Gardening & Grazing!

 

Garden Planted & Protected by Electric Net Fencing!

It's a bit hard to see from this wide shot, but the garden is planted. We'll have to give it a couple of weeks before you can the plants growing and the seeds sprouting.  It's easy to water plants now since they're so small.  Rain & t-storms have been in the forecast all week, but so far nothing has happened right here on the farm so we'll continue to spread the mulch.  There's a curious lamb gazing at the garden ... give it a few seconds and she'll jump back if she touches the fence!

Ewes & Lambs Out Now to Graze

We moved the ewes with the oldest lambs out to pasture.  Snow White is now mixed in with this group watching over things. Not much else going on now & that's a good thing!

This is What "Nothing" Looks Like!

Wild Rose Farm - "Nothing Happening" Looks Like This!

When one of us comes in after a lambing check and says "nothing happening", this is what it looks like.  A few ewes grazing.  The rest of the flock is sitting up and chewing their cud. Our llama Snow White is cushed and watching, or as in this case, looking at us as if to say, "what are you looking at?".  It looks similar at night, except that a scan of the field returns sets of glowing eyes! 

Wild Rose Farm #136 With Newborn Twins

We had 3 sets of twins born yesterday. The first set was on the previous post, the 2nd set arrived around 2:00pm and the picture above is the 3rd pair born around 8:30pm.  It was a busy day here and all are doing well! 
 

 

Why We Go Out At 1AM ...

 

Wild Rose Farm Rambouillet #571 & Twin Ewe Lambs

This is why the pasture checks continue around the clock!  Rambouillet ewe #571 has lambed for the first time and has a nice set of twin ewe lambs. She's standing over the first lamb that has already nursed and is curled up resting. The second lamb is right in position - isn't instinct amazing?  She's trying to nurse and this "first time" ewe is standing still for her.  She's not in a panic when I approach & then stop to get a picture.  For the curious folks out there, Snow White is cushed about 50 feet away in the dark & the temperature is 48 degrees.  The chance of light rain is 40% by 6am and this group will be dry in the barn. 

Previous "Midnight" Pasture Check - Ewes Resting

 Yesterday the scene was similar, but nothing was happening. None of the ewes were in labor, so by 5am, the shepherd knows that things cannot have gone too far astray. 

Snow White Was Just Out of the Picture!

The same as this morning, Snow White was just out of the picture watching over the flock!  You can see the barn lit up in the background on the hill.  Ok, time to get some sleep now.  

Lambing Season & Changing Weather

 

Snow White Watches Ewe & Newborn Twins!

Even though it's much warmer now for lambing than in February, the weather changes by the hour.  Our Dorset ewe #119 had a set of twin ewe lambs just as the wind picked up and a misty rain started.  Snow White stayed nearby and we saw her go up and greet the lambs!  Time to go out and bring the new group up to the barn. Snow White is relieved of her duties as she sees someone coming and she heads back to the rest of the flock.  

Wild Rose Farm Dorset Ewe #119 & Twin Ewe Lambs
Dried Off & Warmer in the Barn ...

This is the second time that #119 has lambed and she followed right along up to the barn and into the pen like an old pro.  After having their navels dipped in iodine, it doesn't take long for the newborn lambs to start nursing!  Two hours later, the sun came back out for the rest of the day ... 

Hello 2021!

Snow White & Ewe Flock Headed Back to Pasture

 It's been quite a while since we've posted here at Wild Rose Farm!  Our 2020 was pretty uneventful with all of the pandemic restrictions and canceled events.  No shows, no festivals, no wool pool, no Hookstown Fair ... nothing to report except sticking close to home!  We even had to cancel our last group of freezer lambs due to lack of processing capacity, grrrr.  The breeding season began on Thanksgiving weekend as usual and we've been grazing and waiting for the first lambs to arrive.  The ewes come up to the barn for feed each afternoon and we look them over.  You can see them above on a beautiful day headed back to a fresh section of pasture with Snow White bringing up the rear.

Rambouillet Ewe #333 With Ewe Lamb!

 Our frequent pasture checks paid off this afternoon! We found one of our Rambouillet ewes under the pine trees with a new ewe lamb.  Actually, I was looking closely at the ewes below the trees for signs of impending labor when I heard a lamb bleat! There she was standing next to the ewe up in the shade of the trees. Both are resting comfortably in the barn tonight.  

