Baymule’s Journal

[Baymule]

Hahaha, yes you know someone with white Dorpers!

And you will have a lamb explosion! Ram lambs go off to auction, how ever many go to the freezer to feed the family. Ewe lambs— oh boy! THATS the hard part! Good luck with that!!

For me, it’s keep them all. Next year I’ll have 30 ewes and there will definitely be a population explosion! At those numbers, I will start culling out the less desirable ewes and keeping the best ones. I already have several on the list that will go. I’m going to give some ewes to a neighbor because he has given me a lot of help, he will get a half white Dorper as his ram. He’s excited about that.

I don’t know just how I will handle actually selling ewes. Especially top notch nice ewes, it will be hard to let them go!

 

[Margali]

@Baymule We may be able to coordinate and offer "starter flocks" of unrelated ram and ewe lambs. After talking with a couple other producers, I plan on offering one or 2 proven ewes a year to allow room for new blood. Otherwise you can end up with all ewes aging out at same time.

 

[Baymule]

@Baymule We may be able to coordinate and offer "starter flocks" of unrelated ram and ewe lambs. After talking with a couple other producers, I plan on offering one or 2 proven ewes a year to allow room for new blood. Otherwise you can end up with all ewes aging out at same time.

The Covington’s said they sell their ewes at 5-6 years old. That way they make room for younger ewes and they don’t wind up with a bunch of dead sheep to deal with. Wise advice.

 

[Baymule]

Had a great morning! Neighbor Chase came over to help me tag some older lambs and wean 2 rams. He carried them across the driveway while I opened and closed gates. Carson is back to work guarding lambs.

Before we got started, I saw that Butterfly was in labor. Daughter of Frimplepants and Ringo, bred to Cooper. Chase’s daughter was put on lamb watch while we worked the sheep. 3 needed worming, a couple needed worming for tapeworms and we tagged. Then we sat in the lot waiting on birth. This is Butterfly’s first, she was up, down, up, down and finally went in the small pallet shelter with toes and nose sticking out. I thought she might need a little tug, but she got down to business and birth happened. Chase and his daughter got to watch it all, I was delighted his daughter was there and so was he. The lamb kept trying to suck between the front legs, got tired and laid down. I scooted in, picked up the lamb and put it in position. Sucking noises and tail going like an airplane propeller! I lifted the tail…….. it’s a girl!

Then we sat in the holding pen with the ewes and they came up for petting. I had the girl sit on the ground with me and be patient. The ewes sniffed her and she got to pet them. One ewe liked it, pawing her leg for more. This made the girl laugh, it became a game. Scratch ewe, stop. Ewe paws leg, start scratching again. I pointed out the 2 older ewes, Eve and Lucy that I’m giving to them, and Frimplepants too.

Enjoyable morning. We got all lambs tagged, wormed those that needed it, weaned 2 lambs and best of all, a young girl got to witness birth and pet lots of sheep.

And there’s another ewe for the flock, that makes 31!

 

[canesisters]

And a LOVELY little lady she is!!!!

 

[Baymule]

And a LOVELY little lady she is!!!!

Black with chrome!

 

[SageHill]

I don’t know just how I will handle actually selling ewes. Especially top notch nice ewes, it will be hard to let them go!

That will be a great position to be in! Tough but good.

 

[Mini Horses]

You raise the price, tell of their attributes and smile.

They're healthy, handled, worth the price. You mentor them through their ups and downs. Auctions don't!

You even consider delivery if close, for a fee. You smile.

 

[Baymule]

I checked air in truck tires, aired them up, hitched flatbed trailer, aired tires. Was almost at the end of the driveway and realized I forgot the diesel cans. Stopped truck, walked back to get them.

Passing sheep pen, “Oh my goodness! Tiny is in labor!”

I got the diesel cans, put them in the truck and walked back. In a few minutes, Tiny had a lamb. Then another! Twin rams! Both are white with brown spots on their neck.

 

[Ridgetop]

Did you double check? LOL
Teeny Tiny gave you twins. And Butterfly gave you color! Yee Haw!

By next year, someone I know should be local with white dorpers if she wants to do market lambs.

Let me know date of market show and I will breed for that.