Re: [blackbelly] looking for a fly repellent method
When we began with our ABs, we had some worm (tape and round) and fly problems. We fed grain and the girls would paw at it, kicking some of it out onto the ground. Therefore, we also had, what we call meal-worms, they come from the corn. Now, the girls would not eat these, but they just looked gross crawling on the ground. So, I began to do some reading on this worm, meal-worm, and fly problem. In one of my OLD farm husbandary books (dated 1892) one of the solutions to worm and insect problems was to get a bunch of chickens. So in Feb. this year, I ordered 100 mixed breed chicken (the cheapest thing I could find --32.79 tax and shipping incl.) and turned them in with my girls. Guess what-NO problems with meal-worms, because they scratch under the feeders for spilled out grain. The worm problem reduced 80%. Only 3 cases of bottle jaw all summer. Flys?I have not even treated the girls AT ALL this year, and they are not tormented like they were last year. I read the post yesterday about the fly predators. I agree, a little expensive---but an option, none the less. But, I'll stick to chickens. Other than the ititail cost, the only other cost was a 100 lb bag of starter (12.96) and a bottle of wormer (5.73). We do not feed themthey scratch for it!! PLUS, now I'm getting 2 dozen eggs a day, to eat or sell. As my Papaw would have said Pretty good trade . And, they are nice to watch!! So, if you have the opportunity and space for some free-range chickens..you might want to give it a try. Stephanie YesterYear Farm - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Monday, August 15, 2005 6:28 PM Subject: Re: [blackbelly] looking for a fly repellent method you need lots of roosters. we keep 35-40 around the horse barn and have very few bugs period. oh did i mention we don't feed those roos, they've got to scratch for a living. sue ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] looking for a fly repellent method
I have free range chickens and ducks with my sheep and it works great. I would have major fly/insect problems if they weren't around. If the dog food gets wet and goes bad I feed it to the chickens to prevent maggots. All the left over food I cannot feed to the dogs goes to the chickens, they're like mini garbage disposals. Chickens will eat anything! Britt - Original Message - From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, August 16, 2005 9:21 AM Subject: Re: [blackbelly] looking for a fly repellent method In a message dated 8/16/05 9:02:02 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: So, if you have the opportunity and space for some free-range chickens..you might want to give it a try. I had already thought about adding chickens(meat) in with the sheep. :-) Mine are about 3 weeks old. Once they are big enough that the hawks won't take them, they'll be living with the sheep for bug control. I'm also debating on letting the ducks out, great bug hunter, especially my Welsh Harlequins. Diana ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] Weaning question
I tried going natural this year to see what the ewes would do naturally. The ewes have started cutting the feedings back recently; these lambs were born at the end of Feb. and one mid- April. Those babies are nearly as big as their moms! Lifting the ewes hindquarters up while they suckle. My questions ... How long do lambs need to be penned up before returning to the flock? How long before the ewes stop lactating? Diana ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] More on Roundup
In a message dated 8/14/05 10:03:22 AM Eastern Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: I read a report of some research done at Texas AM ( I think) about using Vinegar to control weeds. It had some success on a lot of weedy plants. It also would be OK to use for organic farms... Vinegar is pretty cheap compared to a lot of the herbicides. Cecil, Vinegar works. I have used it in a spray bottle. Pure, undiluted, however it doesn't last very long. The Top surface of the plants die, but since the root system isn't affected it comes right back. Diana ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] Lambing Time- Was Thank you
Hi Karen, Barb Lee in W. Oregon here. Everyone's got different reasons for lambing at different times, and that's the nice thing about the polyestrous blackbellies! :o) I'm working my program toward a good grass finishing model, and one of the prime ingredients for tender, succulent lamb is to harvest when they're really on the gain. The best grasses for that are the spring/early summer grasses. Since it takes so long to grow out a blackbelly, I am timing my future breedings for Sept/October, so we can harvest at the end of June, when the grass has pretty well peaked and before it needs a rest during summer dormancy. Fall is mild here, we usually get good rain to pop the fall grasses for the ewes and lambs, the babes will be big and strong going into winter, and they're ready to really make use of the spring flush, nibbling those 20% protein/dry weight grass tips. We harvest in late June to depopulate the pasture and take the pressure off. Getting nitrogen on the grass now would be a good thing for fall growth, if I could bring myself to do it, but waiting for the legumes to recover in the pasture to eventually rely on that. Anyway, if our first spring/early summer finished lamb was any indicator, it's going to be hard to improve the program. Barb ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] Thank you
