Welcome to Hobbyknob Farm Blog!

I look forward to introducing you to the wonderful world of sheep, chickens, llamas, nigerian dwarf dairy goats and sebastopol geese. And any other little critters that happen to show up or live around here. Livestock keep us connected to our agricultural history, the land and the cycle of life.

Monday, March 7, 2011

LAMBS ARE FINALLY HERE!

After months of anticipation (about 5mo) the lambs are arriving. Although I remain a small breeder with only 6 ewes bred, lambing time is no less exciting than if I were a large breeder. Small is good! This year I bred my 4 Jacob ewes, a Border Leceister and a Moorit Corrieadale cross. Of course the Jacobs were bred with the Jacob ram Blue Ewe Expresso, co-owned with Elke Spirakis of Wellspring Farm and the other ewes were bred with my Cotswold ram lamb who is currently hanging out at Barbara Ruehl's farm. As mentioned in a previous blog, Jacob sheep have intense mothering instincts. The difference in breeds was clearly evident with the birth of my Border Leiceister cross lamb. Carly, the mom, was just not as attentive to her baby as the Jacob's. Oh, sure she licked her in between eating hay and made her unique mother sounds every now and then. But when you watch the Jacob's, they do not stop caring for that baby until they have it clean and up. Carly could have cared less when that lamb got up! I am sure it would have all worked out fine, but I am glad I got her in the lambing pen and payed attention to what was happening. You really want to own sheep that can take care of things on their own. That is what I love about the Jacob's. No dumbing down on this breed to suit our human needs! Oh and the little BL lamb is doing just fine. Getting fat on momma's milk.