more pictures of the shearing

Here us a kink to more pictures of shearing day.

http://www1.snapfish.com/thumbnailshare/AlbumID=4202467014/a=1


The link is to "snapfish". I think you have to sign up to get to them. If you get an "error" page, just click on "home" and the pictures should come up. 

Well, we are done with the shearing. (See the pictures) All the sheep were pretty  calm about the process except Rip Tide, our new fertile teenage ram. This was his first shearing and he was  quite put off to say the least. He was not keen about being flipped on his back. Fortunately Bill Cornoyer, our shearer, was able to stay away from Rip Tides impressive horns and get the job done.


Funny, after shearing the sheep do not recognize each other and there is a whole lot of butting going on.


We also have about 30 new chicks that have hatched with their mothers sitting on their eggs, au natural. New  babies of any kind are always fun. We would eventually like a good percentage of our flock hatched and raised by their mothers. How would like to be grown in and incubator and never have a mother to get you started. It is fun to watch the chicks scooting after mother.


Next step is baby lambs due sometime in May. Four ewes are "with child" and we may have anywhere from four to eight new lambs. Last time we had all rams. I hope this time we have some girls. I'll keep you posed.

RAIN#*@#!

Unfortunately, we did not excape the rain.  The pasture  was flooded. THer are now three new ponds in the pasture. My poor sheep. They looked so pathetic huddled on a patch of dry ground. Was going to move them to their quarters under the barn, but that had one foot of water. There was also one flock of 100 hens on the pasture. They were swimming in a foot of water. Had to pull the hoop coop to  higher ground.. That was real fun in the mud. Everyone survived, but we all need to dry out.

oops!

A friend let me know that I had described Zeus as big as a bear and gentle as a LION. No, he is gentle as a LAMB. He is no longer scared of Buster the duck. The duck follows Zeus around just as he followed Wheeler. I believe he thinks the new dog is Wheeler. Zeus is settling in. He no longer chases the chickens. He is good enough that I let him off the lead today to roam free. Boy, was he happy. Couldn't stop running around the field. I  am leaving him out tonight to sleep in the small  shed I made for Wheeler. Hope he doesn't bark too much.

Next week I will start introducing him with the sheep. I can't wait for the time where everyone is comfortable with each other and Zeus can lay around anywhere and keep an eye on things. I hope he is not lonely or gets bored.  Maybe I should get him a companion Pyrenees, or some goats, or a donkey, or some more ducks..........

New Guard (?) Dog

Well Zeus has arrived two days ago. What a dog. A gentle giant. Big as a bear and gentle as a lion. HE is 3 and 1/2 years old. Right now he just likes to chase the chickens and the sheep. Will definitely need some guard training. He is scared of Buster the duck. Hopefully things will work themselves out.

Gosh, it's been a month. A bunch has happened. Wheeler, my gentle Great Pyrenees died. He was 16+ years, but it was still sad. We found him in the morning by the chicken coop and Buster, his friend the duck, was sitting by his side. The poor duck seemed lost for a few days. And then fortunately the hens, who had freaked before when we first put him in with them, now accepted him. At least he had some company. But I do not think it will ever be the same for the duck.
Wheeler had become quite a celebrity in the area. He was written up several times in the New London Day. The second graders wrote a book about him and his friend the duck. I will be getting another Great Pyrenees soon. He is youger (2-3 yrs old). I will need to train him. I hope he doesn't eat the chickens. His name is Zeus.

It has been raining here for four days and will do so for another two days. My farm is awash with huge puddles and mud. My poor chickens. They can't wait for spring so they can be outdoors all day, on fresh green grass.

http://www.theday.com/article/20100223/NWS01/100229947

http://www.theday.com/article/20100224/OP02/302249953

Fresh Eggs

How's this for fresh eggs? Just collected this morning. This is something Big-y, Stop and Shop, etc. can't beat.