[Blackbelly] ABB rams
Hi all, I"m not sure if we can post this kind of message here, so if not, I apologize. I have two very nice, well bred, registered ABB rams that I would like to sell or trade for an unrelated ram (one on one). If anyone is interested please email me privately. Best Wishes, Jann Mountain Ridge Ranch and KayaKyi Kennels American Blackbelly Sheep Tibetan Mastiffs PBGVs and GBGVs mrr.mysite.com https://www.facebook.com/KayakyiPBGVsAndGBGVs AKC Breeder of Merit -Original Message- From: Rick Krach To: blackbelly Blackbelly List Sent: Mon, Aug 25, 2014 11:17 pm Subject: [Blackbelly] Barn siding/building material David, I have corrugated steel siding on my current, antique barn and it is all smashed in. I have no steel rails, however. Nearly 100% of all barns are made of wood; I've never seen anything else, and that's why I'm asking what most of you do about rams butting into your walls and wearing them down. Any more suggestions? I can imagine the lower 3 feet made with cement blocks, but I don't think that'll look good and I've seen no barns like that either. My barn was originally build with the beautiful, inch thick barn-wood planks which were replaced with corrugated steel as they wore out. Now the steel panels are smashed, too. Rick Krach in Auburn, CA -- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 20:24:17 -0700 From: Rick Krach To: blackbelly Blackbelly List Subject: [Blackbelly] barn siding/building material Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I'm beginning the process of refurbishing a 70 year old barn whose walls have been destroyed in recent years by my American Blackbelly rams. ?I need to know what kind of material, wall thickness, and building construction has worked for the others of you for your barns? ?All my sheep, 6 adults (1ram) and each year's lambs live in this barn during cold and rainy times.? Rick Krach in Auburn, CA? -- Message: 2 Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 23:39:37 -0400 From: David Sussman To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] barn siding/building material Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Steel siding on 2" steel rails works for us... ___ 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] Barn siding/building material
My barns are the prefab metal over plywood. They hold up fine to the mashing. They do however, mar it so I put up plywood panels on the lower half. They have a little give as they are attached to the frame and stick out from the wall itself a quarter inch. I find this very satisfactory. My one barn that is corrugated on the outside is going to get smashed so I put goat panels along the outside to keep them off the metal itself. Best Wishes, Jann Mountain Ridge Ranch and KayaKyi Kennels American Blackbelly Sheep Tibetan Mastiffs PBGVs and GBGVs mrr.mysite.com https://www.facebook.com/KayakyiPBGVsAndGBGVs AKC Breeder of Merit -Original Message- From: Rick Krach To: blackbelly Blackbelly List Sent: Mon, Aug 25, 2014 11:17 pm Subject: [Blackbelly] Barn siding/building material David, I have corrugated steel siding on my current, antique barn and it is all smashed in. I have no steel rails, however. Nearly 100% of all barns are made of wood; I've never seen anything else, and that's why I'm asking what most of you do about rams butting into your walls and wearing them down. Any more suggestions? I can imagine the lower 3 feet made with cement blocks, but I don't think that'll look good and I've seen no barns like that either. My barn was originally build with the beautiful, inch thick barn-wood planks which were replaced with corrugated steel as they wore out. Now the steel panels are smashed, too. Rick Krach in Auburn, CA -- Message: 1 Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 20:24:17 -0700 From: Rick Krach To: blackbelly Blackbelly List Subject: [Blackbelly] barn siding/building material Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" I'm beginning the process of refurbishing a 70 year old barn whose walls have been destroyed in recent years by my American Blackbelly rams. ?I need to know what kind of material, wall thickness, and building construction has worked for the others of you for your barns? ?All my sheep, 6 adults (1ram) and each year's lambs live in this barn during cold and rainy times.? Rick Krach in Auburn, CA? -- Message: 2 Date: Sat, 23 Aug 2014 23:39:37 -0400 From: David Sussman To: blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] barn siding/building material Message-ID: Content-Type: text/plain; charset=UTF-8 Steel siding on 2" steel rails works for us... ___ 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] Results of my old sheep experiment
