Archive for the ‘Animals – Sheep’ Category
July 19, 2010 – Tank is Gone
The biggest bummer of vacation was finding out our best ewe died while we were gone. From a photo this winter, Tank is the brown one in the foreground. Evidently, they went into the shed where the 12 foot fishing boat was stored and somehow (I blame the horse) the boat was pushed off the ...Read more.
April 21, 2010 – Who Says Cats Don’t Make Good Shepherds?
Over the ages, many scientists, using keen powers of observation and conjecture, have winnowed many complex animal relationships. These breakthroughs often times explain how seemingly random events are part of a larger unexplained whole. I had just one such experience this week. Many people regard cats as having few skills in herding cloven-footed herbivores. Dogs ...Read more.
March 27, 2010 – Sheep Bling
This week it was time to get the sheep bling (ear tags) on. Here’s one of Tank’s lambs, hereafter known in the annals of high hopes gardens as 30. Generally, only animals that stay around for a year or more get the a name. one year ago…”Another Driver”
March 21, 2010 – Moving Ewes
Newborn lambs and their mother are segregated to a private pen to allow the ewe and lambs to bond to each other. Moving the lambs back to the main herd is sometimes challenging. We found that by holding the lambs close the ground, the ewe follows. This ewe was rather good at following her lambs ...Read more.
March 19, 2010 – Last Lambs Hit the Ground
The last ewe dropped her twins a few days ago. Again, they look robust and were prancing around the barn when we found them in the morning. This makes this year’s total 10 lambs from four ewes – all looking good so far! one year ago…”Thingamajig Thursday #158″
March 12, 2010 – Third Ewe Drops Triplets
Three out of four ewes have dropped their lambs. This one is our skittish ewe who never really looks pregnant compared to Tank. Again, a morning trip to the barn found all the lambs out and up – triplets again. Two of three ewes had triplets so far this year and have not needed any ...Read more.
March 6, 2010 – Ewe Lamb Births with no Problem
Our second ewe has given birth without any problems. We checked the barn in the morning and these two boys were just born and still wet. This was the birth we were most worried about since the ewe was only a year old. But as you can see, momma did just fine! She’s a very ...Read more.
February 28, 2010 – Tank Delivers!
There indeed was a reason Tank was getting so very large – she was carrying three good-sized lambs! Here she is with two of them trying to get some milk from momma – two females and one male. Here’s the third triplet, just hours after giving birth – Tank did it all on her 0wn ...Read more.
January 25, 2010 – Blizzard Warning with no Warning?
The weather people missed out on predicting this storm We went from winter weather advisory to Blizzard warning in a flash. I’ll only bother you with four seconds of the view while I was waiting for the early out bus near the closest blacktop road. We’ve learned it’s just best to take the lead of ...Read more.
December 19, 2009 – Tank and Friends
It’s now time for hay feeding of the animals (it has been for about two weeks now). In the foreground is Tank, our favorite Katahdin ewe – she’s just solid, chunky, and robust – we call her Tank. one year ago…”Gift Boxes Sold Out”
November 15, 2009 – Mixing Winter Grain Ration
It’s a big mixing weekend. The bred ewes eat mostly hay over the winter, but we give a little grain supplement for the pregnant and nursing ewes. First step is to grind up some corn – ground corn is better than shell corn as it is better to digest. Here Martin watches the electric grinder ...Read more.
October 14, 2009 – Pasture Reconfiguration
It is time for a pasture reconfiguration. The area broadly outlined in white shows where the new temporary fence went up. This fence allows the animals to get into an area they haven’t yet grazed this season. It includes the ornamental willow nursery – now that the majority of the growing season is over, they ...Read more.
September 15, 2009 – Mulberry Feast
It doesn’t take long for a mulberry tree to get away from you. This one was growing in the fenceline south of the raspberries. It was overdue to take out. One of those things that’s on “the list” for a long time. The tractor sure made the job easy – instead of cutting it up ...Read more.
August 10, 2009 – Mulberry Forage
Mulberry is excellent forage – comparing favorably to alfalfa in protein content. There is so shortage of mulberry around here, so the goats and sheep have been getting a small daily ration of trees cut out of fencelines and other places I don’t want them going. When the pastures start to fade in late summer, ...Read more.
