Lambs Are Our Next Venture

It's been awhile since I blogged about the animals on the Ponderosa but I just had to share a story about our latest additions. 

Our beef are going well, in fact we don't have any issues with the beef and this years calving was a breeze.  We have downsized by 3 heifers which was the plan when I blogged FAREWELL TO OUR CALVES.  It was a little difficult to decide which ones would go, so we made it easier by seeing which ones calved by the end of October and which ones didn't.  We now have 1 bull, 5 heifers and 5 calves (all of which are heifers).

Our chickens are going great guns and producing 10-12 eggs a day for us.  This is far too many for my household alone so my parents and sisters are getting supplied regularly.  My husband is taking some to his work mates and the added bonus to those who visit us on the Ponderosa gets to take a tray home as well.  We still have 2 roosters (although one will be going in the stock pot over the xmas break) 14 hens and 3 chicks.  We are contemplating getting a few more hens as our brown shavers are getting a little old.

The chicken paddock is fenced off and contains fruit trees.  It's a big space that the chickens can't really manage the grass.  It seemed a waste of good grass to cut it all the time, so we thought pigs.  After speaking to a few people about pigs, the idea of sheep in that space would be better.  Totally green with sheep, we started asking questions about breeds and management.   We settled on looking for the wiltshire breed as they self shed their wool and are less resistant to common diseases.  They are also great breeders producing twins or triplets.

Ok ... decision made .. now to get some and from where.  Again I turned to trade me to gauge prices then an awesome opportunity for two ewe lambs came up that we just couldn't resist.  The breeder we purchased from are a lovely couple who are sheep crazy and helped us trim their feet.  She keeps in contact with me and is keen to come out whenever we need her assistance.  The lambs are due for their vaccination within the next month, so we might be calling on her assistance.

Baabara & Shaunequa ... still shedding their wool

All settled in now

The plan was to simply fatten them up and put them in the freezer, but we've decided that we will look for a ram and breed from these two.  Given the prices for lamb at the moment, it might be a fruitful investment.

Happy learning peeps!