Promise Acre: Our Journey

[promiseacres]

Still waiting on more 3 more ewes to lamb. Big Barbie, Nibbles & Maya. Really looking forward to seeing what BB throws colorwise as I've seen past photos fo her lambs and they are registable so on some color! The brown and black lambs are cute but need white to be Painted Desert. Nibbles is white with some tan so again looking forward to seeing what comes out. We are debating b/c though the 4 horns of the Desert Dragons are fun and challenging, most people around us look at them crossed eyed b/c they're not common. So wondering if sticking with the more colorful PDs may be better in the long run for selling lambs. Then I remind myself that we mainly got them for meat for ourselves so registration really doesn't mean much. But with my pasture we can have 6 ewes (currently have 7), 1 ram, plus 4-5 lambs to grow for meat. Only 3 ewes have lambed and have 5 lambs so need to cut way back or find an outlet.

Tomorrow is lockdown day for my hatch # 6, breeder resent some more legbars and my Aunt brought me some blue cochins to hatch. After this I HAVE to take a break til we get more pens up.

On the family front things have been stressful. DH broke his nose while splitting wood 3 weeks ago, had surgery 2 weeks ago. Dr's office gave us conflicting instructions and then his work didn't want him back on light duty but as of today he's full release. Drs seem to have no care about their instructions, I know they're just covering their butts but really seem clueless about people who WORK (ie we have zero need to go to the gym b/c our lifestyle). And now DD who turned 2 in Jan has to be evaluated for a speech delay. I want her helped (I'm over her screaming vs telling me what she wants) but trying to figure out the ins and outs of the states programs and therapy. And my family will not be supportive b/c they see no problems with kids that dont' speak til 3 and kids in therapy K-4th grade b/c of it.

Am grateful spring is here, critters are multiplying and soon I will be able to hang my laundry out and stop filling up the wood stove.

 

[BrownSheep]

Glad to see all is going well on the animal front.

Good for you for looking out for your daughters best interests!

 

[promiseacres]

Here is my CL and the Blue Cochins are some incubated for my aunt so I have 2 boys, 2 girls in this group, and then the other boy from the first hatch. It wasn't a fantastic hatch but we got some chicks. I will not be using the intial Legbar for breeding, in fact the roo though pretty and a nice boy is on the butcher list... which should be happening next week.

Still waiting on the last 3 ewes, two continue to get bigger bellies and bigger udders, 1 nada. They have til May 5. And we MAY be getting another breeding ram, he is #18.

My sis (who is breeding 2 horn PD) is going to pick up some more breeding stock in Texas... that's where 90% of the PD and DD sheep are being raised. Anywyas she's offering me this one (not sure why she's considering a 4 horn) for a good price, less than I can travel to Texas but a bit more than what a 3 month old ram would go for. IDK intially I was against it b/c I wasn't going to be looking for new stock this year... but DH said find out the price (he was wanting even lower ) Anyways 1. it's a reasonable price for getting one from Texas 2. he's out of loudly colored ram and ewe (am not getting very many lambs with much color out of my crosses, though other than the extras this doesn't matter to me ) 3. the sire is the of the line I'd probably get if I had the chance to travel and get my own. BUT if I'm just breeding for own meat lambs really really don't need another... any thoughts?

 

[BrownSheep]

I think it is a good deal.
A) YOU don't have to travel to Texas to pick him up.
B)He has characteristics and genetics you want.
C) He will bringing in new genetics to your local gene pool.

As long he is affordable I would go ahead with it. It will save you the drive to Texas and bring in the genetics sooner than you planned.

 

[promiseacres]

well too many questions into getting a 4 month old 4 horn ram lamb, like if his horns will fuse or not. But Big Barbie had twin boys last night! (maybe i'll just keep one of them) as they are both VERY handsome. They definatly have at least 2 horns, couldn't feel any other bumps so we'll see.

 

[BrownSheep]

I really like the one with all the white. gorgeous little rams

 

[promiseacres]

Am almost out of hay... that was with me having 100 "extra" bales. Luckily this year pastures are finally coming on and have had the horses on them for a couple of weeks so far, but still will have to get some first cutting or figure out something b/c someone always gets hay with our set up. My 5 yr old DS isn't going to be thrilled but am going to re-home Shana our retired brood mare who is 24 this year, sell the mini donkey b/c i just don't trust her with my lambs and getting Naut gelded. That will leave us with 3 minis/ponys, and I can concentrate on the sheep and not agonize so much about who to keep or sell or butcher. We just do not have the storage for more hay and with only 4 acres... will very much am limited on my grassfed livestock.
I am setting some of my mixed eggs into the incubator. Was going to do another batch of Cochins for my aunt but her 2 of her hens decided a week ago to go broody and she didn't pull the eggs. So will wait to do her second batch. I have a couple of eggs from my ISA browns I sold, so kind of wanting to see how some mixed eggs do from them. Also got the 2 extra Brahma and Legbar Roosters butchered. Nice big guys. DH spread the compost pile on the garden and got 2 bucketfulls of giant grubs for the hens, am hoping this inspires him to work on my chicken moat sooner than later.

 

[promiseacres]

Still waiting on Nibbles to lamb, she has til May 30... was sure the storms this past couple of days would get them moving. But nope. So this morning I let her back with the flock. But a good note on the sheep front is I've put up a couple ads and I have 1 person coming to look at lambs this week and have had two other emails. So... very happy for some potential buyers. DH is wanting me to be cautious on who gets sold as weanlings b/c he is now planning to take another 1/2 acre out of the yard area and make 4th pasture area so we can grow some our lambs out. my DH.

On the chicken front 9 (maybe 10 ) eggs that I set (out of 14) have good veining at day 7. So for fertile eggs, though I am having problems keeping up with my eating eggs sales so am not going to advertise/sell them as hatching eggs til some of the younger poults start laying later this summer.
And have one potential buyer for the donkey, and got a reasonable quote for gelding my stud so as soon as some cash comes in am making his appointment, as it would be nice to get him done sooner than later.
DH did get the garden tilled but wants to till again then we can plant, FINALLY! been a long awaited spring but I think it's here. Oh and he got me an honey crisp apple tree and he's going to get me a yellow delicious too! very happy for some fruit trees.

 

[jodief100]

The lambs are just adorable!!!

 

[promiseacres]

Well no one is sold yet... but the grass is growing good so I guess I really don't have too much to worry about. Nibbles lambed 5/17 a white ram lamb. They are doing fine. Maya has til June 8 but don't think she settled. I'm ok as my goal was 6-8 lambs and have 8. She may go to my sister's in trade for a pony harness for my bigger ponies. Which is ok as she's very flighty so if that doesn't happen I think I'm going to get her butchered.
Have some my own mixed chicks hatching and they are already sold!

Lots of plans are on hold as I am almost 9 weeks pregnant myself ! But was diagnosed with a hematoma in the placenta two weeks ago so am on "light" duty which means almost EVERYTHING! I can do chores as long as it doesn't include anything over 5#, no gardening (too much repetive motions), no vaccuming. Trying to stay positive but it gets frustrating, my DH works so hard then has to do whatever I can't do when he gets home. My lovely neighbors will be able to help more once school is finished. And I do have people who will just come over to play with the kids or whatever. Fingers crossed that it clears up and I can do some things again til the little one gets here in December. Til then I'm on the PC way too much and taking naps, mainly keeping my feet up! Unless I get put on strict bedrest it's doable otherwise we may have to cut more critters than I had planned. But very excited about the baby.