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Yesss I love your threads. Gotta see all the good girls and their little ones 
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Mar 31, 2019 02:13
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Fresh potatoes and potatoes on stilts! Hope the rest go smoothly.
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Apr 1, 2019 20:53
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Shame about Garth, but I sympathize and would personally avoid that ancestor's genetics like the plague after what you've seen. I'm glad Daisy's ewe looks good and healthy, but do you put a warning flag on her due to the possibility of having OCD in her line? Is that something that can be bred out over time, or does it end in culling (or simply not breeding the survivors)? Mutton is delicious and I hope the two Fuckers enjoy their last season(s) before serving Abdullah's fine meal on a very, very personal level. Who are the fuckers, anyway? I'm curious to know what level of dickery qualifies for "eh, rams" and what level is freezer camp. As someone who is interested in animal husbandry on a somewhat casual level, do you keep charts of the lines in order to keep everything squared away and documented? I'm guessing you are in good contact with the breeders of the animals you purchase, do you talk to them about your findings? How do they respond? I would like to think that they don't take the genetic fuckups that happen under their watch on a personal level and try to prevent them from happening in the future/continuing that line, but in my experience in seeing poorly bred animals this isn't as common as I'd like it to be. I hope there's another, healthier line available for you to get good rams from, as I think you have endured more than your fair share of scientific discoveries with your lambs. Also, did you get tired of dealing with Goats? Not that I mind baby sheep everywhere, but I still have a hearty chuckle about Heath and his dating difficulties once in a while.
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Apr 3, 2019 20:45
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Yessss thank you for the reply and the massive photo update. I love the sass Aster's ram seems to have - try not to grow up to be a jerk, dude. Hah, any chance you can get one last shave from those rams before they depart? Shame about the fighting, but you're right that's not acceptable, especially if you keep them around for breeding purposes. RIP Dido, you managed to not die from getting your head stuck somewhere. Hope all these little ones grow up big and strong. Thanks so much for a peek behind the curtain - I appreciate it, even if I am not in a position to study/practice animal husbandry myself.
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Apr 4, 2019 01:16
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How are you not spending every waking moment with these adorable sweeties? I'd die.
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Apr 18, 2019 06:25
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Yesss curly little kids
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Apr 24, 2019 23:54
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Been having a really hard time mentally, so I wanted to say I appreciate you and your critters.
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Jun 27, 2019 10:27
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Instant Jellyfish posted:Oh no, let me help more then. Dawww, thank you that was an exceptional few posts to come home to.Mina and Major are at least good at pretending to be buds now. Hooray!
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Jun 27, 2019 16:47
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I love her. She cannot contain herself. I also know she's probably a pain in the rear end to own because of that. I appreciate you from afar, impatient sheep.
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Jul 7, 2019 22:59
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Congratulations! You've been working your rear end off so I'm really happy that you and your critters are getting recognized!
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Jul 22, 2019 21:25
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Super cool story, very majestic, 10/10 would pet.
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Jul 25, 2019 03:22
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I'm just glad Hawthorn is okay. Sad about his horn, but I'm glad he's survived that. So I have to ask, how the hell does something like that come off? I was under the impression that only happened if they got stuck in a fence or something.
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Sep 2, 2019 22:05
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Good luck at the show! I'm hoping the judge may have had his heart grow three sizes since last year, because your sheep continue to be wonderful. Edit: I didn't ask initially because I figure you have better things to worry about on your trip, but when you get back, how's Hawthorn holding up? Hopefully the imbalance from his horns doesn't bother him too much. Do sheep feel shame? I'm guessing not, but is he bothered by the horn being gone at all or is it just the new normal for him now? Chaosfeather fucked around with this message at 04:02 on Oct 24, 2019 |
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Oct 23, 2019 23:57
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Instant Jellyfish posted:Recently we had a little oopsie involving the gate to the ram pasture not being latched properly. Got home from dropping the kitten I found off at a rescue and thought it was weird that I couldn't see any of my ewes in the pasture. Went to let the dog out and it turns out I couldn't see them because they were all in the rams' pasture. I must not have latched the gate properly after feeding hay and it blew open. Luckily it was surprisingly easy to sort everyone out and most of the ewes should have been a couple weeks bred already. Of course this happened the day any ewes that hadn't been bred when they were supposed to would have been cycling again though and they were in with all of my (many) rams. That's super cool that you turned it into a learning experience! I know I always had trouble with restraining animals for a blood pull when I worked at the vet clinic. Part of that is because I am short (hard to restrain something that's taller than you due to the table or you can't wrap your arms around) but part of that is because I didn't really get much practice. I'm guessing those red marks on the test were an edit from you just to highlight who needed attention? Anyway, all I can think of with the latch is how pet birds sometimes learn to unlatch their own cage so you have to put a lock on it to prevent them from doing stupid poo poo while you aren't home. Clearly this is just the sheep version of that - someone learned how to open the gate with their horns and now you need zipties or something. As much as it seems like a fun joke, is that even possible? Have you heard of sheep or goats that get that clever? Also, Happy Thanksgiving!
