In about six weeks, we'll be sheep people.
Last weekend, we roadtripped to Bozeman to visit Anne, the woman we're buying our sheep from. She's the only one in Montana and most surrounding states who raises Leicester Longwool sheep, aka the breed I picked.
During our visit, we met the two ewes we'll be getting -- Betty and Fiona, and picked out wether (a castrated male sheep). He was the only one of the bunch who came up to us to check us out. I figured that made him curious and brave enough to check it out. That's my kind of sheep.
Last weekend, we roadtripped to Bozeman to visit Anne, the woman we're buying our sheep from. She's the only one in Montana and most surrounding states who raises Leicester Longwool sheep, aka the breed I picked.
During our visit, we met the two ewes we'll be getting -- Betty and Fiona, and picked out wether (a castrated male sheep). He was the only one of the bunch who came up to us to check us out. I figured that made him curious and brave enough to check it out. That's my kind of sheep.
That little white guy on the far left is our wether. The black one looking at you is Fiona. I think.
If you have name suggestions for a young male sheep, let me know. Anne named all her rams after Jane Austen characters and I'm tempted to follow suit, even if mine isn't a ram.
We learned a lot about fencing, shelter, the water and feed requirements for sheep. She's also got an amazing oasis property where she was once the only house in a giant empty field. She's got trees, lush green grass, gorgeous flowers, space for her sheep and chickens. She made sure to tell us that it had taken her 20 years in that space to turn it into what it is, giving me hope that we can maybe develop a similar oasis of our own.
Today we had a fencing guy over to walk the property with M to work up an estimate for our new sheep enclosures and we'll get started on our sheep shelter soon. We've made progress, albeit slow, on our pole barn, which is basically going to be a chicken palace with space to store the lawn mower and other garden tools.
We learned a lot about fencing, shelter, the water and feed requirements for sheep. She's also got an amazing oasis property where she was once the only house in a giant empty field. She's got trees, lush green grass, gorgeous flowers, space for her sheep and chickens. She made sure to tell us that it had taken her 20 years in that space to turn it into what it is, giving me hope that we can maybe develop a similar oasis of our own.
Today we had a fencing guy over to walk the property with M to work up an estimate for our new sheep enclosures and we'll get started on our sheep shelter soon. We've made progress, albeit slow, on our pole barn, which is basically going to be a chicken palace with space to store the lawn mower and other garden tools.
That red coop in the back is their current home, compared to what we're building. It's basically a chicken palace.
We've been talking about adding more chickens to our flock too, so once we get the barn/coop finished we may look at ordering some more of our Buckeyes, since few people have them in Montana. I've also decided I want to add another breed into the mix as well, probably a black and white bird like Plymouth Rock or Dominique.
So for now, that's where things stand around the minifarm.
Oh, and a stray cat has adopted us. She's doing a spectacular job of curbing our mouse problem and putting a dent on the bunny explosion. She seems to steer clear of the dogs, not have much interest in trying to eat the chickens and the dogs seem to tolerate her.
So for now, that's where things stand around the minifarm.
Oh, and a stray cat has adopted us. She's doing a spectacular job of curbing our mouse problem and putting a dent on the bunny explosion. She seems to steer clear of the dogs, not have much interest in trying to eat the chickens and the dogs seem to tolerate her.
I'm no cat person, but we'd been thinking about getting a barn cat/mouser and it turns out one found us. So as long as she keeps the mice out of my car and my house, she can stay.
She doesn't have a name, but I'm tempted to call her Kit Kat, because I'm 12.
Also because I'm 12, I feel that I should announce it's now August and my birthday month. Here's to hoping for major progress in the last month of my 31st year.
How goes it in your neck of the woods?
She doesn't have a name, but I'm tempted to call her Kit Kat, because I'm 12.
Also because I'm 12, I feel that I should announce it's now August and my birthday month. Here's to hoping for major progress in the last month of my 31st year.
How goes it in your neck of the woods?
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