2020 National Llama Appreciation Day!

Today is National Llama Appreciation Day, so last night I went in search of Snow White to get some pictures to post ...

Nope, She's Not Resting in the Shade With Us ...

She wasn't in the Loafing Shed resting with some of the ewes and lambs, so I set off to hike around this paddock. We have a secure tightly fenced section around the Loafing Shed where we bring everyone in after the day of grazing.  The spring water development is in this section too.

Snow White At Sunset

Of course, she was all the way up at the highest point of the paddock near the gate along the road. From the piles of "llama beans" nearby, you can tell that she likes this spot. 

"I can see the whole place from here!"

Snow White Can Oversee Her Flock From Gate to Gate

As I was taking pictures, Snow White wandered down to graze closer to her flock. We have been very fortunate to have her as our guardian llama. Officially, she's Radar's Snow White #280010 and she came to us during lambing season in April 2014 from the Suttons at RA DAR LLAMAS. She had never seen sheep before, but she was immediately fascinated by the lambs.  

Snow White Sees First Lamb - April 2014 - Wow! 

 So back to last night, Snow White returns to grazing and watching her flock of ewes and lambs. We really appreciate our llama! 

Wild Rose Farm - Snow White at Work! 

 Here's another way that you can appreciate your llama during these trying times ...

Flock Check @ Evening Feeding

Wild Rose Farm - Did You Say Feeding Time?

The ewes are now grazing in the bottom half of the pasture behind that gate and over the hill. Their bottom water tank is just over to the left near that blooming dogwood tree. While their fresh section of grazing is being set up, they come up to the barn for their evening grain ration.

Snow White Says "Meh" ...

The Ewes Keep Coming! 

Once they've reached the barn, they are completely occupied with eating.  I can do a check of everyone to see if there is any chance of a ewe that is close to lambing in the group … nothing tonight, so they all went back down to the fresh break of grazing!

Wild Rose Farm Evening Feeding

Snow White Feature!

Wild Rose Farm - Radar Llamas - Radars Snow White 

We moved the grazing flock today and that provided a chance for some close-up pictures. Snow White's flock is down to the ewes that haven't lambed yet, plus the ewe lambs that she wintered with in the barn. Here she is in the paddock as I'm looking over the ewes … notice her eye is always on my position!

Snow White Watching Behind Herself ...

She was dewormed yesterday, so she has reason to be suspicious! Now that she's out grazing again, she gets dewormed mainly as a preventative for the deer meningeal worm.

We've Been Busy ...

Wild Rose Farm Sunny Pasture Scene Today

We've had several sets of twins born since our last post and today was no exception. The weather has been mostly "decent" and no one has tempted fate by lambing outside in the rain.  Snow White & the ewes can take shelter underneath the pine trees and they do have access to the barn if we expect a heavy rain.

Wild Rose Farm #141 & Her Twins

Around noon today we found one of our crossbred ewes, #141, in the pasture delivering a ewe lamb. She looked like she was going to have another lamb and we moved her up to the barn. Checking on her later around 2PM she hadn't delivered a second lamb, so an investigation was in order. Yep, there was another lamb in there and he was presenting back feet first. It was time to put on gloves and the long OB sleeve to help and pull the lamb. This must be done carefully, but very quickly. Once the umbilical cord breaks, it triggers the sharp intake of breath in the newborn and the head must come out and be cleaned off immediately ... all's well that ends well! That's him on the left after we wiped him off and now the ewe is taking over. It's also a good idea to towel some of the birthing fluids from him onto the first born lamb to make them both smell similar to the ewe.
By now it was around 3PM and it was time to make the daily pasture fence shift ...

Wild Rose Farm #129 & Her Triplets!

I was puttering around in the barn working on getting a couple of the pens ready when I heard a call from outside. Mr.Wild Rose Farm said that there were more lambs & to get a pen ready while he brought them up. Whoa! Our crossbred ewe #129 had delivered and cleaned off a set of triplets sometime after we brought in #141 and I took that banner picture above.
She followed right up to the barn and into the big corner pen that we have reserved (just in case) for triplets.  She has two ewe lambs and one ram lamb and is taking care of all of them. As time goes on, we'll watch them carefully, but for now they're all active and nursing.
Since the whole flock followed the triplets up to the barn, we did some other work with them & replaced a couple of missing ear tags.  Then we sent them back out to pasture for the evening with Snow White.
The temps are dropping overnight with high winds, so we have 2 ewes that look to be very close to lambing up in the barn tonight … you never know!