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Nov 28, 2019 18:17
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I always love an update to this thread. Sorry Major is having a bit of an internal crisis. It was briefly mentioned, but how do you flesh your hides? I had the chance to flesh my first hide this year (deer) and although I technically managed it it was...kinda a lovely job. Blade kept jumping, didn't stretch it right on the fleshing pole, etc. I know practice makes perfect but got any advice? I love using everything I can from what I hunt so this is a skill I'm trying to develop. I also have trouble tanning in an apartment, so how do you determine who to pick for tanning services? Edit: For clarification on the tanning services, I've tried a taxidermist who hand-tanned my first deer hide for me. Although he did an excellent job it's not as pliable as I'd like it to be, since I wanted to throw it on my bed every fall. It's good for a decoration piece but I wanted something a little more flexible. Chaosfeather fucked around with this message at 05:26 on Jan 22, 2020 |
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Jan 22, 2020 05:23
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Instant Jellyfish posted:I use a pressure washer to flesh hides. I would have never thought of using a pressure washer. That's perfect. Can't wait to have deer chunks scattered across my friend's yard that I need to pick up before the coons find them. And thank you, I have definitely seen the greasy, yellow hides you are talking about and that looks much much nicer. Thanks for the example and I'll definitely keep your shop in mind now that I'm learning how to knit. Just gotta learn how to do something that isn't a scarf.
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Jan 22, 2020 08:06
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Instant Jellyfish posted:I rinse both sides with a low pressure nozzle afterwards. Toss them in the washer to run them through a few spin cycles and get some of the water out and they're ready to salt. I give my meat customers $5 back if they give me the pelt back in usable condition after slaughter (I sell almost exclusively to a guy who slaughters his own) and a couple other farms sell me their pelts for the same price so they don't go to waste. I also have a few friends who have me send in their pelts with mine so we get the bulk discount and can split shipping. I've got 10 at Sterns right now and these 6 will go as soon as they're fully dry. I'm really hoping the viking fest people want to buy some pelts! The fleshing beam I was using is honestly just a big PVC pipe nailed between two boards. That's a pretty cool deal and I hope you sell all of them! drrockso20 posted:Let the coons have their snack While I'm sure my friend's kids would love the sudden surge of trash bears I don't think they'd enjoy the mess a horde of them would bring.
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Jan 22, 2020 18:01
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It's hard being a newborn lamb.
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Mar 15, 2020 23:34
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Plant theme is good. Do you have a list of the names you've used already in the plant theme so we don't just keep suggesting some you've already used?
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Mar 16, 2020 21:59
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Mmmm it's a good end-of-world position to be in. Warm and fed, with some low-level entertainment (knitting/crochet). Some names of local plants that I enjoy, that you might be interested in sometime. Not sure how many would make for good names? Buckeye, Buckwheat, Cedar, Checkerbloom, Cholla, Clover, Dodder, Fiddleneck, Foxtail, Gentian, Ginger, Godetia, Goldenrod, Hazel, Juniper, Manzanita, Milkweed, Mugwort, Nightshade, Oak, Peony, Poppy, Primrose, Sequoia, Sunflower, Thistle, Willow, Yew, Yucca Chaosfeather fucked around with this message at 06:19 on Mar 17, 2020 |
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Mar 17, 2020 05:00
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Daisy please let them walk free. You'll feel much better, too.
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Mar 19, 2020 03:59
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Mar 26, 2020 16:26
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I love that Pacific has a pair of white pants. Good luck with the pasture management! I'm sure it'd be harder with goats but I'm sure sheep get up to enough trouble. Hopefully they stay out of it!
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May 8, 2020 00:31
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I love your animals and your posts and if I wasn't poor suburb scum with no farm experience I'd say I'd be convinced to try to raise a handful of Jacob's. So I will live vicariously through you and your adorable critters.
