This is my new ram, Bilbo Baggins. Isn't he too cute? He's the same age as all my lambs born this year. He's Katahdin. I am hoping he'll add some color to my drab flock. Maybe not this breeding season, but next for sure. I think most of the ewes are already bred.
And if these 3 ewes don't lamb in the next month, they need to go on a serious diet! They are SO big.I got the 3 ewes standing around him from the same place. Not Annabelle, the wooly one, but the other 3.
Now I need to decide what to do with Abraham, the Finn ram. I am leaning more toward butchering him in a month or so. Then start looking for a good wool breed ram for all my wool ewes. I don't think I'll get a Finn ram though. Wonder what other breed would be good to breed Finn ewes to? Any ideas, all you shepherds out there? I think I'm going to Fiber in the 'Boro bext weekend up in Murfreesboro, Tn. I'm sure there will be lots of sheep people there to talk to.
I wish I had gotten Bilbo earlier, but maybe the younger ewes aren't bred yet. And they are all hair sheep. Except for little Buttercup. And she's too young to breed.
I am happy I got this ram. He looks like he'll make a fine herd sire.
6 comments:
Congrats on your new Ram!
Handsome fella :)
As far as what type of wool Ram, it would depend on what kind of wool you want and what you plan on using it for??
I am just learning to do all things wool: cleaning, carding and spinning so far. So I'd need wool that could be hand spun. Nice and long and soft wool. But I live in N. Ga. so it gets pretty hot here. I have seen Icelandic around here. But they are SO expensive. I know there is Finn. But have not seen Cotswold or BL or anything like that. I have seen some Shetland too. They are about the same size as the Finns. I hope to go to Murfreesboro, Tn. this Sat for the Fiber in the 'Boro fiber show. So maybe there will be people there with sheep for sale. And I want to go find that fiber mill there too. And I would like a more hardier breed. One not as sickly as my Finns have been lately.
And I don't know why I thought you were in Kentucky.
There are a lot of people that raise Shetland around here!
For the Longwools, I am partial to Border Leicester and Romney :)
With me being a beginner spinner the wool has been great to work with.
Going to sheep or fiber shows in your area is a good idea.
Thanks, Sandra. I think Shetland would be a good way to go. I thought you were an old pro at all this! Have you gotten you new "old" machine up and running yet? Would love to see a post about it soon.
Don't know anything about sheep but I do know handsome when I see it. Ooh he's pretty.
Kris, not an old pro at spinning, I have had my wheel for a long time but really have not been serious about making yarn until the last year or so. Learning to knit helped my motivation :)
Now sheep and wool, more my comfort zone :)
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