Hens and Roos
Herd Master
Congrats!
SheepGirl's 2015 Lambing Thread - Lambs are here!
- Thread starter SheepGirl
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #92
Valentino has a date with the butcher at 10:30 tomorrow morning. I'm so glad he's leaving. I'm sad that he's going to die (especially after all these girls!) but honestly, he has too much aggression... he tries to charge me through the fence and I don't even think about going in with him, and when I do, I have him near me so I can grab a hold of him and control him that way.
He was raised by a couple of little girls who were excited to have a little lamb. It was irresponsible of his breeder to sell him to me, and it was irresponsible of me to purchase him as I had seen some aggression in him when I went to check him out (him moving his head up and down). But I just wanted a nice finn x dorset ram! So to end this vicious cycle... the poor boy shouldn't be sold to anyone else as he is a nightmare... I sold him to a family I know that will enjoy him on their table. They are from Bolivia, apparently they only eat sheep and they don't like goat. (The place I got my doeling from sells bucklings for $30/head... I figured I could raise them up for meat and sell them but since they won't eat goat I won't bother haha.)
So I need to take him to the butcher, and then rush over to school for my class at 11, and then within a half hour of me getting home from class, Emily is coming to shear!
After she's done shearing, I can separate my non-working sheep into the pen so that way I'm only feeding grain to the sheep that need it. The ones that don't have babies at side are fat! And the ones that do are pretty thin. So I may feed the lambs grain this year to reduce the stress on their dams. I didn't feed them well through late gestation--I had the stomach virus, so my dad was feeding them. Because of last year, he was very light with his feeding this time around and then the first day I felt good enough to walk farther than the 15 feet to the bathroom, I went outside and gave them hay and my dad was like "oh wow you give them a lot more than I do." So it makes me wonder how much he was giving them... Anyway the good thing I got out of it was low birth weight lambs and easy births, and ewes with milk (except Ciqala at first, but she came into milk a little bit later). My plan is to feed them enough for twins, maybe triplets. That way they are getting enough to support themselves, their lambs, plus gain weight. Or maybe instead of pouring feed into them right away I will give them grain throughout the summer so they are a good weight by breeding. I will have to check grain price history reports to see if grain is cheaper now or later in the year to make that decision.
He was raised by a couple of little girls who were excited to have a little lamb. It was irresponsible of his breeder to sell him to me, and it was irresponsible of me to purchase him as I had seen some aggression in him when I went to check him out (him moving his head up and down). But I just wanted a nice finn x dorset ram! So to end this vicious cycle... the poor boy shouldn't be sold to anyone else as he is a nightmare... I sold him to a family I know that will enjoy him on their table. They are from Bolivia, apparently they only eat sheep and they don't like goat. (The place I got my doeling from sells bucklings for $30/head... I figured I could raise them up for meat and sell them but since they won't eat goat I won't bother haha.)
So I need to take him to the butcher, and then rush over to school for my class at 11, and then within a half hour of me getting home from class, Emily is coming to shear!
After she's done shearing, I can separate my non-working sheep into the pen so that way I'm only feeding grain to the sheep that need it. The ones that don't have babies at side are fat! And the ones that do are pretty thin. So I may feed the lambs grain this year to reduce the stress on their dams. I didn't feed them well through late gestation--I had the stomach virus, so my dad was feeding them. Because of last year, he was very light with his feeding this time around and then the first day I felt good enough to walk farther than the 15 feet to the bathroom, I went outside and gave them hay and my dad was like "oh wow you give them a lot more than I do." So it makes me wonder how much he was giving them... Anyway the good thing I got out of it was low birth weight lambs and easy births, and ewes with milk (except Ciqala at first, but she came into milk a little bit later). My plan is to feed them enough for twins, maybe triplets. That way they are getting enough to support themselves, their lambs, plus gain weight. Or maybe instead of pouring feed into them right away I will give them grain throughout the summer so they are a good weight by breeding. I will have to check grain price history reports to see if grain is cheaper now or later in the year to make that decision.
- Thread starter
- #93
Well my worries of my sheep being thin were unwarranted! With no wool, I'm actually really happy with their condition. Feeling them through their wool made them seem skinnier than they actually are, and the ewe I was worried about most, Ciqala, doesn't look that bad!