Good to know. Thanks. Best Wishes, Jann Mountain Ridge Ranch and KayaKyi Kennels American Blackbelly Sheep Tibetan Mastiffs PBGVs and GBGVs mrr.mysite.com https://www.facebook.com/KayakyiPBGVsAndGBGVs AKC Breeder of Merit -Original Message- From: Carol Elkins To: blackbelly_consortium ; blackbelly Sent: Sun, Jun 29, 2014 1:49 pm Subject: [Blackbelly] Results of my old sheep experiment I decided to butcher my old ewe Troublesome as soon as she weaned the one triplet that she was able to nurse. After two years of bottle lambs, her half udder was no longer something I was willing to deal with. Troublesome was 11 years old. As an experiment, I decided to have all of her meat turned into ground mutton. I figured worse case, if it tasted bad, I could give it to the dogs. Troublesome weighed about 100 lb. (I didn't get a live weight on her because with her udder I couldn't get her into the weighing sling.) I got 25 lb of ground mutton off her carcass, which is 25% yield. One can expect a 50% yield when bones are left in the cuts, and I wasn't sure what to expect with all ground. The butcher told me that although she was very lean (as all BB sheep are), there was enough fat on her so that he didn't need to add any pork or beef fat to make a good ground meat. Her meat is just marvelous. I would never know that I was eating 11-year-old mutton. Being ground eliminated any possibility of toughness. So now I know that I can slaughter for table any BB sheep, regardless of age. Thought this information might be useful to the rest of you. Carol Carol Elkins Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz ___ 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] Results of my old sheep experiment
Best Wishes, Jann Mountain Ridge Ranch and KayaKyi Kennels American Blackbelly Sheep Tibetan Mastiffs PBGVs and GBGVs mrr.mysite.com https://www.facebook.com/KayakyiPBGVsAndGBGVs AKC Breeder of Merit -Original Message- From: Carol Elkins To: blackbelly_consortium ; blackbelly Sent: Sun, Jun 29, 2014 1:49 pm Subject: [Blackbelly] Results of my old sheep experiment I decided to butcher my old ewe Troublesome as soon as she weaned the one triplet that she was able to nurse. After two years of bottle lambs, her half udder was no longer something I was willing to deal with. Troublesome was 11 years old. As an experiment, I decided to have all of her meat turned into ground mutton. I figured worse case, if it tasted bad, I could give it to the dogs. Troublesome weighed about 100 lb. (I didn't get a live weight on her because with her udder I couldn't get her into the weighing sling.) I got 25 lb of ground mutton off her carcass, which is 25% yield. One can expect a 50% yield when bones are left in the cuts, and I wasn't sure what to expect with all ground. The butcher told me that although she was very lean (as all BB sheep are), there was enough fat on her so that he didn't need to add any pork or beef fat to make a good ground meat. Her meat is just marvelous. I would never know that I was eating 11-year-old mutton. Being ground eliminated any possibility of toughness. So now I know that I can slaughter for table any BB sheep, regardless of age. Thought this information might be useful to the rest of you. Carol Carol Elkins Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep (no shear, no dock, no fuss) Pueblo, Colorado http://www.critterhaven.biz ___ 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] New mother pawing the ground
