My plan is to raise sheep with as little inputs as possible. By “inputs” I mean things I buy at the store and feed or give to the animals. My thinking is as follows. In short: That’s about it. Treating sick sheep doesn’t make much sense to me, especially if I am just doctoring it… Continue reading On doctoring sheep
Author: Jonathan
2025 2/17-2/23 Week in Review
We had freezing temperatures. I try running the sheep and cows in leader-follower moves but run into a problem with water pressure. Monday 2/17 Some philosophical stuff. It looks like we have a real opportunity to fix our own family’s food supply, but it requires we take action. Tuesday 2/18 More philosophical stuff. What does… Continue reading 2025 2/17-2/23 Week in Review
2025 2/10-2/16 Week in Review
This week was cold and wet. I tried doing leader-follower but it was a disaster. I spent most of the week trying to repair the “damage” I caused. Monday 2/10 The dog feeder I built isn’t working. Sheep are still getting in. I am going back to the drawing board and will rework the design.… Continue reading 2025 2/10-2/16 Week in Review
2025 2/3-2/9 Week in Review
With the warm weather and the grass growing, it seems like spring is starting very early. Some people have reported seeing buds, but I don’t see any yet. It got up over 80 degrees on Friday, but then we got smashed with cold weather again. EWE 0015 passed. Now TX34045-0020 is sick, bone thin and… Continue reading 2025 2/3-2/9 Week in Review
Some interesting notes on training LGDs
Grazing With Leslie shares some wonderful notes on raising livestock guardian dogs. In the immediate future, I’m going to focus on these points: She also links to the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension on LGDs: https://sanangelo.tamu.edu/research/lgd/ This page has links to articles detailing how to build various devices to train the dogs not to chase animals… Continue reading Some interesting notes on training LGDs
Two tired puppies
These two guys followed me as I did my chores. Now they are pooped.
2025 1/27-2/2 Week in Review
Wednesday and Thursday we got over 4″ of rain, most of it coming on Thursday early AM. The field was soaked with standing water everywhere. EWE 0015 got swelling on her jaw, a sign of parasite overload. She also had stiff legs. She was weak but survived through Sunday. I was positive she was going… Continue reading 2025 1/27-2/2 Week in Review
I think the rams and the puppy like each other
I was counting dogs in the ram pen and I noticed one was missing. I think she likes the rams.
2025 1/20-1/26 Week in Review
Monday 1/20 I sold the calves and #24. Tuesday 1/21 Wednesday 1/22 I am going to keep the sheep in a row ahead of the cows. I’ll roll out hay for the sheep and the cows will eat the remnants. There’s no grass left anywhere for the sheep so I have to get them to… Continue reading 2025 1/20-1/26 Week in Review
2025 1/13-1/19 Week in Review
Monday 1/13 Training calves on cattle cubes. Tuesday 1/14 I cut my left hand butchering the dead ram. Wednesday 1/15 Thursday 1/16 Friday 1/17 Saturday 1/18 Sunday 1/19 Next week is going to be cold again.