Shua Gave Me Three Lambs this Morning

Shua, my pet ewe's name, gave me three cute little lambs this morning.

I got daddy sheep in this picture:

Shabbat Shalom:

Lulav said:

Adorable!
Aren't triplets rather rare?

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I agree, on both counts.

My neighbor has been bugging me to have him lend me a ram for years. This fall he approached me again; and in these uncertain times, I thanked him for making the offer again. It's not such a bad idea to have some extra sheep grazing my land.

As he made the offer again; he said that I might get a lamb this year, maybe even two. At that time he told me, with excitement, that one of his ewe's had just given him two lambs.

This is my first experience with newborn lambs; and although I didn't look too closely at Shua's feeding glands; it appears that she is designed for twins.

I suspect that triplets are rare.

3 seems to be the number for this week. I bought a third egg incubator yesterday. I now have 66 chicken eggs incubating.

3 weeks ago I bought this grain drill:



It was built in the 1930's; and it will need a full restoration. It probably won't be ready for use until next Spring.

The plan is to stockpile sorghum, to cut my costs on chicken feed. I'd like to increase my flock to 300 birds this year.


The plan is to plant sorghum for my summer crop, and barley for my winter crop.

I can also make syrup from the sorghum stalks. I haven't yet bought the equipment to process the stalks. I'll wait to see how this crop turns out.

I broadcast the seed for this crop; and I held back half of the seed for a second broadcast, in case of a freeze, or a dry spell after the seed has sprouted.

YHWH has baruk me.

Lulav said:

Have you told the neighbor yet?

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I did today. He was very surprised.

Lulav said:

What are they? boys, girls?

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Today was a fiasco. I was running all over the place. Mama kept losing her lambs; and each time, I thought that something terrible had happened. This ram has been trouble. A while back he knocked me down, and sent me to the hospital for stitches.

I give them each a bowl of sweet feed. He gobbles down his and then pushes her out of the way to gobble hers. I have to guard her food for her. Since she gave birth he has been chasing her around, away from her lambs; and he head butts the little lambs. She can't get peace with him around. I told my neighbor today; and he said he would come over later and take him home. Meanwhile I had called my Pastors wife for advice. She raises sheep. She said that I need to build a pen for them, until they bond. She offered to lend me some fence, to make the pen. She said that she was leaving soon so to come now. I rushed over; and while I pulling up at her gate; my neighbor called and said that he was in my yard. I rushed back to my house to meet him with the fence.

While he was waiting; he looked to see what I have. I have 3 ram lambs.

We chased the ram for over an hour trying to lasso him. My neighbor finally gave up and left. I built a pen for Shua and the lambs, and got her safe. I piled branches over top to keep eagles from swooping on the lambs. Then I coaxed the ram back over to my neighbors house with sweet feed. That was easy! Beats running through the stickers with ropes for over an hour! I just sat down. I haven't even eaten today. My Pastor's wife lent me some books for beginners with sheep. That is what I'll dive into after I eat.

Lulav said:

It was a blessing that he lent you his ram.

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It was kind of him. More and more we are building a symbiotic relationship. I told him that I will give him one of my lambs. Mine is a short hair, and better adapted to this climate. I think that it will do him well to get her genes into his herd.

Lulav said:

What kind of sheep is it?

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I was told by the Mexican, who I bought her from, who spoke broken English, that she is a Dover. I looked for that breed online and couldn't find it. I called the Texas Department of Agriculture and they never heard of it. They referred me to their foremost expert, a college professor who specializes in sheep. He is their "go to" for sheep questions. He never heard of them.

I don't know what breed my neighbors sheep are; and his English is very limited. I often have to speak in my broken Spanish to explain things to him.

Lulav said:

I see they are outside, is that where she gave birth?

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Yes

Lulav said:

Is it cold where you are? Do you have a barn for them to keep warm in?

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It has been in the 70s and 80s. It's the perfect time of year for babies. I even moved my chicks outside, after a few weeks under the heat lamp.

When I first bought Shua, I was going to build her a house; but I found out that sheep can't live in a house. They need good ventilation; or they can develop respiratory diseases. My Pastor's wife (my "go to" for sheep) told me to set up a wind break for when it get really bitter and windy. I did that; but she prefers my tractor shed (It's basically a tunnel.) When it gets really nasty I put down straw for her in my tractor shed.

I see that it's going to get cold and rainy in the near future, I'm glad that you mentioned this. I need to talk to my Pastor's wife, after I read her books.

Lulav said:

Did he come to visit or is still staying with you? I see where they got the black from since mama's all white.
ever though of getting some Jacob's sheep?

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He is home. My trouble with him is over. With these new rams, I will handle them every day, to build trust, and to let them know from birth who is boss.

I've never heard of Jacobs sheep. I got Shua for a pet, and to keep my grass down. I hadn't considered raising sheep. If it works out; maybe I consider a pure breed, after Shua is too old to give birth.

JohnD70X7 said:

View attachment 328963

This was Billy and Willy (two pygmy goats) we used to tend at an animal center in San Diego (years ago).
They "helped me" play guitar which I brought with us to while away the hours as the animals we turned out
in a fenced yard romped around free from lead or cage. Horses, donkeys, sheep, goats, lamas...
Blessed are the most innocent of God's creatures (animals).

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Way cool! I once had a kitten who would bite at my strings, every time I played guitar, in the same room with her. I was trying to teach her to stand on the neck, with the guitar laid down; so that she could fret notes. Unfortunately, she was a sickly runt; and she passed, long before she matured. I played my guitar by the river one day; and a flock of geese came running up to me and had me surrounded. They we all singing to the music.

I've played on a hay ride that my church does to sing Christmas carols. (I don't do that one anymore.) As we would slowly ride down the country roads; horses and cows would follow us on the other side of fences. Animals like music too!

Lulav said:

They have four horns,

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Big horns!

Lulav said:

120lbs

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Did I mention that this ram sent me to the hospital?

I'll need a lot more experience before I consider handling an animal like that.