This was my first year of lambing so I don't have much experience. But most of my ewes pawed the ground quite a bit for the first few days after lambing. I don't think sheep eat the placenta. At least none of mine did, and everyone seems healthy and fine now. Best Wishes, Jann Mountain Ridge Ranch and KayaKyi Kennels American Blackbelly Sheep Tibetan Mastiffs PBGVs and GBGVs mrr.mysite.com https://www.facebook.com/KayakyiPBGVsAndGBGVs AKC Breeder of Merit -Original Message- From: David Sussman To: blackbelly Sent: Wed, May 14, 2014 8:15 am Subject: [Blackbelly] New mother pawing the ground We have a new mother ewe, her first time, who just gave birth to two males this morning. Throughout the day we have noticed her continuing to paw at the ground like she had been doing in the previous days, but from what we've read it is unusual for it to continue after birth. This is her first experience so it's possible that she is just nervous (she is normally very personable) but we are a bit concerned about a third (possibly stillborn?) lamb in her. I have been checking for the placenta but haven't seen it (she may have eaten in when I wasn't around) so it's possible that she's still waiting to pass it and that is causing her behavior. To clarify, she has been penned with her two lambs with ample straw and generally digs at the hard dirt below the straw as opposed to the straw itself. At what point should we start to be concerned? We've had about a dozen births here so far but nothing quite like this. We appreciate the help. David Sussman Sebastopol, CA ___ 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] Anti coyote fence ideas
Yes, I just cut a slit in the pipe lengthwise and slid it over the top rail or the top of the wire mesh fence. It works even better if you can suspend it just above the fence top where it can roll, but you have to make sure it can't be pushed up and the animal climb underneath it. Best Wishes, Jann Mountain Ridge Ranch and KayaKyi Kennels American Blackbelly Sheep Tibetan Mastiffs PBGVs and GBGVs mrr.mysite.com https://www.facebook.com/KayakyiPBGVsAndGBGVs AKC Breeder of Merit -Original Message- From: elaine_wilson To: Blackbelly Newsletter ; mtnrdgrnch Sent: Sun, May 11, 2014 6:15 pm Subject: Re: Anti coyote fence ideas Hi Jann, Yes, would love for you to further elaborate on the 4" pvc pipe on the top of the fence. Did you just cut a slit in one side and just slide it over the top horizontal? Did you do anything to secure it further? Elaine Message: 2 Date: Sun, 4 May 2014 12:21:47 -0600 From: Jann Bach To: "blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info" Cc: "blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info" Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] Anti coyote fence ideas Message-ID: <39787586-218a-4c26-b081-857d77bc6...@aol.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii I put a 4" pvc pipe on the top of the fence. Makes it nearly impossible to scale as they have no traction to grab the top of the fence. I can further elaborate if anyone is interested. Jann --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
Re: [Blackbelly] Breeding
Mark, that's also how I plan to do mine. I have 5 lambs so far from 3 mothers. I have 3 yet to go, but none will be bred back until the fall for April/May lambs. Once a year and I don't plan to breed the lamb ewes until they are about a year and a half. This year I have 3 yearlings due to lamb and I really think they are too young to be having babies. I know there are arguments both ways but this is what I plan to do. Best Wishes, Jann Mountain Ridge Ranch and KayaKyi Kennels American Blackbelly Sheep Tibetan Mastiffs PBGVs and GBGVs mrr.mysite.com https://www.facebook.com/KayakyiPBGVsAndGBGVs AKC Breeder of Merit -Original Message- From: Mark Wintermute To: blackbelly Sent: Mon, Apr 7, 2014 6:37 pm Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] Breeding Hi Tiana, We breed for late April and May lambings. The girls are willing to breed back as fast as two weeks but we do not allow it. We also have stopped breeding ewe lambs (less than 1 year old). We prefer to let our girls mature to lamb at two years of age. I know they are willing to have lambs at one year of age but we have lost to many moms and babies when the ewe is young. The late spring lambing allows the ewes to raise their lambs on pasture (provided it rains). We are aiming for twins and triplets once a year. Mark Wintermute -Original Message- Subject: [Blackbelly] Breeding I'm curious what is everyone's breeding schedule? Do you only breed once a year or do you try and get more lambing's from your ewes? (Lets assume your ewes condition is good) Just curious the pro's and con's to both ways. Thanks, Tiana ___ 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] Ram with large head wound
