Latest Posts
Weaning Time for Bottle Lambs
It is weaning time and this little one is going to miss getting her bottle each day. Lisbeth was an unthrifty lamb from one of our triplet groups and is nearing weaning age. I never encourage bottle feeding in my flock as I feel that mum’s milk provides the best nutrition for the lambs. I would rather support the nursing … Read More
Tips for Starting Your First Flock of Sheep
With summer on our heels, I have had many inquiries from people wanting to add sheep to their farms or homesteads. I thought I would bring this blog post, written a couple of years ago, to the forefront on tips for starting your first flock of sheep. Here are some of the typical questions new shepherds ask me. How many … Read More
Tips for Transitioning Sheep to Pasture
This time of year, my sheep stand at the fence line gazing at the fields as they begin to turn green. The lambs will stick their heads through the fence and under the gate just to get a nibble of the short grass growing on the other side. Once they get a taste for grass, they are intent on convincing … Read More
The Three Distinct Phases of a Gotland Fleece
Having nearly completed my third winter with Gotland sheep, I find I am still learning about this wonderful breed of sheep. Gotland sheep originate on Gotland island where the weather is a little more temperate than on our farm in Vermont. Our winters are longer, more snowy, and colder. Gotlands are now scattered across North America, living in all kinds … Read More
The Heart Work of Shepherding
shepherding ~ a person who tends and rears sheep. The past two weeks have been one of those heart wrenching times when shepherding has not been easy, when the tears flow gently. The dictionary makes the job of shepherding sound so cut and dry, so black and white. It does not talk about the heart work of shepherding-the clinging … Read More