Lambing is almost over, and I’ve hardly had a minute to write a blog post this year! We began on February 13, and have had no lambs born for the past two weeks, but we have 5 ewes holding out. We expect them to lamb in the next week or two. My friend Annie is …
Yesterday was one of our miserably windy March days, with gusts so strong anything not nailed down was flying away. It was also a sad day because it was time for my cousin Linda to return to Idaho. After we said goodbye to Linda our minds were taken off it all by a little lamb-storm. …
Yesterday morning Melinda and I found ourselves in a puzzling situation. Our older Romney ewe, Swiss Miss, was in labor for quite a while and not progressing. Finally we decided we needed to investigate. I held Swiss Miss and Melinda examined her and found her cervix fully dilated, but no lamb in the birth canal …
Lambing began on Sunday morning, when Nan, one of our older Romney ewes, went into labor. Last year Nan had a torn placenta and lost both her lambs, and was so sad, so we were eager to see her be a happy mom this year. Melinda and Lolo got her into the barn from the …
When the new year rolls around it is time to shear the pregnant ewes, so they will be clean of fleece and ready to lamb. Yesterday was the big day for our 41 pregnant ewes, and it was a LONG day for Lolo, Lisa, Melinda and me, and for the ewes also. The day began …
This group of 19 ewes is made up of 5 retired grandmas, 4 ewe lambs that were to small to breed, and 10 ewes who did not get pregnant this year. Even though they are not producing lambs, they are earning their keep, with their fleeces and their grazing. We are rotating them through all …
Well this is a story I must tell, even though I risk ruining my reputation as a serious rancher. Let me start by saying that Lily is a very special ewe. She is the daughter of Bonnet, and grand-daughter of the legendary Panties, best dairy ewe I ever had. Lily is half East Friesian, half …
