Ewe Tube

Phew!!   The lambing season is finished. I really can't imagine having a larger farm and having so many lambs!  I had 20 lambs born, 17 lived, 3 did not.  2 were gone when we found them, 1 got very sick and died within a week (even after vet. intervention) I guess the odds are fairly good and normal but, I still don't want to loose lambs.  So, next year, I plan to be even more prepared.  Although, I have lambed before, the Finns are different.  There are so many at once and it can be very difficult or "easy as pie".  Most of the mom's did a fantastic job and wanted all of their babies and are taking excellent care of them.  A couple, however, were born very small and if I hadn't intervened with tubing or assistance in reaching the udder, I'm certain they wouldn't have survived. I sold a few as bottle lambs unregistered.  That way, they got the love and nutrition they needed and can be excellent fiber pets for wonderful families.  We will also be letting a number of our adults go to other homes.

Part of our goals are to produce multiple lambs without needing assistance and large lambs from large sheep.  We want fantastic fleece and lots of milk.  So, that being said, I am not registering all of the lambs.  I don't believe everything needs to be bred and registered, just because they have all the parts to breed.  After many years of breeding working Border Collies, I have learned that you need to be objective about your goals and your breeding stock.  I also love that the Finnsheep is bred for function not "good looks" (unless it's fleece quality)  So, that being said, we are looking hard at our sheep and will be making some very difficult decisions. 

My next step is to have the fleece tested!   All the colors born here is the best ever as I have so much to choose from but, at the moment, most everything is for sale.