Karen, I am not feeding hay at this time, because there's still enough grass in my pasture not to stress it by overgrazing with my small number of sheep. When I weaned, my two remaining adult ewes needed to put on some condition (one raised twins, the other triplets, unassisted), so after the weaning phase I accustomed the flock to alfalfa pellets, which are scarcely any more expensive than good baled alfalfa here, and there is no waste (expect about 20% waste with alfalfa hay, which is painful at $12 a bale). They relish it now, as they do beet pulp pellets, and I give them 1/4 lb mixed grain and 1/2 lb pellets to supplement the poor nutrition in the grass. They also get free choice kelp, salt and sheep minerals. The ewes regained their condition in no time, and the lambs are sleek and beautiful, nobody is fat, nobody is thin. I MUST do more research on beet pulp, because it is being studied as an alternative to grain for grass finishing, and it has nutritional value similar to oats, at about 9% protein. It is low on the glycemic index, which means it doesn't spike the blood sugar like oats. They like it quite well! All the literature says to feed them as cheaply as possible according to their life cycle, but other literature says the animals will do have a longer productive life if kept in good shape throughout their lives. I'm one of those that can't scrimp on feed at any point, but everyone must tailor their feeding program to their circumstances, and to the eye of the master. Regards, Barb L. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] Beet Pulp/Dayna
Dayna, you should be able to obtain beet pulp, either as pellets or crumbles, at just about any feed store - they are an important horse feed, particularly for endurance horses. My horses eat a mash of soaked beet pulp and various supplements every day and are quite fond of it. I am attaching a link to a very good work on beet pulp. Though it is targeted at the horse owner, it will give you some insight into its nutritional value. Also, be sure to read the squirrel story on this site! Barb ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] sheep carriers
Depending on the size and number of sheep you purchase, you might consider getting an extra-large dog crate (~$70 from Petsmart; sometimes available used in the classifieds) and putting it in the back of a pickup truck. That's how I move most of my sheep unless I have more than 4. Carol At 04:14 PM 8/16/2005 -0700, you wrote: We don't have a trailer at this time so if the person, as local as possible, has a trailer, we would need them to transport them. 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-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] looking for a fly repellent method
How do you keep the chickens from getting in the sheep's feeders and 1. leaving droppings in them and 2. eating the sheep feed while you are feeding your sheep? Not really sure how chickens control flies, however, if the flies are breeding elsewhere (like at your neighbors). We have one neighbor who has lots of free range chickens and guinea hens, they have also tons of flies - why? Because across the street the other neighbors spray truck loads of chicken manure on the pastures every single day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year and 5 - 10 times a day. The flies breed there - so the chickens (which I assume control flies by spreading the manure and eating any maggots?) really don't help much. Onalee ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] Kelp
There is a breeder listed on the BBASI breeder list in Scott Bar. Go to http://www.blackbellysheep.org/breeders.htm to see his listing. Do you or a friend have a pickup with a canopy/shell? Put down a good layer of straw or something else soft, and load them into the back of the truck. I haven't transported any sheep this way, but I've done goats and it works well. Also, as Carol said, dog crates in the back of a truck or utility trailer works well too. Julian At 04:14 PM 8/16/2005, you wrote: I am trying to find about 3 more American BB ewes, reasonably priced in Northern California, near Redding. I would like 2 years old or younger. Trying to get the herd built up a little, enough so that as we sell the lambs, we can use that money to buy their feed. We enjoy the animals, but need them to be at least partly self-supporting. We don't have a trailer at this time so if the person, as local as possible, has a trailer, we would need them to transport them. Julie Riha [EMAIL PROTECTED] ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] Report Card
Have been passing out some samples of this remarkable harvest of blackbelly lamb - Bob gave some to a retired Greek restauranteur from Chicago and the report came in today...he declared it was the sweetest lamb he ever tasted! :o) He had guests for dinner and passed out samples of the chops, they were asking where he got them! We have a really special thing here folks, we need to begin valuing it as such ourselves and elevating it to to the gourmet status that it deserves! Barb L. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
