Farm Fresh Blog

Look what the New Year brought! 

 He was born shortly before 6 AM this morning.

The Christmas lamb is doing just fine. 

 We'll keep her, so we named her Holly.

(I know!  I know!  I know!  Don't name your food!  But since we're keeping her for breeding, not eating, she gets a name. )

Look how big these babies are!  They are just two months old!  I'm still amazed with how quickly these Dorper sheep gain weight.  They really out-perform our Boer goats. I'll still keep goats, but this is our second crop of Dorper sheep and now I'm convinced that are a much better deal.  They are easier on the fences, they handle the Texas heat, thus far, we haven't had to help with any deliveries, and they gain weight FAST!

As always, Briar continues to amaze me.  This is her first crop of lambs, so we still don't trust her alone with them. (cuz she is big and they are small!) but she remains quiet and watchful around her flock.  This is such a contrast to her normal behavior.  Away from the sheep, Briar is a bull in a china shop.

With the sheep, she oozes between around them like warm butter.

Briar is really getting into watching the flock during this lambing season.  Today she cleaned up the afterbirth, and then threw it up. (I'll spare you those pictures!) After I separated the momma and baby, I let Briar come inside with everyone else.  She oozed around the paddock and settled down to watch the other lambs. Until . . .

This horse almost lost his nose.

Apparently "Oozey Briar" can mutate very quickly into "Cujo Briar" when she has lambs. (Point noted.)

But since this little guy is not much more than a "coyote sandwich" himself, I'm sure he really appreciates having Cujo Briar so close.