They actually are at good condition levels looking at them. Pics tomorrow.
Elektra is still holding in her baby!
They actually are at good condition levels looking at them. Pics tomorrow.
Elektra is still holding in her baby!
- Thread starter
- #94
Sorry, I didn't get any pics. Elektra had her baby the day after shearing, and yes, a little BOY! #38. Had entropion in both eyes. Fixed with me holding them out for a couple seconds each. Had to go back the next day and do it again and haven't touched it since. However, he has a butthole and he didn't find himself in 8" of snow! Only problem he encountered is his momma didn't want him. When I went outside to check on the ewes, his nose and feet were sticking out, but they were dry, so he must've been like that for at least 45 minutes. So I went and started pulling, poor Elektra screamed, but he came out. As soon as he did, she stood up and walked over to the hay feeder and just stood there with her head down. After a few minutes she started eating. I cleaned him off with some towels since momma was showing no interest. Once he got up to walk I held him near his momma who obviously didn't want him. She was momma baaing at him, but she would push him away when he would get near her. Poor girl was confused as to what she wanted, lol. So I held her 2x a day for a couple days for him to eat. TOOK foreverrrrr. That lamb was so stupid it was frustrating. He would grasp onto a teat, drink, and then go to the front of his momma and look for food there. After he already knew where the faucet was! Drove me insane. Finally Sunday night when I went to go hold Elektra so he could nurse I noticed he had a full belly! And Elektra has accepted him as her own. I didn't even have to pen anybody up 
Oh and tomorrow I have someone coming to get 10 started pullets.
Oh and tomorrow I have someone coming to get 10 started pullets.
- Thread starter
- #95
So here are the names for everybody:
#28 - Pansy
#29 - Poppy
#30 - Hyacinth
#31 - Dahlia
#32 - Oliver
#33 - Daisy
#34 - Petunia
#35 - Cane
#36 - Ivy
#37 - Clover
#38 - Yarrow
#28 - Pansy
#29 - Poppy
#30 - Hyacinth
#31 - Dahlia
#32 - Oliver
#33 - Daisy
#34 - Petunia
#35 - Cane
#36 - Ivy
#37 - Clover
#38 - Yarrow
- Thread starter
- #96
Chevy has an udder developing!! 
If she lambs before April 17 (I don't think she will), it is Valentino's baby... if she lambs after, it's Odysseus's baby. How exciting!! A late lamber, but she will be caught up with the flock to lamb with everybody else next year.
If she lambs before April 17 (I don't think she will), it is Valentino's baby... if she lambs after, it's Odysseus's baby. How exciting!! A late lamber, but she will be caught up with the flock to lamb with everybody else next year.- Thread starter
- #97
I sooo want to get this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/King-Can...C1820PC/203576569?N=5yc1vZbty1#specifications
It is a carport, but it has a canvas/tarp roof. I want to build it similar to the carport barn we have, except have 4' walls (built kind of like how we did the sheep shack) and then the space between the wall and the roof, fill it in with chicken wire.
I want to use it as a chicken house, as my chicken business is expanding. My parents didn't say no, but they did ask where I would put it 
I have 100 more chicks coming in June... after those are sold I will have enough profit to buy this and build it up. My 10x8 previously used feed shack just isn't big enough anymore
Until I can get this carport, I was planning on building platforms about 2' above the floor to give the chickens more floor space so I can put 100 in there. I had 49 of them in there, pretty comfortably. Ten went to their new home about a week ago so I'm down to 39 in there. Just waiting on other owners to come pick up their poultry
So I would separate the new place into four 5x12 pens, to have different aged poultry. Since I raise started pullets, I only have them for 16-20 weeks, so I can get a new batch every month and have 1 month old, 2 month old, 3 month old, and 4 month old pullets in the pens and the newly hatched chicks in the playpen in the garage. I sold out my pullets the first month I advertised them, which was about 5-6 months in advance of them being ready for sale. I am going to start advertising my next batch of 100 here in the next week or two.
Fortunately the hatchery I get them from will let you pay through PayPal and will keep your order reserved so long as its paid within 1 week of hatch. So if I can get 60 reservations ($5 nonrefundable deposit) by June 3, I will have the purchase of them paid for and then I use the rest of the reservation money to pay for their feed. The rest is pretty much profit. It's a nice little business I have going. What really helped me is writing a business plan to really take the time to research costs, alternative suppliers that are cheaper, etc.
