Downer Ewe

[Baymule]

I’m impressed how y’all have jumped right in there with these uncared for sheep. You have gotten busy and not wasted any time. You have a lot of work ahead but the sheep you keep will be very lucky sheep to have y’all as their new owners.

 

[Lizzy733]

I’m impressed how y’all have jumped right in there with these uncared for sheep. You have gotten busy and not wasted any time. You have a lot of work ahead but the sheep you keep will be very lucky sheep to have y’all as their new owners.

yeah, will be downsizing them though - 21 is way too many for us to manage just starting out. There's a ram, a wether, 3 killers (castrated and I'm sure nearing cull), the now 9 ewes and 7 ewe lambs... all the oldies have their tails intact... most of the babies have been dobbed except for the youngest and I see one of the supposed ewe lambs has horns... not sure if she's supposed to have those.

I think we'll keep the darker furred of the lambs and ewes - at least those who aren't ancient and get rid of the rest through freezer camp or selling.

Did I mention we lost an upcoming cockerel too? He drowned in the above ground pool, which we will be selling and was in the process of being drained when he happened upon it. Poor little man was going to be for keeping a heavy line going - getting a replacement 8 wk old SLW cockerel this weekend to do the job instead as nobody nearby has a decent quality orpington cockerel in the region around the age of my other boys.

Need to get to setting up that rooster pen, but they're all still young yet.

 

[Alaskan]

yeah, will be downsizing them though - 21 is way too many for us to manage just starting out. There's a ram, a wether, 3 killers (castrated and I'm sure nearing cull), the now 9 ewes and 7 ewe lambs... all the oldies have their tails intact... most of the babies have been dobbed except for the youngest and I see one of the supposed ewe lambs has horns... not sure if she's supposed to have those.

I think we'll keep the darker furred of the lambs and ewes - at least those who aren't ancient and get rid of the rest through freezer camp or selling.

Did I mention we lost an upcoming cockerel too? He drowned in the above ground pool, which we will be selling and was in the process of being drained when he happened upon it. Poor little man was going to be for keeping a heavy line going - getting a replacement 8 wk old SLW cockerel this weekend to do the job instead as nobody nearby has a decent quality orpington cockerel in the region around the age of my other boys.

Need to get to setting up that rooster pen, but they're all still young yet.

You need a bit of boredom thrown in.... just sayin'.

 

[Baymule]

If the ram hasn’t been changed out in awhile, you might consider a new one at some point. What breed of sheep are they?

 

[Lizzy733]

If the ram hasn’t been changed out in awhile, you might consider a new one at some point. What breed of sheep are they?

Black and white romney and some feral - maybe arapawa or similar.

There are 3 older ewes, 6 four tooth and their babies. The babies are all his, of course, but otherwise he's unrelated to any of the adult ewes.

I personally prefer the darker coated as far as aesthetics go and most of his babies are dark coated so may want to keep a few. Had quite a rainbow wool collection - will be mulching the garden with all that.

He's a pretty nice ram though. Doesn't start with us and is taking the wether's lead and warming up to us.

I know with line breeding in poultry, inbreeding one generation is acceptable... Is it the same with sheep or do you want no inbreeding whatsoever?

 

[Baymule]

I currently have 4 of my ram's daughters with him. Their daughters will have to be bred to a different ram.

 

[Lizzy733]

I currently have 4 of my ram's daughters with him. Their daughters will have to be bred to a different ram.

Cool. Won't be too fussed on keeping him then.

I've dubbed him blackbeard due to how dark his neck fluffs are. Really is a chill guy... Cautious but reasonable.

Not like the ewes who see me struggling to twist in a gudgeon and start screaming at me. Least the orchard gates are now hung and not held on by twists of wire. Hopefully our little piggie bros can't squeeze under it. - it's on uneven terrain so some gappage between the height of the two sides was unavoidable, but they're quite secure now.