Shedding Sheep

Killarney is a handsome fellow. The other day I noticed that he had begun to shed. Cascade Sheep are supposed to shed their wool naturally so I was curious how this was going to work.

The Commander took some grain in for the rams and while they were busy eating he just reached down and lifted a large chunk of shedding wool right off Killarney's back.

Here is the patch where the wool was removed. Killarney looks like he has some really nice looking black wool underneath last years faded crop.

We considered having the sheep sheared this year but with the girls still pregnant and the boys already beginning to shed it seemed pointless. Here you can see where the girls have begun to shed, leaving huge chunks on the trees they rub up against. It won't be long before I will be able to just "roo" the wool right off the sheep, once I catch them of course.

I do like the way the boys horns are developing.

Guineas on Patrol

The last of the snow disappeared in the rain Sunday so yesterday and the this morning the Guinea's started making patrols of the property grounds.

They started in the back yard, moved over into the sheep pen, worked their way through the woods to the front yard, and ended up back by the chicken coop.

I have been curious to see if they limited their travels to our immediate area or if they would just wander off randomly. So far they have kept the same routine, never wandering away from our property and returning to the coop after their periods away. Without any brush or leaves I think it is too dangerous for them to stay out at night away from the coop so I hope they continue to return.

I just love watching the Guineas running around at breakneck speed, digging and pecking their way across the yard. The Guineas now ignore Sara, the goats, the sheep, and most importantly we humans! I can walk right past them and they continue on their merry way, no longer go into hysterical calls of BUCK WHEAT - BUCK WHEATTT!

Barn Notes - Orchid seems to have injured here back leg somehow and she has been placed in a stall. When I examined her I couldn't find anything wrong, not sure what to do at this point. On a positive note she did have a bit of an udder so maybe she is getting close to lambing.

I got 8 eggs today from 8 hens, 100% for the first time in a long time!

Disbudding is Terrible!

The day that I have been dreading finally arrived, it was time to disbud the young bucklings. Alexander is a few days older than Becca Boo's "Little Man" so I selected him to go first. I warmed up the disbudding iron and tested it on a piece of wood to make sure it was ready, this whole process really had me worried. I first shaved the top of Alex's head so the little horn buds would be exposed. The Commander held Alex down using a towel over his body and rested his head on a pillow. It broke my heart when I touched the iron to his head and he cried out.

I was able to get nice copper colored circles around his buds and the "dead" caps popped right off when I was done, no bleeding. I sprayed the spots with "Blue Kote" when I was done to prevent infection and bug infestation.

Alex was back to his happy little self shortly after the process was over, but that didn't make me feel any better.

It was Little Man's turn next and his head was much smaller, making the job a lot more difficult. I applied the iron and once again there was heart breaking cries. The other goats were calling back and going crazy, thank goodness we had the forethought to make sure Sara was in the house.

A while later Little Man was happy and playing in the pen with everyone else. The Commander told me that he couldn't shake the smell of burning hair, he didn't like this any more than I did. Thank goodness the sheep get to keep their horns. I have been on a food binge and alcohol frenzy ever since finishing up, I can't wait for tomorrow.

When are My Lambs?!?

I don't know when the ewe's are going to lamb. Unlike the goats where I knew the exact date when they were bred, I only have a rough idea of when the sheep are due. I have narrowed the window down to around a 60 day period. My friend Stace posted a few hints on when one could expect that the ewes are just about ready, so I have to credit (blame) her for two of the following pictures. Can you guess which two they are? Jeepers looks to me like she is carrying twins.

I compared this shot to the one on Stace's page (where her ewe lambed the next day) and it doesn't look like Jeepers is quite ready to pop just yet.

Gardenia is large but as a first timer I'm sure she is only carrying one lamb.

This shot doesn't make me think Gardenia is ready to birth in the next few days either.

Jeepers spends a lot of time in a seeming stretch position. Maybe it makes here tummy feel better.

Gardenia.

Jeepers. They look like Tribbles.

I think Orchid is pregnant but if I had to guess I would think she is closer to the end of the 60 days than the beginning.

When I trimmed Kia's hooves she had a bit of a tummy so I hope she lambs this year as well. Now that the goats have kidded I spend most of my days watching the ewes for any signs of labor. I'm sure this means that they will lamb one evening at around 2 am.

A Day in the Sun

The sun was out today and Gidget couldn't wait to get outside!

Becca Boo's little buck went outside wearing his sweater. "What is this white stuff?"

Alexander is really growing, he is up to 7 pounds from 4.5 pounds one week ago.

Chip and my mom spent some time sitting together out on the spool.

He really enjoyed sucking on her fingers and thumb, I think she enjoyed it as well.

We had a small emergency when Becca's buck decided to get wedged under the ramp leading into the goat pen. I did not think anything could fit under there, I was wrong. I ended up having to dig up under the ramp to get him out. He is definitely a goat boy, always getting into things!

He was exhausted after his misadventure and collapsed in the barn.

Alexander loves laying on the ramp, doesn't he look just like his mother?

Becca's buck was back outside after a short rest to enjoy the rest of the afternoon. He looks just like his mother as well!

After a hard day Alexander was back inside the barn and ready to eat and rest. That boy is just full of energy.

Odds and Ends

Every day when we feed the rams Killarney gets very excited. He has tried to push his head through the fence, climb the fence, and prances over to the door. If he wasn't so potentially dangerous I would think he is just charming.

I had fifty bales of hay delivered and they were initially stored in the garage. I hope this will hold us over until the plants around here begin to grow and I can let the animals out to graze on their own.

The Commander moved them through the snowy slush and mud to the lofts in the goat and sheep barns. He left 10 bales in the garage to be used for the rams. The rams new building won't be built until probably May, we have to wait for the snow melt and the ground to thaw until beginning construction.

One of the hens is laying very long and tall eggs, you can see it in the middle. Lucy, our Rhode Island Red lays the darker brown egg on the far right while an average Gold Laced Wyandotte egg is on the left.

We find one long egg every day along with Lucy's, at least the long egg layer is consistent.

A short video of Alexander, looks like he is getting his legs under him.

Becca Boo Gives Us a Buck Too!

I heard Becca Boo going into labor on the baby monitor and rushed right out to see if she needed help. She found a comfortable spot and began the birthing process, it only took her three hard pushes.

Chip and Gidget climbed up on the igloo so they could get a good look.

When Sara heard Becca Boo crying out she came to the door and started whimpering. I couldn't let her in as Addison was taking care of little Alex in that area so Sara just had to settle with peeking in over the door.

Becca Boos little buck popped right out, he was no problem at all.

Becca seemed in shock at first but her little boy popped right up. Unlike Addison, Becca didn't start to clean her buck up immediately, she was a little standoffish. That didn't stop the little boy, he wobbled up to Becca and began to lick her!

Addison took immediate interest in Becca's buck, she started "talking" to him and calling out. I am sure that if I had handed him to her she would have taken him as her own! I finally had to dry him off myself and wrapped him in warm towels to get his temperature up. After a short time Becca finally began to clean him a bit and he was finally able to nurse.

With Becca crying, Chip and Gidget screaming, Addison talking, and Sara whimpering the sheep decided to come over to the goat barn to see what was going on. I took this picture of them through the goat house window.

Becca warming up her little buck.

It took her a bit, but Becca loves and snuggles her little boy.

Below is a short video of Becca and her young buck.