I have those in my pastures as well. They are wonderful when the animals are shedding as they feel really good to scratch against and get that old coat out. Best Wishes, Jann Mountain Ridge Ranch and KayaKyi Kennels American Blackbelly Sheep Tibetan Mastiffs PBGVs and GBGVs mrr.mysite.com https://www.facebook.com/KayakyiPBGVsAndGBGVs AKC Breeder of Merit -Original Message- From: Michael Smith To: blackbelly Sent: Sat, Jan 25, 2014 1:09 pm Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] Ram with large head wound Thats a great idea! I'll look into it. There is a very large local construction job where they sweep the street every day and I'm sure they must have something to throw away Michael, Perino Ranch Blackbellies On Jan 24, 2014, at 1:15 PM, Tiana Franklin wrote: Hi Michael, I'm sorry to see Harpo is having problems. Hopefully you can figure out what he is doing to cause the wound. I thought I would let you know what I have done to help keep my ram from scratching on fence posts and other things. I called my local street swiping company and asked them to save me a couple of there old used brushes then I just put them on a post in the field. My ram absolutely loves them. The bristles are tough so he can really rub his horns all over and get a good scratch. Since installing these last year I have not seen using anything other than them. Tiana On Fri, Jan 24, 2014 at 10:51 AM, Michael Smith wrote: is he scraping his head on the wood posts? He had a smaller wound in the same place a couple weeks ago and it had started healing. The other rams often get a small scraed off area with no hair on the back of their heads in the same place, but nothing this severe. http://mwsmith.smugmug.com/Animals/HarpoHeadWound/36261505_2tbbsv#!i=3039888936&k=2sXXdFM I have a few of these fence studs that stick out (pictured), but they show no signs of rubbing. Still covered with rust and no signs of hair or even, being polished down. the concrete pile could be a culprit, but honestly, they hate it and I never see them spend any time there. I looked it over and saw no real signs of rubbing. hoping the local birds have not found a taste for sheep flesh, like some nasty parrot breeds have been known to do. -Michael, Perino Ranch Blackbellies. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info -- Tiana Franklin ___ 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] New to list
I do hope so. Though I would really prefer a bit later in the year. Like March or April :-) They were with a ram before I got them so I would imagine I will be having lambs sometime early next year. I am so looking forward to it. We had kids this year and they were a real joy. Best Wishes, Jann KayaKyi Kennels PBGVs and GBGVs Tibetan-mastiff.us https://www.facebook.com/KayakyiPBGVsAndGBGVs AKC Breeder of Merit -Original Message- From: Michael Smith To: blackbelly Sent: Sun, Nov 24, 2013 3:08 pm Subject: Re: [Blackbelly] New to list BTW: keep an eye on your emails in Jan-April. This list lights up with all sorts of lambing stories and issues. If you have been keeping rams with your ewes, you'll likely have some too... -MIchael, Perino Ranch Blackbellies Sent from my iPad On Nov 22, 2013, at 2:52 PM, Jann Bach wrote: Thanks Mike and Michael :-) Jann Sent from my iPhone On Nov 22, 2013, at 2:07 PM, Mike Hummel wrote: Hi Jann, and welcome. Here is some of the best advice you will get, at least IMHO. Go to a sheep equipment supply website and find a sheep sorting gate. Build a chute, sorting gate on one end some other gate on the other. Life becomes far more simple. Mike On 11/22/2013 3:24 PM, mtnrdgr...@aol.com wrote: Hi List I am new to the list and new to sheep husbandry. I just got (arrived on Wed) a small flock of ten American Blackbelly Sheep and I live in Fountain, CO. I look forward to learning a lot about my new flock of sheep. I spent the morning separating my young rams from the main flock and found that there is a lot I don't know. I thought I would share my thoughts on some of it. I bet you have all been at this point and can appreciate my position. Any and all input or suggestions are more than welcome :-) Things I didn't know - Lesson #1 When one sheep runs, they all run. Lesson #2 Calm quiet sheep in a small confined area, all getting along well, suddenly become independent testosterone filled hellions once liberated. Lesson #3 When not confined, boy sheep fight. With everyone. And if it isn't enough to fight with the other boys and the girls a wooden box will do just fine. Lesson#4 It is not