promiseacres
Herd Master
Ouch! Glad all was well. 
norseofcourse's journal - spring and show update
- Thread starter norseofcourse
- Start date
Gosh... the things our "kids" do to us huh? Glad everything turned out OK in the end.
BlessedWithGoats
Herd Master
I echo those who have posted before me, in saying that I'm glad you're both okay! 
Scary when one of our animals goes missing!
Scary when one of our animals goes missing!- Thread starter
- #274
norseofcourse
Herd Master
Thanks everyone - I'm glad all turned out well, too! I can even see the humor in it - of course, there was a lot more humor after it was over, than when it was happening!
- Thread starter
- #275
norseofcourse
Herd Master
I took the 5 lambs into the processor yesterday. First, some pictures I got recently.
This one's just for fun - I got the adult ewes sheared in early October, and Rose and Brosa spent a couple of days butting the 'new' sheep.
This is Rose and one of her her two lambs. I'd been trying to get a picture that showed how big the lambs were. Here, he has nearly three months worth of wool growth, and Rose has just under a month's - so he is fluffier, but he's also (to me) a darn nice big lamb.
Here are the lambs at the feeder. From the left, the solid black is one of Rose's twins, the next is one of Gracie's twins (the girl), next is Rose's other twin, next is Gracie's other twin (the boy), and finally Lukka's single ewe lamb. Gracie's boy is the one who had the parasite problem, and you can really see the size difference with him.
I really thought Gracie's boy would be the smallest of them all - but surprisingly, he wasn't. I got the hanging weights of the lambs today. The hanging weights include the heads this time, so my guess is maybe 6 or 7 pounds is due to the head.
Rose's lambs were, as expected, the heaviest: Black and white one was 64 pounds, black one was 62 lbs.
Gracie's lambs surprised me by being more than I had thought: Ewe lamb 58 pounds, little white wether lamb 50 lbs. With his earlier parasite issues, I really didn't expect this, especially since he looked so small next to Rose's boys.
And Lukka's single ewe lamb was slightly more than I thought she would be: 46 lbs.
So overall, decent weights! I did feed the lambs some pellets and grain - a mix of Buckeye nonmedicated lamb & beef pellets, whole corn, and alfalfa pellets. I added a bit of sunflower seeds, for the extra protein, because of Gracie's wether lamb's anemia. They got it for about the last 3 months, just a little at first, gradually increasing till the most they got was maybe just under a cup each, twice a day.
Today I also picked up the pelts from the processor, and brought them home to clean and salt them. That's probably about the most unpleasant job I have to do. It helps a little to think their beautiful lambskins won't be wasted, and that they had really good lives while they were here. But it's rough, and I'm glad this part only happens once a year.
Elding has been in with the ewes since yesterday evening. And the circle continues...
This one's just for fun - I got the adult ewes sheared in early October, and Rose and Brosa spent a couple of days butting the 'new' sheep.
This is Rose and one of her her two lambs. I'd been trying to get a picture that showed how big the lambs were. Here, he has nearly three months worth of wool growth, and Rose has just under a month's - so he is fluffier, but he's also (to me) a darn nice big lamb.
Here are the lambs at the feeder. From the left, the solid black is one of Rose's twins, the next is one of Gracie's twins (the girl), next is Rose's other twin, next is Gracie's other twin (the boy), and finally Lukka's single ewe lamb. Gracie's boy is the one who had the parasite problem, and you can really see the size difference with him.
I really thought Gracie's boy would be the smallest of them all - but surprisingly, he wasn't. I got the hanging weights of the lambs today. The hanging weights include the heads this time, so my guess is maybe 6 or 7 pounds is due to the head.
Rose's lambs were, as expected, the heaviest: Black and white one was 64 pounds, black one was 62 lbs.
Gracie's lambs surprised me by being more than I had thought: Ewe lamb 58 pounds, little white wether lamb 50 lbs. With his earlier parasite issues, I really didn't expect this, especially since he looked so small next to Rose's boys.
And Lukka's single ewe lamb was slightly more than I thought she would be: 46 lbs.
So overall, decent weights! I did feed the lambs some pellets and grain - a mix of Buckeye nonmedicated lamb & beef pellets, whole corn, and alfalfa pellets. I added a bit of sunflower seeds, for the extra protein, because of Gracie's wether lamb's anemia. They got it for about the last 3 months, just a little at first, gradually increasing till the most they got was maybe just under a cup each, twice a day.
Today I also picked up the pelts from the processor, and brought them home to clean and salt them. That's probably about the most unpleasant job I have to do. It helps a little to think their beautiful lambskins won't be wasted, and that they had really good lives while they were here. But it's rough, and I'm glad this part only happens once a year.
Elding has been in with the ewes since yesterday evening. And the circle continues...
Roving Jacobs
Seeing Spots
Those are some good sized little lambs! Remind me the next time you have me out and I'll bring my scale and we can see how much fattypants Elding weighs 
The pelts I get back from the processor are salted and ready to go thankfully, but I still have 3 left from private buyers in my freezer waiting to be fleshed. I use a pressure washer and it goes quickly but it just isn't a very fun job and it's sad saying goodbye. Seeing the new lambs in the spring makes it better though.
The pelts I get back from the processor are salted and ready to go thankfully, but I still have 3 left from private buyers in my freezer waiting to be fleshed. I use a pressure washer and it goes quickly but it just isn't a very fun job and it's sad saying goodbye. Seeing the new lambs in the spring makes it better though.
- Thread starter
- #277
norseofcourse
Herd Master
Those are some good sized little lambs! Remind me the next time you have me out and I'll bring my scale and we can see how much fattypants Elding weighs
Elding's not fat, he's fluffy!!
Actually, a few weeks of pacing the fenceline lusting after the ewes trimmed him down some. And now in with them, he's still getting plenty of exercise. I hope to get a scale of my own before next spring's lambing season, but if I don't, thanks for the offer!
promiseacres
Herd Master
Sounds like a freezer full! 
good luck with the pelts. I would try to process ours someday. Being hair sheep dh says no.... we do have a friend who takes the horns and makes knife handles, ect.
good luck with the pelts. I would try to process ours someday. Being hair sheep dh says no.... we do have a friend who takes the horns and makes knife handles, ect.- Thread starter
- #279
norseofcourse
Herd Master
Even if they're hair sheep, can't you still de-hair them and tan the leather? Another option would be making the skins into parchment - which could be quite profitable if you can produce high-quality parchment and market it to people like artists or SCA members ( www.sca.org ) who do calligraphy. Or even turn them into rawhide rolls for dog treats - lots of dogs are allergic to beef but can have lamb products.Sounds like a freezer full!
Oh, and thanks
Roving Jacobs
Seeing Spots
Even as a hair on hide it might be cool. I know someone who tans her goat hides and they're gorgeous as rugs.
