purplequeenvt - Ivy Knoll Farm

[purplequeenvt]

A bit about ears....

I am very picky about me Border Leicester ears. One of the most distinctive features of the Border Leicester breed is supposed to be the ears. They should be long and erect. So many breeders are letting the ear thing slip. I saw a photo of BL recently that won "best headed ewe (or maybe it was ram?) at some big BL show. It was awful! The ears were too small and too low on the head.

Here is one of our ewes with good ears. I wouldn't mind them being a little larger.

I don't like the ears of this ewe at all. She has what we call "airplane ears" - long ears that are set too low on the head. She has a lot other good things about her though, so we'll forgive the ears in this case.

There is a huge difference between the American BL and the British BL. British BL remind me a bit of Cheviots.

This is a UK Border Leicester. (picture borrowed from www.borderleicesters.co.uk)

 

[autumnprairie]

you have some beautiful animals

 

[Queen Mum]

That's odd. The British Sheep reminds me of this smiley... I like yours better. It looks more "friendly" and calm somehow.

 

[purplequeenvt]

That's odd. The British Sheep reminds me of this smiley...

I don't know what the personality of UK BLs is, but I do know that our farm has an over-abundance of super friendly sheep.

Steve is probably our friendliest sheep. Yesterday, she came over, shoved her head under my arm and leaned on me while I was taking pictures and checking the ewes.

 

[purplequeenvt]

It is snowing today, our first significant snow of the year.

I took the dogs with me to check the mail. We have a 1/4 mile driveway and the dogs love to race each other.

Click loves going for a walk!!

Wheeee!!!!!!!!!!

It's a little scary to have four fast dogs racing straight at you.

Meg

They get to a certain spot on the driveway and they all stop because they know they aren't allowed to cross the street.

Millie

 

[Queen Mum]

Awe... Steve is so sweet...

 

[20kidsonhill]

Love the photos.

 

[purplequeenvt]

Surprise!! I went out to the barn around 3:30 this afternoon and found a little present! We aren't due to start lambing until the 20th or so, but apparently Galadriel had other ideas. They picked a nice day to arrive.

Galadriel had a set of triplets - 2 girls and 1 boy, unfortunately, 1 one of the ewes was still-born. The 2 remaining lambs are big beautiful babies though, so we are happy. Weights are....Girl - 9lbs, Boy - 11.5lbs, SB girl - 9 lbs.....that's 29.5 lbs of lamb!

#1201 - Her name is possibly going to be Artemis

#1202 - His name is possibly Apollo

 

[elevan]

Congratulations!

 

[Queen Mum]

Oh my, what beautiful lambs. That's a lot of baby. How is Galadriel doing? The ram lamb is gorgeous.