tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353764878995672966.post6506112024044431557..comments2023-05-09T08:36:29.006-07:00Comments on Homestead ...... From Scratch: Last Years Ram LambsChai Chaihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05845100961653150736noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353764878995672966.post-36083241461001079432011-08-26T06:57:48.308-07:002011-08-26T06:57:48.308-07:00Michaele - A polled ram would be a disaster but we...Michaele - A polled ram would be a disaster but we did get a polled ewe this year. An interesting thing about sheep is that they dissapate heat in the summer through their horns so our polled ewe had been having heat issues of all things!<br /><br />Ronda - Thank you so much for the comments on how the boys are doing. Killarney has been a blessing here as the lead ram, his horns are great and his fleece peels right off.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353764878995672966.post-32329182523347937212011-08-25T20:45:33.325-07:002011-08-25T20:45:33.325-07:00They are looking good! Yes, every guy has a diffe...They are looking good! Yes, every guy has a different "style" to his horns, and that's fine. Alder's brother, Balsam, has even wider horns than Alder, but his body is smaller. I'm wrestling with whether to keep Balsam for breeding or not, because I'm not certain it's genetic but more because he was a triplet and not as wiley about snagging extra milk from the other ewes when they were feeding, which Alder did. I like that Alder was/is smart about that!<br /><br />Ironwood looks good. That one horn is a little bit closer than the other, but it's turning out as it grows and will be fine.<br /><br />Killarney's horns amaze me. I really thought he was going to remain scurred, and I have a ram lamb that has a similar look now, and I'm keeping Killarney in mind as I make decisions about my boy.<br /><br />Horns continue to grow (rams and ewes) for about 5 years, putting on the most growth in the first year, and then shorter spurts each winter/spring after that, stopping altogether when they are 4 to 6 years old. You can count the growth rings kind of like you count growth rings on a tree. This is much less visible on ewes, of course.<br /><br />~ RondaGreener Pastures Farmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14791358152746915091noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353764878995672966.post-47265628698086034982011-08-25T16:36:24.705-07:002011-08-25T16:36:24.705-07:00So, let me guess, polled would not be you somethin...So, let me guess, polled would not be you something you would be happy about. hehe Seriously - these are awesome animals! (and horns)Michaelehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05806716677546687464noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353764878995672966.post-82415175168928661012011-08-25T16:17:08.347-07:002011-08-25T16:17:08.347-07:00Lana - Thank You!
Carolyn - We disbud our goats t...Lana - Thank You!<br /><br />Carolyn - We disbud our goats too, and I hate the whole process. The horns will keep growing until they are fantastic trophies.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353764878995672966.post-83501091981175923132011-08-25T04:28:11.910-07:002011-08-25T04:28:11.910-07:00Those are BEAUTIFUL horns! We disbud our goats (t...Those are BEAUTIFUL horns! We disbud our goats (tough decision, but best for us & them) but I always wrestle with the idea of letting one of them keep their horns because they are just so neat looking. Not as magnificent as ram horns though! Do they continue growing throughout their lifetime?Carolynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14436557172029575513noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1353764878995672966.post-43688698066302935362011-08-24T19:44:36.082-07:002011-08-24T19:44:36.082-07:00Handsome fuzzy guys you've got there!Handsome fuzzy guys you've got there!Lana from Farm Life Lessonshttp://www.farmlifelessons.blogspot.comnoreply@blogger.com