#1608 Tessa, #1511 Lydia & #192 Thea

 We have been going like gang busters with lambs.

I think we have 23 ewes yet to deliver...I have to double check on one of these, she may not be bred.

Our expected last day for lambing is March 25th, so we should be busy for the next week and a half.

Early this morning Tessa delivered twins, ram and ewe.  She was bred to Shamus.

Tessa and Shamus are both spotted shetlands

Both lambs are moorit and white.  The marking are interesting.

#1511 Lydia also spotted was bred to Shamus to.

Having twins, a ram and ewe, these are also moorit and white.

Notice the same marking across the rump on the lamb above and below??

I find this interesting, I don't know if this is a pattern in the breed or not.  It doesn't match anything that is shown on the breed associations poster for possible patterns.

#192 Thea (who is also Tessa's daughter) who is a solid black ewe was bred to Moogega, my ram lamb that is black and white, spotted.  He is just considered "flecket", but his black markings are only on his withers (shoulders) and forward.

Thea, delivered this single ewe lamb today.

She also has interesting markings, around the rump also.

That's it for today, hoping we have a few more tomorrow.

Reviewing micron data, breeding groups and what's to come...

 We have had a mild winter so far this year....knock on wood!

 As I was feeding the ewes recently I spotted one that has begun to show a bit of an udder.                            So I wanted to review my data and recall all the breeding groups I put together along with the newest micron data I recently received back on a my yearling ewes.

Our first expected lambing is March 1st.  We expect to have all lambs born within three weeks of this date, since we only kept our breeding groups together for three weeks last fall.

I've kept fleece samples of my yearling ewes that were micron tested.  #208 Zinnia, a white ewe.  I was very pleased with her dense fleece type and micron results, micron average 21.4, and look at that length.  I have repeated this breeding, hoping for more of the same.

Rams #234, Moogega is another surprise, I really didn't expect him to get a ram this fine out of his sire, his micron average, 21.6.  I also repeated this breeding.

The other yearlings micron averages were #212-25.8, #211- 23.6, #210 - 26.3, #209 - 27.2 and #203 - 25.2.  All very nice, and really expected as we used some rams that had micron much higher than we really wanted, but DID have fleece patterns that we are trying to bring out.

On another note,  we do have our shearing day scheduled for Friday, March 5th.  Anyone who spins wool, has bought fleeces from me in the past or would like to experience a shearing please contact me and we will try and make arrangements so you can get a "first pick" on fleeces or just the experience.

We plan to begin shearing in the morning, but I do plan to have an open house on Saturday, March 6th for anyone who would like to come and purchase raw fleeces.  We have about 70 sheep here and they are all coated....meaning we have clean fleeces!!!

Groups or Guilds are welcome!

Email me directly to make arrangements.