Knowing when to cull breeding ewes can be a complex question and varies from farm to farm based upon your farm’s goals and management style. We call sheep that no longer meet your goals culls. These sheep are typically sold. Especially for shepherds with small flocks, the decision to cull can be daunting and wrought with emotions. Depending upon farm goals, shepherds sometimes choose to provide forever homes for their culls and choose to keep them. If you have limited pastures or limited barn space, you may need to move your culls on to either new pet homes or the freezer. This post is to help ..read more

Though most shepherds I know do much of their own “vet work” for their flock, each one will tell you there are times when you need a reliable large animal vet. Finding a vet you are compatible with is golden. Together you can work towards maintaining a healthy flock. Here are six things to look for in a large animal a vet for your sheep. Choosing a large animal vet The most obvious consideration is that they are trained and certified as a large animal vet for your state. It is even better if they have extensive training and experience with the different kinds of livestock on your farm. Distan ..read more

The speed with which a brand new lamb pulls itself up onto its spindly legs, gets acquainted with its mother and learns to nurse, and begins to hobble – then hop – then frolic – around the barnyard is amazing. Every shepherd loves to stand in the middle of their paddock, surrounded by running, bouncing, playing lambs, and watch them learn how to become a member of the flock. But sometimes, we notice a lamb hanging back, standing off by itself or huddled in a corner, its back arched as though it is trying to hunch up for warmth. You may ask yourself, why is my lamb hunched up? A healthy lamb is ..read more

Before your lambs are born you need to think about how to lamb proof your barn to prevent accidents from happening. I write this post with a heavy heart after losing a beautiful ewe lamb to an unthinkable freak accident. This guide will walk you through how to look critically at each area of your barn to ensure it is safe for small lambs. Typical Lamb Behavior First let’s look at what typical lamb behavior looks like. At about 24 hours of age, sometimes sooner, lambs will find their legs and take off. My lambs usually begin their lamb races around chore times while moms are busy eating, howeve ..read more

Keeping a small flock of sheep has it’s own set of challenges and advantages. A few years ago, I wrote a blog post on the challenges small flock owners face. Today, I will focus on three advantages of keeping a small flock. The farmer with the biggest tractor wins. We’ve all heard sayings like this before right? Sometimes in circles of shepherds I wonder if they are all thinking, “the one with the most sheep wins.” Shepherds take pride in recounting how large their flocks are as if it comes with a status symbol. Today, I was asked how many sheep I have. My response was, “it varies great ..read more

Are you considering getting a starter flock of sheep? Here are some tips to think about before you go shopping for your first flock. What is your purpose in owning sheep? This is the first question you need to ask yourself before bringing home sheep. The answer to this question will help you make many other important decisions along the way. Do you want sheep for their wool, dairy, to maintain pasture, sell breeding stock, or for meat? Who will be caring for the sheep? This may seem like an odd question, but it is important when choosing the best breed for your farm and family. For instance ..read more

Three years ago, our farm joined 4 other farms in the United States in an exciting breeding program importing 100% pure Swedish embryos into the United States. Anette Skoog of Gotland Sheep and Wool International, facilitated the import, using genetics from her Swedish flock of Gotland sheep.  This spring, all five farms, including ours, Vermont Grand View Farm, welcomed their first pure bred Gotland sheep into their flocks. The potential that these lambs bring to Gotland sheep in the United States is exciting. Last fall, Tufts University Mobile Vet Services came to our farm to implant em ..read more

Some shepherds lamb in great numbers. And that is amazing. And some shepherds lamb in wee small numbers. And that is amazing also. The commonality among shepherds, regardless of how many sheep they have in their flock, is their love and passion for their flock of sheep. Pixie 2021 Gotland Lamb I shared the conversation below with a shepherd I know in Gotland, Sweden. He saw on Instagram that our lambing season had begun and he told me that his lambing is about to commence. He expects 655 lambs on the ground over a 6 week period. That’s over a 100 lambs per week. Wow! On our last trip to Gotlan ..read more

I stand looking at 2020 as if seeing it through the rear view mirror. I still see all the challenges that the year brought to our farm and many others, but I am moving forward. As a small business owner, I began this pandemic determined to get through the year and meet 2021 on top. So while the year threw its challenges at our farm, we found new ways, learned new skills, and pressed onward. We survived 2020. Here are 6 ways our farm business made the most of 2020 so we would come out stronger in the new year. Looking back at 2020Six Ways Our Farm Grew In 2020 Learned a new skill. With all of ..read more

This summer we cleared a stand of red pines from our farm. The pines were planted in the 1970’s in a reforesting effort that swept across the state of Vermont, leaving patches of tall trees across the hillsides. Our trees had been neglected through the years. They stand spindly, and tall. On several occasions, we had talked with foresters about them, getting the same response each time, “these trees are really not worth anything.” So we cut them down to make room for new pasture and new growth within our flock. The dogs and I worked during the waning days of autumn to pull old barb wire from t ..read more