When I first went out today, it was late morning. The heat was mounting and the animals were in a sedentary state. The goats rested in a thoroughly shady spot under a cluster of trees in the yard.
The sheep have decided that one of their favorite cool spots is on the cement under the back porch. [...]
Last night, a post was done discussing the signs of labor. I made a prediction based on the signs I had read about and saw in Kit before she gave birth that Kaboodle would lamb either through the night last night, or in the morning. Apparently, the signs are accurate as Kaboodle gave birth to a [...]
Terri from Red Brick Road Farm has a good article up on the “psyche of sheep.” What would you do if a bridge you used everday suddenly disappeared?
How would you like to sport one of these? Kit’s comment to me on them during my conversation with her the other day: “Vulgar, classless, and a waste of our top-quality Icelandic wool.” We’ll let you decide.
“The winds of change are at first a breeze and then a whirlwind,” Kit pronounced quietly, but forcefully, with the dignity of a queen who had been exiled, but expected a prompt re-enthronement from a fate sympathetic to her plight. She was confident, but worn down, wearing this fatigue on her tired face. Not the [...]
Terri from Red Brick Road Farm describes how she discovered that one of her favorite Icelandic ewes was not well:
She went out to graze with the flock yesterday, but lagged behind, and was first to come back to the barn. I noticed some spotting, and worried that maybe she was having a miscarriage. By evening, [...]
There aren’t many breeders of Icelandic Sheep around. This surprises me because they are terrific animals. Icelandic sheep are classified as triple purpose. They produce milk, meat, and wool. They also have fantastic personalities. I have shared some of the fun experiences I have had with the two girls, Kit and Kaboodle, as well as [...]
I have mentioned before that my animals are spoiled. Although I enjoy spoiling them, there is one major disadvantage to having spoiled animals (similar to having spoiled children), they constantly want more! Even when they are full, they are begging for something. More hay, better tasting hay, more grain pellets, more sweet feed, more oats, [...]
Another day and another foot of snow. My sentiments echo that of the animals; this is getting old. But other than the limited mobility, I and the animals are doing very well. I opened up the pens in the barn to give the animals a little more space to move around in. I figure if [...]
The snow has started to let up. It has been snowing for 28 hours and my last measurement had about that many inches as well. It is a lot of snow. I worked this morning to clear a path for the pigs. They squealed and squealed, but I think secretly kind of enjoyed playing in [...]