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SA Farm

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Almost there! I got Woolfie out to test the height and whatnot since she’s our largest sheep. Just need the stanchion and a few finishing touches and I can get to work!
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I got so much work done the last few days and still feel like I’ve barely put a dent in all that I need to do :th
DH is out right now hopefully finishing up the stand so I can start shearing. Once that’s done, I suppose I’ll get a break with the rain tomorrow before getting more done.
I really hope Woolfie lambs this year so I don’t have to cull her 😔 Her being my first sheep, her size and conformation, and wool are great features, but I can’t keep a sheep just for wool and nostalgia. It would be different if she was older and had earned her retirement. Come on, Woolfie! :fl
Yeah, there’s absolutely no reason she shouldn’t be bred. She’s 2, she’s in great shape, super healthy, well rounded without being fat...I was thinking just to keep her as a wool pet, a companion for Dingo, maybe teach her to pull a cart or something for baby lol - but she’s also a bit of a bully with the other sheep. I had Coy out to meet them all face to face (Dingo was locked up) and Woolfie was just ramming her constantly 🤦‍♀️ Foxy and Kit were fine with Coy though. Sigh.
If I can get her to accept Coy, I might still keep her for the above reasons....
 

SA Farm

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Done! DH made it so the stanchion is completely adjustable, the sides can both be removed at two levels, and the ramp comes off too! It’s heavy duty and works really well. I just need a chair or stool for myself on the sides, but I managed to get Foxy shorn :yesss: Only took an hour and a half 😊 She was very good, though she wasn’t a fan of going up the ramp or getting her feet done. She’s a little long in the toe. I need to work on them some more to really clean them up, but they’re much better than they were.
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I think she looks a lot better than last year! I’m still quite hesitant... I should’ve cleaned up her neck/chest a bit more, but I was getting tired and my hand shears were starting to dull. I’m still proud of myself for getting her done. I’m now quite glad it’s supposed to rain. I think I need a few days before doing another one 😋
1 down, 3 1/2 to go (Woolfie’s half done lol)
 

farmerjan

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A hint for cochin fertility.... if you are not going to show them, you need to clip the feathers.... lower side of the rooster and top/back of the cochin female tail near the vent. Often the male cannot make good contact with the female due to the fluffiness. We used to clip a little off both the male and female, as the more "fluff" the better the show bird....but it is detrimental to fertility, especially early in the season.
 

SA Farm

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Foxy looks good, you did a great shearing on her. SUPER nice stanchion! Your husband made you a beautiful stanchion.

Keeping Wolfie for her wool is no different than Keeping a wether for wool. You love her, she is your first sheep and a pet. She has lovely wool and you would miss her.
Thanks! Yes, he’s an excellent builder which is why I didn’t put something together before now! I knew whatever he made would be significantly better 😂

It’s true. I’m just making sure I make the right decision for everybody involved - including the other sheep. If it wasn’t for her bully behaviour, she wouldn’t even be considered for the cull list :rolleyes:
 

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Woolfie is finally almost done. Spent an hour and a half on her today and still have a ways to go. She’s a lot harder to do than Foxy since her wool is much thicker. It’s more difficult to tell the difference between her wool and skin, so I tend to cut too much on the safe side...which means I have to basically shear her two or three times to clean her up. I think I’m going to use the electric shears on her from now on. At least it’ll be a little faster 😝 Still have lots of nice wool to process this winter from her though 😊 So, even though I still have a few things to do on her, I’m going to say 2 down, 3 to go 😂 I was too tired when I was done to get a pic.
Ducklings are hatching now. Got some chicks on lockdown as well. I may be keeping one of the ducklings...just because I’m me 🤷‍♀️ DH ordered some female ducklings, so my plan is to have 3 total. We’ll see how it goes lol
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Oh, and thanks for the tip @farmerjan I had 9/12 fertile in the next batch set, but I think I’ll still have to make my Cochins all just a little less fluffy 😄 Just gotta get up the energy. Next rainy day, perhaps 🤔
 

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Duckling hatch is done and the extras (including this one) have all gone to their new homes. I did keep one and named it Wonder (for the chocolate bar). It will live with my chicks and I am going to spend time with it to tame it up.
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Got the Cochin pen expanded with an extra 10’ chain link panel with a door on it. They were thrilled, of course. Their run is significantly bigger and it was already plenty big for the number of birds I usually have in there. But, bigger is always better 😋
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Got a bunch of rain over the weekend, so the pond out back is pretty full. Walked over with the sheep today.
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And just look at the length of Coy’s staple 😍 I can hardly wait to get her done so I can start playing with it. I know it’s not high on my priority list, but I’m still excited about it lol
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Finished Woolfie. Just needed to clean up her mutton chops and belly and give her a pedicure. Did all that, then got Kit done.
Kit is my wild child since I never really spent a whole lot of time on her....she was not a fan of being contained...:tongue
But now she’s done and non the worse for wear despite what she may think 🙄😋
3 down, 2 to go.
Here’s a pic of Wonder duckling since I was too tired to get one of Kit. Maybe I’ll remember to do a before and after of Coy or Dingo lol
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