Snowy January Days

Glimmer

Many people complain about the snow & cold, but I like it. We are so busy during the summer. Winter is when I get caught up on my paperwork, have the chance to read some of my sheep books, spin, knit, and cook hearty meals.

Ellyssa

The sheep like winter too. They barely notice the cold. Hesperis

During the winter, I always try to attend
at least one sheep workshop.

Grettle
I went to one today, just south of Chicago. The main reason I wanted to attend, was because they had a lab class on Fecal Sample Analysis. We learned how to prepare fecals to look at under a microscope,
then determine what parasite eggs were in them.

Gardenia
I have books outlining the procedure,
but nothing beats a hands on class!

Claire, Charlotte (sisters) & Delphine
Here's a link to the wonderful handout we received:
GUIDE TO INTERNAL PARASITES OF RUMINANTS
Other classes were on record keeping, pastures, etc.
A very worthwhile day of learning!

Changes, changes...

I'll never part with my Claire
We had the opportunity to sell a large number of ewes to a new dairy farm in Oklahoma. After much debate, I went through our flock, and parted with some of the ewes that weren't on my sales list, as well as all of the ewes on the sales list. I kept all of the bloodlines that I needed, and my very favorite, calm, special ewes. Our sales for 2010 went very well--a BIG thank you to my customers! I love sharing my sheep with you, and am here to help you along for as long as you need it! or even if you don't need it. It's wonderful to build up a camaraderie with other shepherds. We can share our hopes,
dreams, joys and sorrows.


Our flock, with lambs numbered in the 70's this summer. It kept us very busy, moving the electronet fencing daily. Now, we have a mere 16 ewes, with only 12 or 13 bred! It's been a long time since my numbers were that low. I'm really excited though, about our 2011 lambs. With 2 new beautiful rams, plus our Finn as flock sires,
we should have an amazing crop of lambs.
Grendel, our new moorit mouflon ram from The Creeks Edge
Now, I'll be able to buy a few things on my sheep wish list. #1 is a decent stock trailer. #2 is a digital scale
to weigh the sheep. Any other suggestions?

Is it Really 2011?

Just yesterday, we were enjoying a long warm fall.
Now its January 2011. What happened?

Belle is back to her old self, barking all night, sleeping all day.

Frosty winter days have been beautiful!

Breeding groups have been set up, and already disbanned.

Thunder SRX 917T --can't wait to see his lambs this spring!
Ewes on a frosty morning.

Another new ram to our farm, Grendle TCE 561W.

Finn & Fable

Some of Thunder's ewes.

Harmony and Snowflake, our Sebastopol goose pet.

Happy New Year
from Red Brick Road Farm!

Sheep are shorn!

The fall harvest is in--60+ gorgeous fleeces in every color and pattern. Just as I look forward to lambing in the spring, I look forward to the fall shearing of the sheep. I am so grateful to have David Kier come out again to shear. He is so good with the sheep, and so generous with his knowledge. We had some wonderful helpers come out too--thank you, thank you! We could never do it without our helpers. I prepared a lamb stew as well as chicken soup, along with apple pie for dessert. Our fall weather has been so nice, we relaxed on the deck and had a wonderful lunch. Each fleece goes into a box, and stored in my wool house. I am really looking forward to skirting all of these luscious fleeces.

And the cycle begins again, the sheep are in their breeding pens. With two new handsome rams, plus our Finn, we will have our nicest lambs ever this spring.

Visions of Fleeces

Lovely Gardenia, in the cool evening.

Summer has turned to Autumn, and that means colorful winter squash, apples to pick, and beautiful fall fleeces. Autumn in all it's glory. A picture says a thousand words, so, enjoy the beautiful sheep!

Matriarch, Stella.Salem, watching the flock.Beautiful FayeGodiva, waiting for a treat! I love how the sheep lick their lips when it's time for dinner!Handsome Fable.Dalla, our leader ewe.Finn & ThunderLovely Claire-BearHer sister Charlotte, my fave!Ewes in the evening.Rams in the morning pasture.Ewes in the afternoon.

We are all enjoying the cool fall temps!

