Psalm23Farm: Ram fight, hay and lambs!

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Ram fight, hay and lambs!

On Wednesday my rams had a fight. Craigrothie the white used to be the boss ram,but Drummond the musket took over.

On Friday I dewormed my ewes and sold a ewe (PS23 Buttercup) , then on Saturday I got a semi load of hay and went to a funeral.

On Tuesday there were lambs! This first lamb (the one with black spots) was rejected. We found her in the snow unable to get up as her back legs were frozen. She's fine now. The dam is Alice my Merino.

On Wednesday there were more lambs! Meatball the dam is a Corriedale/Dorset. I got coats on all the lambs.

Yes I know I left my rams with my ewes too long in the summer, but there are only two ewes who can breed out of season. So this is what I get ...

In 5 week I'm going to be shearing my flock-I'll have lots of nice wool and mohair! In 2 months (last week of Mar. except for a doe who'll kid in mid-Mar.) the rest of my flock will lamb/kid. I'll have lots of babies!!!

5 comments:

SharrieFebruary 5, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Cute coat for that little one. They sure need those coats in this weather.
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Becky UtechtFebruary 5, 2009 at 6:05 PM
Congratulations on the healthy lambs Laura. They sure are cute.
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LaelFebruary 8, 2009 at 10:41 AM
Well, at least your lambs have a stretch of warmer weather now than we had been having. We don't start til the end of March, which I think I prefer, as I hate going out to the barn for that last late night check before I go to bed when it is still winter. Hope your babies thrive. Congrats!
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Ebonwald CardigansFebruary 9, 2009 at 3:33 PM
cute lambs! how many sheep do you feed a round bale and how long does it last? How big are the bales? 800# 1200#?
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LauraFebruary 10, 2009 at 5:55 AM
Hi Garrett,

I feed a bale every 2 1/2 days. The bale were 900# at baling time, but might be less now 800 or 850#?

I am feeding 3 cattle (they are smaller 2 are Dexters and 1 is a Jersey), and 65 sheep and goats.

Laura
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Welcome to Psalm 23 Farm

I'm breeding my NASSA registered Shetland sheep for fine and med. fine lustrous single coated fleeces in both the crimpy and the locky, wavy fleece styles. I have a wide range of colors and makings as well as the bright pure whites. I'm emphasizing on production, mothering ability and sound conformation. I have both horned and naturally polled Shetland rams and a few horned Shetland ewes.

I also produce fast growing grass-fed market lambs and commercial ewes with excellent fleece. (Shetland x Coopworth and Shetland x Australian Corriedale.) These F1 (first generation cross) ewes are great maternal ewes to put under a terminal sire for the ultimate grass fed market lamb.

Angora goats are my other love. I'm selecting for fine yearling grade mohair in adult animals. All of my goats are CAGBA (colored) or AAGBA (white) registered. I'm also selecting for sound healthy goats.

Posts will be about the Shetlands and Angoras with an occasional post about the other animals on the farm. Posts will also be about wool, spinning and a variety of other topics.

Psalm 23 Farm sells raw "jacketed" wool and mohair fleeces, mohair locks, dyed and natural Shetland and Shetland/mohair roving. Also sheepskins, quilt batts, handspun yarn, mohair lock yarn, and mill spun yarn.

From the Shetland Sheep Society

"Shetland sheep have for generations been noted for their very soft and well crimped fleece. The wool is the finest of all native breeds and shows an amazing variety of colours and patterns. There are 11 main whole colours and 30 recognized markings.

By selecting from coloured fleeces a range of naturally coloured yarn can be produced. This eliminates the need for dyeing and therefore retains the soft feel of the natural fibre and is favoured by those who prefer a totally natural approach.

Shetland wool fibres are of a simple construction witha central cortex covered by a thin scaly cuticle, and have an average diameter of about 23 microns. However there is a range from 10-20 microns for neck and shoulder wool to 25 to 35 microns for britch wool. the average staple length is 3.5 inches. The amount of crimp varies, and is most important in providing the 'bounce' required for knitwear. There is a positive correlation between fineness and crimp, with wool of the finest quality being crimped at between 8 and 12 to the inch. Wool from Shetland sheep is used to produce gossamer lace, the famous 'Fair Isle' knitwear, and fine tweeds. Pure bred Shetland sheep tend to shed their fleece in spring. The growth of new fleece can cause a rise or weak point and where this is present the fleece can sometimes be plucked or 'rooed' by hand. The timing of this can be different in each sheep, however, it is worth taking the care to get it right as rooed fleece can be amongst the softest because the fibers have no harsh cut ends as occurs with a sheared fleece.

Shetland fleece can be handspun straight from the fleece or made into rolags and then woollen spun. It can also be worsted spun by hand, used on a peg loom or handwoven. It also felts well using either dry or wet methods. When processed commercially the wool can be made into the finest lightweight worsted cloth or heavier weight, harder wearing fabrics and tweeds."

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Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Ram fight, hay and lambs!

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