Category: Sheep
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Moving Sheep
We are well into our managed grazing segment of the year. Currently, we’re running four separate groups of sheep: ewes with lambs, pregnant ewes, yearling ewes, and all of the rams. The yearlings are being used as lawnmowers all around the house. The pregnant ewes are being moved behind the house so they’re close at… Continue reading
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Lambing Continues
We are still lambing. So far, only eight ewes have lambed, and we have ten live lambs. We did lose an ewe and her twins to a really bad dystocia, but those are the only losses we’ve sustained so far. Our AI girls are looking like they’ll pop if they move too fast. We’re expecting… Continue reading
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Lambing
We actually started lambing yesterday, but today was when I got some pictures. This was a large ram lamb – over eight pounds – that was upside down. He had to be turned before he could come out. Mom and lamb are both fine now. Continue reading
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Finally, Shorn Sheep on Pasture
We finally got all the sheep shorn, and the pregnant ewes are now out on pasture. Just in time! Lambing is due to start on April 25th. Continue reading
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Shearing (Or Not)
Shearing had started, but then the shearer got badly injured. Now, we’re waiting for a replacement. There are 102 sheep left to shear. Continue reading
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Butchering a Ram
I’m a bit late in writing this post, but I felt that it needed to be written. Last week, we butchered a ram that had broken a 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… Continue reading
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Fat Sheep
It’s warm and dry at the farm again. The pregnant ewes are looking rotund. We still have about six weeks to go before lambing is due to start. It looks like a lot will lamb to the AI, so up to 30 ewes will be due all at once. Continue reading
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Smart Sheep Aren’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 figured out how to unclip the chain and untie the baling twine. Now, we have to put enough separate ties on that we can check the gate and… Continue reading
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Delivering Hay
Time for morning chores! On a typical day, we first move the ewes out of the pen and close up the gate. Ken then drives a bale in and places it under the hay shed row roof. Finally, we put the hay feeder panels back around the bale, take the twines off, and let the… Continue reading
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Ram Health Issues
A while ago, we had a ram yearling die from what we thought were injuries caused by fighting. His bladder had burst. However, yesterday, we had another ram yearling start the same behaviors. One time is just bad luck. Two means you need to look at management to see if you can find a cause… Continue reading