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May 17, 2020 23:56
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RIP all those wonderful ladies. You're a good person for taking care of these sheep and doing everything you can for them. Although the news is sad I appreciate the update.  I hope the rest of your critters make it through the winter in good health, even if they complain a lot.
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Dec 17, 2020 07:31
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Instant Jellyfish posted:Oh! The other exciting sheep news is that I'm now the director for my region in the Jacob Sheep Breeders Association. If you're in the midwest and interested in registered jacob sheep I'm now officially the person to talk to. Congratulations! That's awesome! I know it's a little ways to go but I hope everyone safely delivers some healthy little lambs. I am sure with a great amount of supervision from the dogs everything will be fine.
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Jan 31, 2021 05:32
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Thanks for taking care of good boy Twofer, especially up through the end. I'm so sorry.
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Feb 22, 2021 09:42
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Yesssss so excited. Good luck to you and all the ladies and littles. Hope things go as smoothly as they can.
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Mar 5, 2021 22:46
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C'mon little guy, you can do it! You've got a bunch of weird apes from all over the place cheering you on. Having a good giggle at "dog stuff'. At what point do you think he'll be stable enough to downgrade out of the luxury suite? You mentioned the days that premature lambs seem to turn the corner health-wise and have better odds, so is there a good time amount that the early birds tend to 'catch up' if they are going to thrive? Or do you just go by weight/activity? Hope his airways clear up and he's just having a case of the "aaa it's cold and so my nose and throat is snuffly"s
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Mar 6, 2021 20:00
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Biscuit can take comfort in knowing that he is slightly warmer right now and has this new, funny-smelling coat and a family! Not gonna knock it if it works. Sorry you lost the other little guy.
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Mar 8, 2021 09:08
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Happy Belated Birthday Major! Good job Wendigo! Welcome to the world littles, and good luck to the rest of them. I'm sure you have a very busy couple of days coming up.
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Mar 9, 2021 23:21
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So Mr. Rainbow Wrap is now Sherbet or something similar, right? Edit: Wanderer is a good name! Especially since it got him into a pickle. Hopefully he heals up alright. Chaosfeather fucked around with this message at 04:38 on Mar 12, 2021 |
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Mar 12, 2021 04:00
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I can't handle those ears 
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Mar 16, 2021 06:06
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Instant Jellyfish posted:All the excitement wore her out. To be quite fair if I had a family member who was all "oh no I have to bring this cute little lamb with me to the get together" they would be the single most popular member of the family.
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Apr 6, 2021 08:19
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Instant Jellyfish posted:Yes, I keep bottle lambs in the barn as much as possible so they learn to sheep. I've got two more ewes due to lamb in a few days so when they pop I'll introduce her to those lambs. Right now the other lambs are much bigger than her and she's kind of delicate so she's in a separate pen where she can see them but not interact unsupervised. I think it's important for sheep to know how to be happy with their own kind, even if their mom sucks. Good advice for any species IMO. Do you notice any difference in behavior with bottle lambs once they are grown up? It sounds like you've done this before, so I am sure you have some sheep somewhere who are socially happy with their own kind but also acted a little different towards people? Are they more affectionate/beg for more food because of the association, do they lean hard into their new sheep life or nothin? Edit: Thanks! That's really heartening to know, that they thrived so much that you had a hard time finding them unless they sought you out. Very cool! Chaosfeather fucked around with this message at 23:28 on Apr 6, 2021 |
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Apr 6, 2021 23:18
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Instant Jellyfish posted:Excellent timing for bumping this up because today I put breeding groups together today! Expect a bunch of spotty lambs in 150-ish days. I’m only breeding the Jacobs this year but I am breeding like 17 of them so there should be lots of spots. Happy for Beep and happy to hear that you've been hopefully having fun. Can't wait to see some spotty littles.
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Oct 16, 2021 08:31
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Good sheep, cute couple, hope things go as well and smoothly as possible!
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Oct 26, 2021 02:03
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Instant Jellyfish posted:Yep! Just like his daddy, Ashe. That's so cool, I had no idea about the stripes!
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Oct 29, 2021 07:27
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Hope he left a good legacy and maybe his offspring will have a braincell or two more than he.
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Feb 11, 2022 03:55
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Instant Jellyfish posted:Got them in a warming box with a hairdryer going right away and in an hour or so they were up to temp and strong enough to be tube fed. Those lambs are lucky you were around. Adorable little ones as usual, I hope most of the drama is out of the way and the rest go smoothly. Chaosfeather fucked around with this message at 17:40 on Mar 14, 2022 |
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Mar 13, 2022 23:29
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