Sheepfarmer22 ~ My Sheep and I

[Mini Horses]

So sad and heartbreaking. It's bad enough when one leaves us from old age but, accidents hit hard and fast. I'm sure the love you felt was returned by him. RIP Floopy.

 

[SageHill]

Hugs

 

[Baymule]

Floopy . Dogs leave their paw prints on our hearts.

 

[Baymule]

You can find pig iron at the feed store, Atwoods or TSC.

 

[Finnie]

So sorry about your cute Floopy. That’s a great memory about him killing his first mink.

 

[Sheepfarmer22]

Hey guys, you know the drill, I've been busy..

Here's a quick update. Salt's diarreah is going away and she is gaining weight again.

I had gotten the small Barbados ewe from a local, to realize when I payed and returned home that there was a sale barn tag on it. I wasn't as happy afterwards since I stick with no sale barn sheep. In weeks over time she began getting rashes on her face as I may have before mentioned and never got the time to treat or remove. In the past couple of days in current time it had spread to Noel, my nice, 2nd best ewe that is pregnant. At first it was small and I thought it was more flesh wounds from mosquitoes, turns out yesterday morning it had noticably grown over night. We went to the livestock vet a couple of towns away and they gave us some shot for both of them. It is rain scald and it is contagious. We ("we" means me and my mom or a friend that helps out) gave them the shots yesterday. It hasn't gotten worse but it doesn't seem to be getting better. It's a one time shot and they said if it doesn't clear up in a week, come back and get more. I am just afraid in the meantime that it will spread to more.

The shots did NOT help. We brought in Noel to the vet about a week ago and they scraped it for a lab test. The test said it was bacterial and the vet suggested steroids, but would cause the pregnant ewe to about. So instead, we have been using Mometamax, prescribed by the vet. It's designed to go in a dogs ear, but after a weak the bacterial wound has just about cleared up.

 

[Baymule]

I’m glad that worked and she is getting better.

 

[featheredhomestead]

Anyways, I have nine sheep right now:

Mark- Male Barbados that I received as a pet in the Summer of 2023. Then, I had no passion of having a flock of sheep and he was my only one for nearly a year. The breeder offered to castrate him but my mother refused, "you never know what might happen!" I recently noticed he is limping, so I will be checking on him this eveneing.

Laney- Female Katahdin that I received upon a deal during the Spring of 2024. The breeder made a deal with me that I may have her if I returned the second lamb off of her. He told me about how the Barbados/Katahdin cross is such a good breed, as before mentioned. She has had a history of wounds on her leg from mosquitoes and hoof rot, which I have posted about. I had my first lambing experience this past March with her.

Noel- Female Katahdin from last December. I traded something else (not sheep) in return for her. I am planning to breed her for a Spring lamb.

Petunia- Female Katahdin I rescued at three days old. She was bottle fed and nearly died of starving. She had a disability from the narrow birth canal pressurizing on her head. As a result, she didn't suck and the mother left her. She is about 5 months old now. She is my favorite.

Reba- My first lamb born on my farm on March 12, 2025. The ewe is VERY healthy and meaty (I might be able to get a picture here in the future). I plan to show her in 4-H this Fall. 50% Katahdin/Barbados

Buster- Katahdin ram born the same day as Reba that I had gotten days later. I tried to make him nurse with Reba and her mother but Laney, the mother, didn't like that a lot. He ended up being a bottle baby... I hope he doesn't get mean as I know you aren't supposed to interact with him much at a young age.

Cinnamon- Female Katahdin that showed up very small/petite. I don't know how old she is and I'm trying to find a new home for her. She is kinda on the line with social/wild.

Mystery- Female mystery... I am not sure if she is a Barbados Blackbelly or an American Blackbelly. There is a difference between the breed and I want Barbados. If she ends up being that, I will keep her to breed with my Barbados ram. If she is an American, then I will just sell her as there is good money in those.

Wow, that’s really impressive for 11 years old! You’ve already had a lot of experiences with your flock, from bottle feeding to your first lambing. Barbados Blackbelly and Katahdins are both great choices — hardy and easier to manage without all the shearing.


It’s also awesome that you’re active in 4-H and doing well with your projects. Record keeping is such an underrated skill, but it’ll help you a ton as your flock grows.


Looking forward to following your updates — sounds like you’ve got a bright future in farming!

 

[Sheepfarmer22]

Wow, that’s really impressive for 11 years old! You’ve already had a lot of experiences with your flock, from bottle feeding to your first lambing. Barbados Blackbelly and Katahdins are both great choices — hardy and easier to manage without all the shearing.


It’s also awesome that you’re active in 4-H and doing well with your projects. Record keeping is such an underrated skill, but it’ll help you a ton as your flock grows.


Looking forward to following your updates — sounds like you’ve got a bright future in farming!

Wow thanks! It's been a real journey since getting my first lamb in July of 2023, when I was 9. Before and even after getting my first lamb, I never imagined of starting my own flock of sheep. After having a ewe and ram in 2024, I still never thought I would make it this far.

Now I will be 12 years old next week and have 14 sheep. This includes my first lamb which was Mark in 2023, a Barbados ewe, my first lamb born on the farm in March 2025, my two first gen. recorded Katahdin ewes, Laney and Noel (my best breeding ewes), and more! I am eexcited to continue my journey with the sheep and fellow back yard herd members.