Kodesh Acres - This is my journal about sheep

[farmerjan]

Didn't realize you had enough separate pastures to be able to keep the sheep off them for more than 30 days... that's great !!!!!
That's some serious growth.... Just be careful with all that beautiful lush clover they do not get bloat....it can be a problem with the cows...
Can you put your state in your avatar??? I can't remember where you are.... go to your name top right, down to account details, down to location, and it will show up under your avatar...

 

[KodeshAcres]

Didn't realize you had enough separate pastures to be able to keep the sheep off them for more than 30 days... that's great !!!!!
That's some serious growth.... Just be careful with all that beautiful lush clover they do not get bloat....it can be a problem with the cows...
Can you put your state in your avatar??? I can't remember where you are.... go to your name top right, down to account details, down to location, and it will show up under your avatar...

Enough pastures?? Depends on who you ask but everyone’s fed and healthy. Lambs have received 0 grain input and are gaining well.
There’s a lot of sainfoin growing with the clover, which I heard doesn’t bloat them but I’ve been keeping an eye on them and they have baking soda available too.

I’m in East Texas

 

[Baymule]

Sainfoin is non bloating. It’s high in tannins, which can help manage worms.

 

[KodeshAcres]

Sainfoin is non bloating. It’s high in tannins, which can help manage worms.

View attachment 116924

Yes, this is great because it’s growing everywhere in our yard. Praise God!!

 

[KodeshAcres]

I try to keep up with this journal but I just can’t seem to do a very good job at it

The flock and the family are all doing well.

Still seeing a lot of growth out in the pasture, thankful for the recent rainy mornings followed by sunshine every afternoon.

Weller spent a week in our fenced in garden area, directly behind the house. He cried A LOT the first 3-4 day, I thought it would never stop. It was hard for me to hear him go on all day, he would pace his paddock most of the time. It wasn’t an easy decision, but leaving him in with the ewes or castrating/banding him were not things we were going to do. I tried posting him on the FB sale groups and had a handful of people reach out but never heard back after the first interaction and I am glad it turned out that way, because I am happy to report that after a week by himself Weller is now sharing a paddock with Snickers and they are both happy with each others company. Weller doesn’t cry anymore, he was very calm when we put him in with Snickers and didn’t try to jump the fence like he had done previously. Snickers on his side was also calm and more gentle with Weller this time, he nudged him on the butt a few times to let him know who’s boss in the paddock and then they went on to graze together. I have been monitoring them closely everyday and haven’t seen anything concerning so far. Praise God for that, we never really wanted to get rid of Weller, putting him in our freezer was always our goal. But for a moment there we thought it wasn’t going to be possible.

Dottie hasn’t lambed yet, she is now 8 days past her due date. She’s huge and we are all excited to see what she’s been cooking in there.

One of our roosters is now living in the paddock with the girls, his leg was injured while in a fight with our other rooster and he has a bit of a limp now. He’s made himself at home with the ladies and enjoys having all the crickets to himself

Here are some more pictures of the flock, I hope you enjoy them.


Peggy

Bathsheepa

Gwynn

 

[KodeshAcres]

Penelope and Olive (Peggy’s lambs)

Dottie and Bathsheepa

Misty

Also I’ve planted my Serranos, habanero peppers and tomatillos in their pots. I am also trying to propagate some rosemary and we purchased a 3 gallon bucket of French lavender. We haven’t had success with lavender in the past but we are hoping we can keep this one alive our mint and chocolate mint are growing really well.

We went strawberry picking today, our third year visiting Alford Family Farms. If you live anywhere near Rains County, Texas or if you’re wanting to pick some delicious organically grown strawberries I highly recommend Alford Family Farms, the kids have a great time picking strawberries and they are reasonably priced at $4.50 per pound.

One last thing, can sheep eat these? If not, will they avoid them or do I need to pull them out of the ground?

 

[Baymule]

I love all the pictures. I’m glad Weller settled down for you. The first few times you wean lambs, it can be stressful for you too. As you have learned, after a few days, it’s ok, so now you know what to expect and it won’t be so hard for you.

Last picture, if you are referring to the prickly pear, no, the sheep won’t eat them. They also don’t eat bull nettle, which is prevalent in northeast Texas.

 

[Mini Horses]

Prickly pear is, well, prickly! But, they flower and form a fruit that makes slamming good jelly

 

[KodeshAcres]

I love all the pictures. I’m glad Weller settled down for you. The first few times you wean lambs, it can be stressful for you too. As you have learned, after a few days, it’s ok, so now you know what to expect and it won’t be so hard for you.

Last picture, if you are referring to the prickly pear, no, the sheep won’t eat them. They also don’t eat bull nettle, which is prevalent in northeast Texas.

Yes, it was definitely stressful the things you have to learn when you have animals

About the prickly pear, will they just avoid it or do I need to do something to get rid of it?

 

[KodeshAcres]

Prickly pear is, well, prickly! But, they flower and form a fruit that makes slamming good jelly

I actually used to eat a lot of prickly pear growing up in Mexico. I haven’t seen any fruit on these in the 3 years we’ve been here, I will say that there use to only be one and now there’s another one. I wish it gave fruit and if for whatever reason it decides to this year, I will definitely eat it.