It is a carport, but it has a canvas/tarp roof. I want to build it similar to the carport barn we have, except have 4' walls (built kind of like how we did the sheep shack) and then the space between the wall and the roof, fill it in with chicken wire.
I want to use it as a chicken house, as my chicken business is expanding.
My parents didn't say no, but they did ask where I would put it I have 100 more chicks coming in June... after those are sold I will have enough profit to buy this and build it up. My 10x8 previously used feed shack just isn't big enough anymore
Until I can get this carport, I was planning on building platforms about 2' above the floor to give the chickens more floor space so I can put 100 in there. I had 49 of them in there, pretty comfortably. Ten went to their new home about a week ago so I'm down to 39 in there. Just waiting on other owners to come pick up their poultry
So I would separate the new place into four 5x12 pens, to have different aged poultry. Since I raise started pullets, I only have them for 16-20 weeks, so I can get a new batch every month and have 1 month old, 2 month old, 3 month old, and 4 month old pullets in the pens and the newly hatched chicks in the playpen in the garage. I sold out my pullets the first month I advertised them, which was about 5-6 months in advance of them being ready for sale. I am going to start advertising my next batch of 100 here in the next week or two.
Fortunately the hatchery I get them from will let you pay through PayPal and will keep your order reserved so long as its paid within 1 week of hatch. So if I can get 60 reservations ($5 nonrefundable deposit) by June 3, I will have the purchase of them paid for and then I use the rest of the reservation money to pay for their feed. The rest is pretty much profit. It's a nice little business I have going. What really helped me is writing a business plan to really take the time to research costs, alternative suppliers that are cheaper, etc.
OneFineAcre
Herd Master
Very coolI sooo want to get this: http://www.homedepot.com/p/King-Can...C1820PC/203576569?N=5yc1vZbty1#specifications
It is a carport, but it has a canvas/tarp roof. I want to build it similar to the carport barn we have, except have 4' walls (built kind of like how we did the sheep shack) and then the space between the wall and the roof, fill it in with chicken wire.
I want to use it as a chicken house, as my chicken business is expanding.
I have 100 more chicks coming in June... after those are sold I will have enough profit to buy this and build it up. My 10x8 previously used feed shack just isn't big enough anymore
Until I can get this carport, I was planning on building platforms about 2' above the floor to give the chickens more floor space so I can put 100 in there. I had 49 of them in there, pretty comfortably. Ten went to their new home about a week ago so I'm down to 39 in there. Just waiting on other owners to come pick up their poultry
So I would separate the new place into four 5x12 pens, to have different aged poultry. Since I raise started pullets, I only have them for 16-20 weeks, so I can get a new batch every month and have 1 month old, 2 month old, 3 month old, and 4 month old pullets in the pens and the newly hatched chicks in the playpen in the garage. I sold out my pullets the first month I advertised them, which was about 5-6 months in advance of them being ready for sale. I am going to start advertising my next batch of 100 here in the next week or two.
Fortunately the hatchery I get them from will let you pay through PayPal and will keep your order reserved so long as its paid within 1 week of hatch. So if I can get 60 reservations ($5 nonrefundable deposit) by June 3, I will have the purchase of them paid for and then I use the rest of the reservation money to pay for their feed. The rest is pretty much profit. It's a nice little business I have going. What really helped me is writing a business plan to really take the time to research costs, alternative suppliers that are cheaper, etc.
You are quite the entrepreneur
I do have a question though
I think I paid about $600 for a 16 x 20 metal carport
I'm not sure about pricing in your area but it seems that would be a better value
Edited
Correction the ones I paid $600 were 12 x 20
But a metal roof and higher gage steel in the frame
Last edited:
- Thread starter
- #99
That's not a bad price. I think my parents paid around $4,000 for our 20x32... but my parents are fighting extra charges by the company through the credit card company because they charged us waaayyyyy more than we were quoted (mainly for extra legs and also they said they would give us a discount because of the delay in delivery with a no call/no show).
Carolina Carports sent the credit card company a copy of the invoice my dad signed and they had whited out the stuff my dad wrote down (which I saw him write and so did the head honcho of the building crew)! My mom was livid to say the least.