Two Sets of Twins!

Wild Rose Farm #151 - Twins!

Time to catch up on the lambing season … we had two sets of twins born on the 27th. Our pretty horned crossbred ewe #151 has a ewe lamb & a ram lamb. We just tagged & vaccinated them this afternoon & the ram lamb will have horns too.  Both are doing well!

Wild Rose Farm #144 - Twins Too!

Late in the evening, and actually a few minutes into the 28th, #144 delivered a set of twin ram lambs. She seemed to be "thinking about" lambing for a couple of days as you've seen.  Here she has them cleaned off ... the one lamb has his head down searching, but he needs to go towards the other end!
Snow White continues her pasture duty with the rest of the flock.  This is the first time I've ever seen her munching on the white pines …

Snow White Snacking on the White Pines

... IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT !!!

Live From Hookstown, IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT!!!

Just back in from the nightly pasture check. Nothing happening right now, but Snow White is in her accustomed place, guarding the flock. You can see her behind in the background. She is cushed and facing the "wilderness".  The sheep will bed down up above her closer to the barn where I'm standing.
She looks like the Loch Ness Monster down there … watching.
Here's the same view from the afternoon today.  Everyone is enclosed in electric net fencing inside the permanent pasture perimeter fencing during the lambing/grazing season.

Wild Rose Farm - Snow White & Flock Waiting for Lambs! 

Before Shearing

Wild Rose Farm Snow White in a Sea of Wool!

We brought Snow White and the ewes up to the barn from the Back 40 on Easter morning. They are scheduled to be sheared and it's essential that they be dry. It's raining outside as this is being written.

You can see lots of wool fleeces out there ready to come off!

Snow White is particularly "white" today. We had a t-storm and very high winds two days after we sent them out back to graze.
Check out the big elm tree that blew out in the pasture field overnight. No one was hurt and the tree formed a triangle over the high tensile fence.  Nothing like a fence to attract a falling tree!

Wild Rose Farm - Elm Tree Blowout Over Fence!

Scene Greeting Us in the Morning ...

Reunited With Her Sheeps!

Snow White Sees Her Ewes Again!

After 4 months penned up with six ewe lambs in the barn, Snow White was delighted to see her flock of ewes!  Even something as simple as having a long "sight line" is wonderful for a llama. Watchful guard animals love to be able to "watch".

Wild Rose Farm  - Are you my Sheep?

First, some mixing in the hospital pen before we head out to the Back 40. We pulled the two rams out from the breeding ewe group and mixed in Snow White with her 6 yearling ewe lambs.

Sheltering In Place

Wild Rose Farm - Snow White & Ewe Lambs 

Sheltering In Place!

One thing about living on a farm … you generally have supplies on hand. We just went to the feed mill in Rogers, Ohio this morning to pick up shelled corn & the 17% protein feed that we use as a supplement to hay feeding for the pregnant ewes. Farm supply stores are still open as necessary businesses, but still, we minimize our trips. BTW, gasoline was $1.69 in Rogers.
Interestingly & totally randomly, about a month ago we were grocery shopping & I thought "hmmm, I should probably pick up a box of alcohol pads for upcoming lambing season supplies".  You guessed it …  I got THE LAST BOX on the Walmart shelf!  That was way before things went really crazy.
In other news, various fiber festivals are cancelling and possibly rescheduling.  Stay tuned for information on the Waynesburg Sheep & Fiber Festival scheduled for the 3rd weekend in May.
No need to rush the decision at this point - most vendors wouldn't be anywhere else that weekend, right? - but stay tuned for a decision in the next couple of weeks.
And stay home … it's time to be safe and work on fiber projects!

Lambing, Llama, & Pasture Scenes!

Wild Rose Farm at Dusk - Snow White in Position!

Here are a series of pictures from the last few weeks at Wild Rose Farm during our lambing season. Our llama Snow White is in the pasture with the ewes. The entire group grazes while surrounded by movable electric net fence within our permanent high tensile electric perimeter fencing. You can see in the picture above that Snow White has taken up a position by bedding down in front of the ewes at dusk. They settle in uphill behind her --- sheep usually bed down "uphill".

