Taking the plunge

We have realized that we are going to need more sheep. Starting with 21 was a terrific way for us to determine if we actually like sheep farming, and if we have a knack for it.

It seems we do, we successfully delivered lambs and didn't have to bottle feed a single one. (Thanks to my dear sweet firemans patience in teaching new lambs to suckle!)

In order to actually begin making money as a farm, we will need to increase our numbers to about 150. The trouble is that Rideau Arcott sheep are hard to come by. 

 My thinking initially was that finding ewes can't be that hard right?

Boy was I wrong. It was like collecting rare baseball cards. 12 from this person. 7 from this person.

At this rate it will be years before we reach 150!

So far, we have managed to secure another 55, which will bring us to just over 80 including our new ewe lambs from our own flock.  Not nearly close enough, so we will continue to search for ewes!

Wee Wooly Ones

Well, it's official.  After months of talking about it, and weeks of planning - the sheep have arrived. We were not quite ready, in fact we still have to finish fencing in the pasture, but thus far they haven't attempted to escape.

It has been interesting to understand the ways of sheep.  They are quite a skittish bunch. If I walk up to the herd, they tend to walk the other way. This is extremely helpful when bringing them in at night, but doesn't soothe the urge I get to dig my hands into their woolly coats and give them a big old fashioned bear hug.

Of our four donkeys, Whisky and Lucy are best with the sheep.  Clover and Radar have been very naughty, and spent hours chasing the sheep during the first two days.  The combination of the hot September sunshine and the thick woolly coats was not conducive to running laps around the pasture, so Clover and Radar have been relocated to the centre courtyard. They are not happy about this, and have made their displeasure known by loudly braying and complaining.  Each night when we bring the sheep in, we bring the donkey's in as well and house them all side by side. We are hoping that with time Clover and Radar learn to accept the sheep.

I am still not used to their droppings.  After months of scooping donkey poop, the wee tiny pellets produced by the sheep led me to believe we had been infiltrated by rabbits! Tiny.  Extremely tiny. So tiny that my manure fork can't pick them up. I have resorted to sweeping the concrete. Which works...kind of.

I have suggested to the better half that a giant shop vac would do a fine job. He gave me "the look".   I didn't understand what was so odd about vacuuming the concrete paddock area. Now if I decide to pull out the Swiffer, then I would understand the concern,.