Our lambs are born mid-April to mid-May, in mild enough weather to be kind to the moms, lambs and farmers. The fresh spring grass is coming up all around them!
We have both Icelandic and Dorset breeds of sheep, keeping about 40 ewes as our “mother flock.” The Dorsets are primarily for meat, while the Icelandics have long fine wool in addition to delicate meat. They all have names and distinct personalities.
The sheep are moved in a rotational grazing system through paddocks in the pastures, guarded by pairs of llamas. They let you know when they are ready to move to a new section with more grass … such a racket!
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- A newborn lamb explores the world and wonders if intern Mike might be her mommy.
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- A curious lamb investigates the guinea hens. Don’t get too close!
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- We try to graze the animals well into the fall before switching them over to hay. The skill of our grazing management and the weather determine our success.
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- Winter and the grass under the snow must be supplemented with hay. There always seems to be at least one lamb who thinks the round bales are more for fun than feed.