shorn and Sheep on Pasture
Finally got all the sheep shorn and the pregnant ewes are now out on pasture. Just in time. Lambing due to start 25 April.
Shearing
Shearing started, but then the shearer got badly injured and so we are now waiting for a replacement. 102 left to shear.
Butchering a Ram
I'm a bit late in writing this post but felt it needed to be written. Last week we butchered a ram that had a broken leg a long time ago. The leg was healing but it was crooked and he was never going to be a breeding ram. Because he was the only sheep to go to...
Fat Sheep
Warm and dry again. Pregnant ewes are rotund. Still have about 6 weeks to go before lambing is due to start. Looks like a lot will go to the AI so up to 30 all due at once.
Smart Sheep Isn’t Always Good
Having smart sheep isn't always a good thing. This is the gate at the bottom of the corral where the ewe yearlings are living. These brats have figures out how to unclip the chain and untie the baling twine. So now we try to put enough separate ties on so that we can...