2023, Waiting on Lambs!

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Disbanded the breeding groups today. 2-3wks and cleanup ram will go in.
Didn't get a pic of the last group, as Oreo was a pain to catch.



The 4sale sheep, Scuttlebutt, Oreo & Tatiana.

 

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Have a buyer lined up for Scuttlebutt & Hirola. Getting their paperwork and forms in order & then buyer should arrive some time next week.
Just need to go catch them on the big field in this awful weather.......😶

 

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Hirola won't be on my lamb watch, as she & Scuttlebutt have sold.



There's nothing out here, but they keep scavenging...
Have hay out by the barn, but I guess they're finding enough green to make hay icky still. 😅
Sheep logic is just absurdity.

 

[Mini Horses]

There's nothing out here, but they keep scavenging...
Have hay out by the barn, but

And here we spend time and $$ for good hay

 

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Some of the ewes have decided hay is a good idea today.


"Stole" the horse area for the sheep. Don't want them living in the barn, as all they do is fill it with poop, pee & refuse to go out. And they'll ruin the ground, making it gross once lambs start to arrive.
Eventually, I'll have covered, movable hay feeders out there, but this'll do for now.


Sent my shearing request out today.
Looks like I have 45 Babydolls & 3 oddball ewes.

 

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Added a 16ft panel and put up mesh for hay on it. 32 feet of feeder.


And some that are still trying to convince themselves that the grass will grow in as they search for it. Lol.
Almost 70F today. Still no snowfall this season.

 

[Mini Horses]

Almost 70F today. Still no snowfall this season.

Watch your mouth!!! you'll jinx us.

 

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Drug over the feeders, 5th one the horses destroyed. 😅 The two long ones fit 20 odd sheep, two short ones kinda don't. Ah well.
Tested out how they like soybean meal as extra protein today. Only half were down here, most seemed to at least partly like it. I'll probably mix it with the wet alfalfa pellets so they all eat it.

I'm still figuring out better hay feeders. Have metal roofing panels to reuse, just need to get a plan together & buy the wood.


Problem is their small size & short necks. So, getting things the correct dimensions is gonna be a pain. Gotta get the slant board close enough for them to reach the hay, but not so close that they can easily pull the hay out. Basically, I want them standing with heads n necks fully inside, so drops are caught on board and eaten. And that brings us to the front wall & legs under the slats. Has to be low enough for them to still touch the bottom board...
No idea if this will be a waste, so going to try to find scrap wood & make a small one to test out. If there's a lot less waste, I'll make more & longer ones.

 

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Ignoring the klutz eweling...lol. Got the 5th feeder in. Filled the 3 long ones with some soybean meal. As you can tell, I need to use the two short ones. Not enough space otherwise.
Up to 2× a day of about 1 tablespoon per head.

Also started on the hay feeder project! Finally!