Sheep grieve the loss of a lamb just like shepherds do. Giving mum time and space to mourn helps her accept her loss. Grieving can not be rushed. It happens at its own pace. If you remove the dead lamb soon after death, the ewe frantically looks for it and calls for them. Allowing mum to come to terms with … Read More
It’s a beautiful thing to watch a ewe teach their lambs. There is so much more going on than just letting them nurse. From the moment their lambs are born, ewes take on the role of nurturing, training, feeding, socializing, and teaching them about the world outside of the womb. Though “kitchen lambs” are cute, I have a hard fast … Read More
This time of year most farmers and shepherds tend to have extra pumpkins laying in their fields and find themselves asking the question, can sheep eat pumpkin? The short answer is a resounding, “YES!” but keep reading to learn about precautions you should take. Once our sheep have been on hay for a couple of months, they love any fresh … Read More
Knowing when to cull breeding ewes can be a complex question and varies from farm to farm based upon your farm’s goals and management style. We call sheep that no longer meet your goals culls. These sheep are typically sold. Especially for shepherds with small flocks, the decision to cull can be daunting and wrought with emotions. Depending upon farm … Read More
Keeping a small flock of sheep has it’s own set of challenges and advantages. A few years ago, I wrote a blog post on the challenges small flock owners face. Today, I will focus on three advantages of keeping a small flock. The farmer with the biggest tractor wins. We’ve all heard sayings like this before right? Sometimes in circles of … Read More
