Re: [Blackbelly] FW: Source for mineral
Tractor Supply in my area has sheep minerals without copper. Onalee ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] Crippled new born -
I haven't had that exact problem but have had weak lambs with very stiff joints that wouldn't want to try to stand. We would work with them, moving the joints slowly until they would get full range of motion and also massaging the muscles of the back, hips and thighs and helping them stand up and walk until they got the stiffness out. We had one lamb we had to do this several times over a 2 day period, but he eventually got out of it and did fine. I didn't notice any softness of his head, though - probably not the exact same problem. Onalee ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] Any luck with electric fencing?
We use goat/sheep wire on the perimeter of the property but electric fence within the perimeter to make different pastures and keep them off our garden and yard. This works for MOST of the sheep but we have had some lambs that, even if doused with water, just went right under it. We even doused one with water and physically held his nose to the wire to make him scared of it and it didn't work. This was during the spring (our dry season) and he wanted into the green grass in the garden area and didn't care about the shock - didn't really even seem to notice it! It was ultimately 'cured' when he was sold! For the most part, though, they all respect it. Onalee ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] Don't be scammed
I had one of these emails not too long ago, they were very specific and wanted ewe lambs only. Then they told me they were somewhere in the mid-west, I'm in Florida. Right then that said this is a scam, the next email they started with the 'I'll send more money than the cost of the sheep . . . . My next email told them I was sold out, someone bought my whole herd that day. I didn't hear anything back again. But this one had very good English and some knowledge of sheep, so it was hard to determine that it was a scam until they said they were in the Mid-West. I sell 95% of my sheep from online contacts, so I can't ignore emails like that. But Carol is right, keep your guard up - if it's too good to be true, it usually is. Onalee ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] Dorper/Katahdin cross lambs available in FL
Hi, I know most everyone here has mainly the black belly sheep, but on the off chance that there are some like me that have other types as well, I thought I would post here as I have lots of dorper/katahdin cross lambs available. Below is the link to the photos of what I have at this time; I have more ewes due to lamb in the next couple of weeks, so it will continue to be updated as that happens. http://onaleeseeds.bizhosting.com/images/Sheep/sheepavailable.html I REALLY appreciate all the great info that comes from this list - thanks to everyone who posts! Onalee ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] Young Ram
Most of my ram lambs are trying to 'breed' before they are weaned from their mothers! They get really serious about it (and actually start to figure out what they are doing and who they should be after) at about 3-4 months. I usually don't keep them longer than that, though. I let my Ram stay with the herd all the time because of space - I don't have enough space to run a separate herd of wethers to stay with him and I don't think any sheep should be kept by themselves, they are a herd animal and need to be with others, in my opinion. I always HOPE for lambs to be BORN in about late Dec. to early January so they will be ready to sell for Easter; the market after Easter is dismal here. If I was able to time it (actually, it usually does work out this way anyway), that is when I would aim for. I'm sure there are plenty of other opinions on this subject . . . Onalee -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mishael Miller Sent: Thursday, October 12, 2006 2:33 AM To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Subject: [blackbelly] Young Ram Hi, Everybody, My tiny herd is doing really well, I can't believe how they blossomed with a little good feed and TLC. I am wondering about my ram, I don't know his exact age probably about 6-7 months old. I am wondering when he will show some interest in the ladies. I am a goat breeder and my buck of same age is coming into rut, do sheep mature slower than goats? Also the breeder I purchased from just let the young ewes run with the ram and get bred when able. Is this the norm? I have seperated him from the 2 ewes, so I can control when they are bred. One of the ewes is a lamb from this spring, the other is aged. I was thinking of breeding the older ewe for April-ish lambs and waiting to breeder the younger until she was a year old- What do you guys do? ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] Blackbelly Behavior Advice Needed
Mark is 100% right - something scared them in or near the pen - give them some time and patience, they should calm back down and come back in to eat. Definitely don't chase them, just let them come to you. Onalee ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] treats for lambs
Mine love COOKIES - I usually get cheap oatmeal cookies - they hear that bag rattle and there's no stopping them. It's the easiest way to move them from one pasture to another or get them to go where they don't want, just rattle the bag and here they come running! We also use cookies as a way to calm them and get them to trust us, we'll start by tossing a cookie to them, but eventually, they must come and take them out of our hands. Now all our sheep will come right up to us if they think there's a cookie to be had! Onalee -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Nancy Richardson Sent: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 12:14 PM To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Subject: [blackbelly] treats for lambs I don't know if anyone else feeds treats to there sheep or lambs . We have found that our sheep really enjoy bread but find that if lambs are not raised eating it with mom they don't usually take to it. But I have several bottle babies that have found that they love round nacho chips. Just the plain ones. They will hear the bag rattle and come running. One even likes a slice of banana! just a thought for some who like to give a little extra. Nancy ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] DE
