It's that time of year. For some, the crocus are popping up. For others, the grasses are green. And still for some of us in the northern tier, the snow is deep and still falling out of the sky on occasion. But, for all Shetland breeders, it's time for lambs to start appearing. Do you have lambs already? I don't. My girls are tucked in nightly, in the morning it's like holding your breath - the gate opens and they slowly head on out to their hay. As the numbers thin out, I look in their shed to see if anyone is staying behind, or if there's a new little body or two back in the corners. Nope, nothing yet. I find myself wandering out there more often now. I'll pick up the binoculars in the house and peer out there carefully in between my wanderings. Usually I don't have lambs until late March, but one year they appeared in February so I've learned to turn on the watch mode earlier now. I'm not pacing, but I'm certainly more alert!
How about you???
About Me
- Alaska Shetland Shepherd
- Wasilla, Alaska
- I have been owned by Shetlands and Shetland crosses since 1997. The first 4 arrived to assist my AKC Australian Cattle Dogs with learning herding maneuvers. I bred to registered Shetland rams to improve them and kept good ewe lambs back each year. I slowly built up my flock and now keep 40 or so year 'round. Recently we had the flock tested for OPP and Johne's diseases also and I'm happy to say all tested negative! WOOHOO!! My interest in registered Shetlands was always there. I bought a few each year. As my registered numbers grow, my unregistered sheep numbers will dwindle except for a few old favorites who will stay. I grew up around sheep in Michigan and have been around the big wool breeds for years, but the Shetland is a far superior breed with fantastic wool and small size as well as big personalities. They do very well in Alaska! In 2007 I flew up 8 spotted Shetland lambs for my breeding plans and new genetics in Alaska, and 2 more lambs in 2008. I really look forward to the future lambs to arrive here at Silveraurora! I'm also busy with a wonderful dairy goat herd as well, so occasionally you'll see some of my beauties on this blog too!
1 comment:
I'm waiting for Inky to pop in three weeks. Either she's going to have triplets, BIG twins, or she simply has no muscle tone after lambing seven times already. The others will lamb after that. Since the gulmoget I used is also fawn, I could get all sorts of beautiful colors from my little flock!
I would love to see a photo of a more grown-up Blanche.... :-) Does she have a huge fleece like her mom?
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