easy to separate sheep. I have a new admiration for sheep dogs. Lesson #5 No makeshift barrier is too tough for a sheep to tear down if he is determined enough. Lesson #6 See lesson #1. It is the true meaning of life. Lesson #7 If one sheep comes, they all come. Lesson #8 One person is almost too few to separate 3 sheep from the flock. Lesson #9 A portable panel is worth two humans. Lesson #10 I can out-muscle three young rams, but not by much. Lesson #11 Sometimes an open door is much scarier than being squished in a very small space. Lesson #12 When sheep are really worried, they lie down. Lesson #13 I cannot move a reclining sheep. Lesson #14 In retrospect I now understand why shepherds have "crooks". Lesson #15 Patience is a virtue. lesson #16 It takes about two hours to separate three rams from the flock of 10 and get them into a stall on the other side of the barn. Lesson #17 This is still easier than the Yaks! Lesson #18 I need a really good breakfast. I think lamb chops are on the menu. Jann ___ 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 ___ 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] New to Sheep
Thanks Donna-Marie, I appreciate the input. Most of my fencing has been tested by the goats, but I tried putting up something makeshift to separate the boys until I could figure out what to do with them. They took it down pretty easily :-) For their paddocks I have some close railed pipe corrals in most areas, and wire mesh fencing elsewhere. I agree that cattle panels work very well. I think I have them pretty well confined now. At least until they prove me wrong :-) The problem I was having is that while they tried to come with me for food, invariably one of the boys would start butting everyone and they all got distracted and took off. Now they come to me, eat out of my hand, and follow me everywhere. Life is much better now that all but one of the boys are elsewhere. Do most of you keep your young rams in bachelor flocks, rather than with the girls? I guess in a normal flock the dominant male would keep the young boys in line, but all of my rams are youngsters, so they have no adult supervision and discipline. Jann ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] Tumbleweeds
I have a question for the list. My new sheep love tumbleweeds. Is that ok for them to eat? Jann ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
[Blackbelly] New to list
Hi List I am new to the list and new to sheep husbandry. I just got (arrived on Wed) a small flock of ten American Blackbelly Sheep and I live in Fountain, CO. I look forward to learning a lot about my new flock of sheep. I spent the morning separating my young rams from the main flock and found that there is a lot I don't know. I thought I would share my thoughts on some of it. I bet you have all been at this point and can appreciate my position. Any and all input or suggestions are more than welcome :-) Things I didn't know - Lesson #1 When one sheep runs, they all run. Lesson #2 Calm quiet sheep in a small confined area, all getting along well, suddenly become independent testosterone filled hellions once liberated. Lesson #3 When not confined, boy sheep fight. With everyone. And if it isn't enough to fight with the other boys and the girls a wooden box will do just fine. Lesson#4 It is not easy to separate sheep. I have a new admiration for sheep dogs. Lesson #5 No makeshift barrier is too tough for a sheep to tear down if he is determined enough. Lesson #6 See lesson #1. It is the true meaning of life. Lesson #7 If one sheep comes, they all come. Lesson #8 One person is almost too few to separate 3 sheep from the flock. Lesson #9 A portable panel is worth two humans. Lesson #10 I can out-muscle three young rams, but not by much. Lesson #11 Sometimes an open door is much scarier than being squished in a very small space. Lesson #12 When sheep are really worried, they lie down. Lesson #13 I cannot move a reclining sheep. Lesson #14 In retrospect I now understand why shepherds have "crooks". Lesson #15 Patience is a virtue. lesson #16 It takes about two hours to separate three rams from the flock of 10 and get them into a stall on the other side of the barn. Lesson #17 This is still easier than the Yaks! Lesson #18 I need a really good breakfast. I think lamb chops are on the menu. Jann ___ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