But with this canopy that I want to convert to a chicken house, I figured it would cost me about $780 in wood and the actual canopy. (That's for having a vertical 2x4 every 4' going across the 4' wall; I could probably get away with less wood, but ehhh.) We have plenty of welded wire and chicken wire I can use, so I don't need to buy that. Plus we have containers full of nails and screws we bought for other projects that weren't used or haven't been used yet, so I don't believe I will be needing those.
But anywhoooo.... pictures of my lambs (taken over the past week or two or three since the sheep have been sheared)! Oh and Valentino weighed 63 lbs after he was butchered. He was 142 lbs in November, so at best, his dressing % is 44.37%. I don't think he was any bigger than 160 lbs (39.38%). Considering the average is 37.5% (50% dressing plus 75% of dressing as cuts), he didn't do too bad.
Rosie and her 36 day old ewe lamb
Freshly shorn sheep in the snow.
Lambs layin in the sunshine
Momma Elektra with her baby
Babies are growing up so fast
#36 (back) and #37 (front). I love how thick #36 is. She's Ali's baby.
The barn. I bought the sign, my dad hung it up there. I just need a goat and chicken sign now! The piece of plywood in the front covers the extension cord on the ground which goes to my spotlight I use to feed/check on the sheep at night. Lattice was put on the gate in the barn because the darn goat would climb through and jump in the feed bins and eat all the grain
Barn from another angle. The boards all need to be repainted again. This spring we should be finishing it, putting the rest of the boards up, doors, pens, trim, etc.
All the lambies! The goat was over eating grain with the ewes.
My chickens had a pen built onto their house. Everything looks so junky right now as we are in the awkward winter --> spring transition.
Carolina Carports sent the credit card company a copy of the invoice my dad signed and they had whited out the stuff my dad wrote down (which I saw him write and so did the head honcho of the building crew)! My mom was livid to say the least.
But with this canopy that I want to convert to a chicken house, I figured it would cost me about $780 in wood and the actual canopy. (That's for having a vertical 2x4 every 4' going across the 4' wall; I could probably get away with less wood, but ehhh.) We have plenty of welded wire and chicken wire I can use, so I don't need to buy that. Plus we have containers full of nails and screws we bought for other projects that weren't used or haven't been used yet, so I don't believe I will be needing those.
But anywhoooo.... pictures of my lambs (taken over the past week or two or three since the sheep have been sheared)! Oh and Valentino weighed 63 lbs after he was butchered. He was 142 lbs in November, so at best, his dressing % is 44.37%. I don't think he was any bigger than 160 lbs (39.38%). Considering the average is 37.5% (50% dressing plus 75% of dressing as cuts), he didn't do too bad.
Rosie and her 36 day old ewe lamb
Freshly shorn sheep in the snow.
Lambs layin in the sunshine
Momma Elektra with her baby
Babies are growing up so fast
#36 (back) and #37 (front). I love how thick #36 is. She's Ali's baby.
The barn. I bought the sign, my dad hung it up there. I just need a goat and chicken sign now! The piece of plywood in the front covers the extension cord on the ground which goes to my spotlight I use to feed/check on the sheep at night. Lattice was put on the gate in the barn because the darn goat would climb through and jump in the feed bins and eat all the grain
Barn from another angle. The boards all need to be repainted again. This spring we should be finishing it, putting the rest of the boards up, doors, pens, trim, etc.
All the lambies! The goat was over eating grain with the ewes.
My chickens had a pen built onto their house. Everything looks so junky right now as we are in the awkward winter --> spring transition.
- Thread starter
- #100
18 out of 19 sheep -- just kidding sheep #19 is hiding behind the one all the way to the right
my goat goat
#31, Ciqala's lamb. She is such a sweetheart. Very friendly. Going to be a big, TALL ewe. I imagine her being bigger than Ciqala.
Another photo of the entire flock (well the butts of the goat and #31 in the front)
They're so cute
#31 again
my goat goat
#31, Ciqala's lamb. She is such a sweetheart. Very friendly. Going to be a big, TALL ewe. I imagine her being bigger than Ciqala.
Another photo of the entire flock (well the butts of the goat and #31 in the front)
They're so cute
#31 again