I don't know if it's true or not, but many sites say the DE you buy for the pool filters doesn't work the same as the 'nursery' or food grade DE. It may just be hype from the people that want you to buy the expensive DE, I don't know. I have also read somewhere that DE does not hurt Earthworms as they have the ability to digest it - again, don't know if this is just hype or truth. Onalee -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Cecil Bearden Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 6:59 PM To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Subject: Re: [blackbelly] DE As I recall DE is used in swimming pool filters. I bought some 10 years ago to put around the house to kill the crickets. I think it was about $3 a bag back then.. Probably still have some sitting around in storage somewhere. It is an ingredient in flea powder... Cecil in OKla - Original Message - From: Julian Hale [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2006 5:01 PM Subject: Re: [blackbelly] DE At 07:27 PM 6/21/2006, you wrote: I think it would probably mean death to earthworms and dung beetles too. Maybe fly predators would be a solution worth considering. Barb Fly predators are $$$. DE is not harmful to earthworms, and I've found anecdotal evidence that it is not harmful to dung beetles, either. I've *got* to order some... http://www.dirtdoctor.com/forum/archive.php/o_t/t_2495/who-has-dung-beetles- on-his-her-property.html Julian ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] mosquitos and flies
We have bat boxes and the bats usually come in the spring but only stay here long enough to have babies, then they move on, I presume further north (we're in Florida). Bats are GREAT, but keep in mind, they don't just fly around your property - they travel many miles every night. Many bat boxes never have a bat in them - not sure how we got lucky with ours, but there are many bat boxes built by various Universities in FLA that have never seen their first bat . . .so it's kind of hit and miss with attracting them. I've also considered that cow 'curtain', but I don't know if these crazy blackbellies would walk through it or just jump over it! Onalee -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Christine Handley Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 2:20 PM To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Subject: Re: [blackbelly] mosquitos and flies Bat Boxes? Haven't tried them, but I hear they can consumme massive amounts of insects. - Original Message - From: Carol J. Elkins [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Sent: Saturday, June 17, 2006 10:14 AM Subject: [blackbelly] mosquitos and flies This year is one of the absolutely worst mosquito years I've experienced. I am held captive in my house because I can't dress for mosquitos and the 100-degree temps we're having at the same time. One requires head-to-toe coverage, the other requires near nakedness. I purchased an approved-for-dogs mosquito repellent for my dogs and am wiping their faces with it daily. But my poor sheep...they are almost insane (relatively speaking for a blackbelly) from the constant torment of these biting buggers. And West Nile is very prevalent in my area. Do any of you have a mosquito and fly prevention method that works for larger flocks? By this I mean I simply do not have time to wipe down 20 individual sheep heads every day or so. The sprays I've used in the past for barns don't work well and are useless when the sheep are on pasture. I've seen pictures of a set-up they use for cows where the cow walks through this curtain of cloth strips that have been impregnated with insecticide. I've been thinking of something like that, but would like to know more before I go to the trouble and expense setting it up. How effective is it? How does the sheep's hair handle the goop? Is the insecticide harmful to the sheep or does it contaminate the meat? If you're using a method that works, please share! Carol Carol Elkins Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz T-shirts, mugs, caps, and more at the Barbados Blackbelly Online Store http://www.cafepress.com/blackbellysheep ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] Manure
I wish you'd send those sprinkles my way! We've been 45 days with not one drop of rain and none in the forecast for at least 7 more days! Any small hope that I had that I could stop buying hay for the sheep has disappeared as quickly as the few blades of grass that were left on my pastures. This is getting ridiculous now! We also have water weenie sheep . . . but they haven't had that problem in a while! Onalee ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] lamb sucking technique
I find that often the ones that put their tongue sideways have a cold and can't smell and therefore are reluctant to suck. Can you hear any congestion in her lungs or does she have a runny nose? Although difficult to do, I generally try to give these a shot of gallimyacin (sp?) and continue to feed with a tube until they start feeling better (I don't tube down into their bellies, but put a short tube on a syringe and put the milk on the back of their tongue and make them swallow it). Also, hold your fingers on the side of their mouth to try to keep their tongue in straight. Some lambs like the harder nipples, not sure of the name, but they are the black 'goat/sheep' nipples that go on coke bottles that I get at the feed store, the really soft white nipples are hard to get in their mouths when they are fighting you, because they collapse so easily. I usually put a pretty big hole in them so the milk will flow out without much effort on the baby's part, this does tend to make a mess, I agree, but I try to make sure the baby is swallowing every so often so that at least SOMETHING is getting down them. After a couple of days they usually come around and start sucking once they can smell. Another thing I've done is give them a tiny bit of probios, this sometimes helps get them eating better. I always clean the milk mess off the baby with warm water after each feeding is all done to keep them from getting so sticky and messy. Onalee ___ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