A Llama & Her Flock!

Wild Rose Farm #152 With Newborn Twins - Snow White Nearby!

One of our crossbred ewes, #152 is shown above with her set of newborn twins. This is her first time lambing and she did a great job! Look who is nearby … Snow White is alert … you can see her tail is held up a bit.

Wild Rose Farm #150 & Twins - 11:30 PM Pasture Check

Snow White is There!

Finally, here's a midnight pasture check & Snow White is there again … even when she's cushed, her swivel head is 3 feet high!  She's too smart to look at the LED light I'm holding, lol!  You can see the eyes of one of the other sheep behind her.

Growing Wool ...

Wild Rose Farm Ewes At Feeders

Growing and shearing a quality crop of wool takes some effort. Standing there dead center in the picture above is one of the sheep that seems to have a natural talent for finding any burdocks or cockleburs in the pasture! It's an ongoing battle to find and remove the plants before they set seed, but a few plants are all it takes …

Here She Comes … Burrs & All!

The best thing we can say is that burrs & vegetable matter on the head & legs will be sheared off as scrap wool & tags, lol.  Properly skirting a hand-spinning fleece means that any of this will never make it to the spinner, or to the mill if we're having yarn or combed top made for sale. Speaking of wool for sale, we're waiting for a shipment of our wool pencil roving to arrive any day now!
We'll have it in time for our next show in November.

Snow White - "You say there's wool pencil roving coming?"

Wild Rose Farm @ Pioneer Craft Days!

Wild Rose Farm - Set-up For Pioneer Craft Days October 6th & 7th!

Here's a chance to come see Wild Rose Farm this weekend at Beaver Creek State Park and enjoy Pioneer Craft Days!  Follow the signs to the Pioneer Village. We are set up in the middle of the covered bridge & I expect to see a vendor on either side of our booth by Saturday morning. We just got a shipment of our Dorset wool quilt batts in September … we have Queen, Full, and now, by request, a new Lap size at 45"x72". Stop in and see us and all of the other hand-made craft vendors!

Coverlet & Blanket

We're also allowed to offer up to 20% real antiques at the show ("no flea market items"!). The persimmon & white antique coverlet will be for sale. Provenance is Sewickley, PA. I'm keeping the Welsh wool double woven green multi queen blanket for myself, lol …

Snow White, Ewes, & Garden Sunflowers

Finally, a look around at the farm! We've had downpours of rain on and off over the last couple of weeks. In the picture above, the garden sunflowers are in full bloom and they're top heavy.

Wet Ewes & Garden Sunflowers AFTER Storms

A week or so later, the sunflowers were decimated by the rains. We've pulled the electric net fence around the garden and interestingly, the sheep munched on the remnants of the sunflower heads. They also grazed off the parsley & nibbled the basil ...

Lambs Ready To Go!

Wild Rose Farm - Sorting Ewe Lambs 

It's time & the lambs are ready to start leaving the farm now! Here we were above, sorting through some of the ewe lambs at the beginning of August. We have Dorset/Rambouillet crossbred ewe lambs and several Dorset ewe lambs sired by our performance tested Dorset ram available, as well as one registered Dorset ram lamb. We're planning to keep several of the registered Rambouillet ewe lambs for our own flock, but we do have a couple of registered Rambouillet ewe lambs and and ram lambs for sale.
We had good weather last week for the local Hookstown Fair and now it's back to focusing on the chores here … we have a routine farm visit from the veterinarian scheduled this week. Glenda & Snow White get their annual shots and a check-up, plus we review the lambs for sale in case health papers are needed to sell across the state line. Unfortunately, it looks like a hot week with temperatures in the 90's … yikes!

Just Curious ...

Wild Rose Farm Snow White - Now What's Going On? 

Maybe it's just me, but I'm amused by the curiosity of our animals. Looks like big do'ins if you're a llama!

Snow White Intently Watches Gate Hinge Adjustment

Llama Snow White Studies The New Garage

The next day, after a bit of rain, I caught Snow White above staring at the new garage. Keep in mind that she has not been in this pasture since the construction started!  Then in the picture below, she turned her gaze to study the big dirt pile in front of the house …

Llama Snow White Turns Her Attention To The Big Pile Of Dirt!

Do the sheep notice any of this? Of course not, lol.