Shearing

Byron Johnson sheared our flock last Friday, April 8.  It was wet and soggy all week, and then the sun shined bright on Friday morning and shearing went off without a hitch.  I feel infinitely lucky to have it over with before lambing begins.  Lambing could begin this Saturday, April 16.

Sian, 5 year old black, once again shows some iset on her hips.  But it took three years to develop that iset, and so far, her ribs and shoulders are still black.  Maybe some more experienced breeders could tell me whether she is a non-fading black with ordinary age graying, or if she is iset.  I've had other black Shetlands that were frosty with iset from head to tail by their first shear.  Just curious to hear opinions on how other breeders would categorize her.

Little Red Oak January and her black kat daughter, Esyllt.  I was pleased to see that all the ewes, bred and open, had good flesh under their fleeces.  They were fed grass hay all winter.  I did start a whole corn/oats/molasses blend feeding at 6pm each night about 2 weeks ago.

River Oaks Hannah is the biggest girl out there.  She looks like she is carrying triplets compared to the others.  But I'm truthfully just wishing for nice twins out of her.  I was happily surprised with her soft fleece this spring.

The shearer had a hard time with River Oaks Lana's fleece.  He couldn't get the clippers underneath the rise all along her back and hips.  And her belly had completely rooed.  She is skittish of me so I don't know if I'll get her cleaned up later on or not.  Lana does have the lighter flash marks along her hips now.  They are not as dramatic as some gulmogets I've seen.  Some breeders prefer solid sided gulmogets.  I can't say I have an opinion either way.  I am just so pleased to have Lana in my flock.

Here is little Carys, unbred yearling.  I think she looks like a little dolly. 

And finally, some hind shots.  White Lyneth is the girl that didn't take last year.  Her kat twin in the background gave me twins for her first pregnancy.  I think Lyneth might just be really fat again this year.  If that is the case I will decide her future based on her micron results.  Excellent numbers may persuade me to offer her as a fiber pet.  I had wanted lambs from Lyneth especially because of the deep depressions in her skull.  I figured she has the polled gene for sure.
The shearer thought she looked bred.  Ah well, we shall see.
Let the waiting for lambs begin.

Checking Off the List

Leil & Lana

Clancy and I gave CD&T shots to all the ewes last night.  And I also snipped off wool samples from every girl to send out for micron testing. 
Here's hoping the results come back very soon!

Having the girls on their backsides for a minute gave me a good look at which ones are bagging up.  None of them are due till April 16th or later.  But it looks like a couple will come in quite close to that date. 

In order of biggest bag to smallest, with ewe color and ram mate in parenthesis.

Courante = scurred black katmoget.   Ash = polled moorit.

Hannah  (moorit x Courante)

Leil  (gray x Ash)

January  (moorit kat x Courante)

Nhu  (black kat x Courante)

Sian  (black x Ash)

Vianne  (white x Ash)

Lana  (black gulmoget x Ash)

Lyneth  (white x Courante)

Unfortunately, Lyneth and Lana are not showing any signs of being bred yet.  Lyneth didn't take last year so I'm starting to doubt her ability to breed.  I am hoping my dear little gully girl took, though.  The ewes were with rams for an extra long time this season.  I suppose both girls could be bred and just not showing yet.  Please, please, pretty please!

Lyneth & Hannah

Pet Portraits

Chloe Cat... 14+ years old...still in charge of it all.

Megan...easily distracted.

Shachah...committed to napping.

Sunday Swan Return

The Trumpeter Swans have returned to Boston Lake.

They bring me hope.

Late March

I just finished working at my season job this week.  For the first time in months I took a good look at the flock.  There is a ton of work I better get done in the next two weeks!  Lambs are due on April 16th.  And at least one of the ewes looks like she'll barely be able to wait that long.

I did start feeding corn/oats this week.  Hopefully Clancy and I can get the CD&T shots done over the weekend.  We'll probably do hooves before we let them out to pasture.  And I have to call Byron, our shearer, to set up a date.  I hope I can schedule prior to lambing.  That always makes it easier to see what is going on with the girls.

S'more Courante, my 2 year old ram, is still for sale.  I just put new photos of him up on the Stock for Sale page.  Take a look if you are interested in polled genetics.

Here are some other photos I took yesterday:

Clennam & Tecwyn...rowdy idiots like most ram lambs are.

My beautiful Vianne.

A very pregnant Hannah, yearling Esyllt, and Lyneth up close.

Lana, distracted from the hay pile by two bald eagles skimming the tree tops.

My pretty Nhu. 

I hope she gives me ewe lambs this year that are every bit as nice as last year's ram lambs.

Almost March

Esyllt, open eweling, eating fresh snow after licking mineral.

Last week I worked 53.5 hours.  The week before that was about the same.  And this one will be too.  I'm so tired.  Thank you to Clancy for doing so many of my sheep chores the last few weeks. (months)

Here are just a few random photos from last week... just to prove I still have sheep.

Hoping for polled lambs from all my pairings this year!

River Oaks Lana... oh please give me a gully ewe lamb to keep!

River Oaks Hannah... she is such a friendly girl.

Boston Lake Lyneth.  Did she take this year?  I hope so.

Boston Lake Carys, open eweling, making sure I'm not too close while she takes her turn at the mineral.

Silent Shachah