A New Face In the Pasture

We picked up a new ram last week. He is adjusting nicely to his new home. Currently he is out grazing with the ewes and lambs because he is still a lamb himself. We will need a new ram next year, and thought he might be a good choice.

It is hard to select a ram when they are lambs as you never know how they will do or act when fully grown. It is almost like trying to predict how a kid will be as an adult.

So far, I am happy with our purchase as he is very well tempered, and very timid around people. Our current ram, who we have had since last year, has always been very friendly toward people, which at the start of breeding season last year turned to agression. He's still agressive when he wants to be. Which is why I let my husband deal with the ram.

In a few weeks, both rams will be living together in their new pasture. It is good to keep the ram seperate from the ewes until breeding because it helps the ewes to come in heat around the same time. This makes the lambing season shorter, and more predictable, as you know within a certain time frame when the lambs will arrive, and when they should stop arriving based on the time that the ram was with them.

Keeping the ram seperate, also keeps the ewes calmer as he is not always bothering or bullying them.

Right now, the older ram is separated in his own stall in the barn which means he has limited time on pasture, as the ewes and lambs have the run of the pasture most of the day.

We are anxious to get the new ram quarters built so that he can be on pasture more regularly.

Busy Times On the Farm

We have been very busy on the farm this spring and summer. I cannot believe that we are in the last half of July. Where does the time go?

One of the kittens

The kittens are doing great! They have been weaned, and are very friendly now. Mom Cat is not too happy these days. We are atributing it to her pregnancy, the weaning, and the heat. Hopefully, she will be back to her old self soon as I miss the friendly barn cat that she usually is.

The flock out grazing.

Our flock of sheep has grown in the last two months. We purchased five new ewe lambs for breeding, and a new ram lamb. We will need a new ram next year, and the ram lamb looks like a good canadate for a replacement ram. We will know next year if he will work out well. Until then, he is doing his 'off duty' job of grazing.

Ben, the oldest wether lamb.

Our wether lambs that were born in the spring are growing nicely. Two are ready to visit the freezer, and the youngest just might become a pal for the two rams.

Stanley, the youngest wether lamb and future ram pal.

In addition to the sheep keeping us busy, and out of trouble, we have been cutting and baling hay, watching the corn and oats grow, weeding and tending the garden, and building a new sheep shed and pasture for the rams to go when they are not needed for breeding.