Wow! It’s April!
Things are really beginning to get busy around here!
Last weekend we tackled a huge chore and sheared all of the sheep and trimmed their hooves!
The weather has been pretty cold compared to this time last year when we had temperatures in the high 70’s. We’ve been putting off shearing because we especially didn’t want our pregnant ewes getting too cold at night. Right now we want to keep them well fed – but not overfed – and comfortable in their final 2 weeks of pregnancy.
We started out with the two most “ram”bunctious of the flock – Drover and Boomer, our rams.
Drover was very cooperative.
He looks far less imposing when he’s lost that fluffy coat of wool!
We followed up with Boomer, beautiful black boy that he is…
He’s always quite cooperative for shearing or pretty much anything else!
Reintroducing the rams brought predictable results. The boys didn’t recognize one another at first and had a few minor scuffles that were easily broken up.
Then we moved on to the pregnant ewes, hoping to finish them all before lunch. Let’s just say it was a late lunch that day!
Our matriarch, Millie, was first.
She’s so good, and so used to all of this. We took the liberty of balloting her abdomen to see if we could feel one of her lambs – and sure enough, we felt one on the right side, down low just behind her ribcage! We’re guessing there’s another one in there as well!
We continued to work our way through the white ewes.
Next was Millie’s daughter, Fatima. We’re pretty sure from the look of her that she’s carrying twins – her first pregnancy!
Nice baby bump!
Final touches
Next up, Daisy
Pit crew at work…
Sorry, Molly, looks like you’re next!
She’s a pro, too. Very cooperative.
Peeling off in sheets!
Molly’s daughter, Shirley…
No! Not me next!
Sorry, Bruna!
Don’t forget my pedicure!
After lunch we tacked the three yearling ewes
Freyja’s wool is so gorgeous!
Blue’s wondering when it’s his turn!
The yearlings happily head to their pasture
And the pregnant ewes head for their hay bunker!
They’re pretty much fixated on food – eating it, ruminating it , burping it up and eating it again
Roxanne, Fatima, and Millie strike a pose
Look at those bellies!
Time to retreat to the furthest corner of the pasture!
You’re not going to catch us again for a while!
Morning Star Meadows Farm 