Rattlesnakes in Northern Illinois?

I was very surprised to learn that indeed, there are poisonous rattlesnakes in N. Illinois! Almost 3 weeks ago, I found our LGD Belle laying on the front porch, one of her favorite spots. We are on a hill, and she can keep a close eye on things from there. No surprise to find her there, by evening, she hadn't moved. I checked her and found that she had a hugely swollen leg. I figured that she had gotten hit on the road. After further inspection, her leg and hips seemed fine, except for the huge swelling. I gave her a shot of dexamethasone, covered her with a wool blanket, and waited until I could call the vet. I couldn't sleep, and checked her several times during the night.


We took her in first thing Monday morning. She stayed in the intensive care unit for 2 days. The vet, who was from Texas, thought it looked just like some of the snake bites that she had seen. A little Internet research, and we found that there is a native rattlesnake to our area, the Massasauga, or swamp rattler http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sistrurus_catenatus. It's rare, but we do have the perfect habitat for it. Her whole leg was very weepy for about a week.

Belle has been on 2 pain meds and 3 broad spectrum antibiotics for the past 2 1/2 weeks, a total of 16 pills per day! We started out hiding the pills in meat, cheese, braunsweiger, but now, she is very suspicious of all treats and is fighting her pills. She's been a very good girl, stoic, as Pyrs go. Everyone at the vet clinic loves her, and can't imagine that she would be a good guard dog, though, she is!

We left her wound open for 2 weeks, but now it is wrapped, with changes every 2-3 days. Boy, does she hate that! Her vet has been very pleased with her progress. They felt that she may lose her leg. Now, it looks like maybe she'll lose a toe and part of her foot.

After many trips to the vet, things are finally looking up!

Whole Foods

Whole Foods has recently announced that they will be importing Icelandic lamb to sell in their stores. They have even made the comment that Icelandic Lamb is the "best in the world". I certainly can't argue with that! We've been eating Icelandic lamb, as well as mutton for years, and it's amazing stuff. Very mild and lean. Plus, it's nice to know how healthy grass fed meat is. Check out the information on this "Eat Wild" site for the health benefits: http://www.eatwild.com/healthbenefits.htm (photo courtesy of Saveur magazine)

Here's some basic information about Icelandic lamb from the Icelandic Sheep Breeders of N. America site:

Meat Production
Though famous throughout the world for wool production, the Icelandic breed is predominately grown for meat in Iceland. Since the cool and wet climate precludes the production of most grains in Iceland, the breed has been selected to bring the meat lambs to slaughter weight off of the summer and fall pastures. Icelandics are very adaptable, and can be handled in a variety of management plans. Here in North America they thrive on grass-based farms where they are rarely fed grain, to dry-lot situations where they are fed daily, and all the management systems in between. Market lambs will start to reach their ideal slaughter weights of 70-100 pounds at four to five months. With continued
access to quality graze, the lambs can be slaughtered directly off the grass all through the fall months. This has positioned the Icelandic breed to fit well in the move towards grass-based farming, enabling “natural” and organic farmers to utilize the Icelandic breed. As meat consumers increasingly recognize the health benefits of grass fed meats, and as economic pressures drive our farmers toward grass-based businesses, the genetics of the Icelandic breed become increasingly valuable to our sheep industry. The Icelandic breed is considered a mountain breed, and historically mountain breeds have been milder in flavor, and
leaner than the lowland breeds. The meat is indeed very tender with a mild flavor, and is generally described as gourmet meat. With the leaner, European style carcass, and the mild flavor, Icelandic lamb can appeal to the palate of even those consumers who avow they "just don't like lamb." With the combination of the economic and market advantages of grass fed farming, and with the appeal of the delicious flavor, the Icelandic breed is a natural for direct-to-consumer marketing.

So, here's the post, and link to the article. http://blog.wholefoodsmarket.com/2010/09/the-tender-story-of-icelandic-lamb/ There's a great video of Icelandic sheep in Icelandic. Now, I just hope that American consumers realize that they can buy FRESH, grass fed Icelandic lamb right here in America, from local farmers, and they won't have to pay those high WHOLE FOODS prices, either!