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LearningSheep

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Oh were to begin on introducing myself and the ranch.

I married into a cattle family that has been doing this since the 1800s. We have had ever iteration of additional animals over the years I have been told through legend... including the story about a goat that jumped on a freshly repaired/painted vehicle and my husband's sweet grandfather throwing a pitchfork at it. Luckily the goat jumped but grandpa put the fork through the windshield. Now some may balk when I say "ranch", but the way my very salty father in law explains it - "We don't grow vegetables or fruit here, only meat. That makes us a RANCH not a farm." Personally, I'm all for either lol! The philosophy here on the ranch - regardless of the livestock is all of our animals live their absolute best life until they leave.

Currently there are 3 generations living here, and it has become quite the compound. My in-laws were running it for the family for years until the past few where my brother in law moved home (in to the original house), a cousin moved home (put her own house on the property) and we live with my father in law on his own 2 acres "next door". The neighbor had 10 acres that where part of the original Ranch, my husband and I were able to work a deal with the neighbor to purchase it from her (she gets to live on it, it's a whole deal... that makes me want adult beverages) so technically we have what was originally deeded to the family way back before someone slept with someone and had a debt to pay back in the family for a total of 160 acres.
As for livestock the rundown is: 17 cows (6 babies so far - we are in our calving season), 5 heifers, 3 steers, 1 bull, a bunch of chickens and turkeys (they are my brother in laws), 2 mini donkeys (a gelded jack and a jenny), 4 ewes,1 weather and a ram. Between the 3 houses there are 8 dogs who are spoiled rotten (2 goldens, a cattle dog - no one trained unfortunately, a Pyrenees mix also untrained, a new husky and a Heinz 57 rescue who IS being trained and a chihuahua who is a princess). Oh and we have a total of 3 teenagers... who well, they are getting trained in ranch life as they all lived in the city till recently. 2:3 have spent summers here so it's been less of a battle.
IMG_1339.jpeg Picture of last years yearlings breaking into the yard.
 

SageHill

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Hey there fellow CA! Welcome from So Cal (San Diego county). Sounds like you're livin' the life! 😍 Love the "history" too - truly special.
Sheep, chickens and of course dogs (though they are trained :)).
 

LearningSheep

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My daughter and family live in Corpus Christi. I live in Trinity county between Lufkin and Crockett. I raise Katahdin hair sheep.
The sheep we recently got to start out with - 4 Katahdin ewes, 1 ram and then I picked up a Dorper Ewe and wether that are about 4 months old (and currently seperated from the rest of the flock so there are no accidental early pregnancies).
The Dorper "babies" are loving being closer to the house and people, and are spoiled little turkeys! They hear someone walk out of the house and they are saying "HEEEEEEYYYYY we are over here... where's the treats? Where's the love?" My daughter's golden retriever is like a slinky and slides through gates, she's white and doesn't mess with them so they ignore her when she goes in their pen (usually with my daughter - this is NOT encouraged), but they will walk right up to her and love on her too. At least they will be dog broke perse (they don't care for our other dogs, just the white one) 😊 And last night they were investigating the household cat! 🤣

IMG_5252.jpegIMG_5253.jpeg
 

LearningSheep

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@SageHill No, they came from a farm in the next town over from us, another small (but growing) set up. I went out to open up there pen to a bigger area this morning and they were bouncing ready to GO! But as soon as they ran past me, turned around and came back waiting for me to bounce with them 🤣.
 

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