We have decided to sell the Shetland flock and just keep Edward our Cotswold wether, and today we brought in Eleanor our new Cotswold ewe yearling. I very much adore Eleanor's ears!
The sheep are just going to be pets. No more crazy breeding and keeping of rams for us. We still have one Shetland ewe but she is due to leave very soon.
As you can tell by the layout change on the blog we are now going to focus this blog on our hobby farm. We have 5 older chickens (the retired group), and 7 younger chickens that are in their laying prime. We plan to raise two pigs organically again this year for meat, and have a few other animals joining us this year on our adventure.
My horse after a horrid year last year is finally on the mend! I'm sure I will continue to chronicle our adventures in dressage here too.
We also will talk a little about growing fruits and vegetables in the New England weather, and trying to start a garden.
It should be fun.
Good luck as you enter a new phase of your hobby farm! I've decided to not breed the sheep anymore and it's a relief not worrying about rams and lambing, although I will miss the silly little lambs! Looking forward to hearing about your adventures.
ReplyDeleteTammy
Thanks Tammy, yes I will miss lambs too but I hear you on the joy of not having to keep rams anymore :-)
DeleteI'm sorry to hear last year was a tough one for you and your horse! I sure know how that goes. I'm glad to be moving forward with my new youngster!
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you and your young horse are doing well together. Muppet had some injury issues for most of last year (torn suspensory, SI and hock issues, and arthritis diagnosis). I feel we are finally on the right track for rehab and treatment but it has been quite the journey.
DeleteLove those Cotswolds! I complete adore my Cotswolds wethers, actually I love all my wethered sheep! I bred no sheep this year, only a few goats and my last horned Shetland ram is leaving at the end of March and I am done with Shetland rams, only Jed, my polled ram is staying because he is so mellow. I hope you find happiness in this choice, its amazing how much stress rams can put on a person and other animals! Enjoy those gardening ideas!
ReplyDeleteI think it was the breeding, showing etc that was stressful. I am hoping life will be enjoyable and just as rewarding now. The garden is really a work in progress it was just a patch of grass when we arrived lol. I'm enjoying going through plant catalogues and thinking of spring!
ReplyDelete