As a
vegetarian shepherd, I have two 'crops' – fleeces and breeding stock/fiber pets. Breeding stock has had supply chain issues for a number of years now, but this spring looks to break that trend. 😉
Last Sunday I prioritized breeding group maintenance. Round and waddling Bernadette looked like she would be more comfortable in a bigger coat, and Bridget's extremely woolly, wet and messy backside needed trimming. I figured while I was in there, I could evaluate all four of Spot's ladies, so I tied him up (he's a sucker for chin rubs so easy to catch and halter) and went to work. In addition to attending to Bernadette's and Bridget's needs, everyone got their toes trimmed and a photo session. (All fleece shots taken at last rib, mid-side.)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMV07DDhWItf6DxXNJBkWQag210b7_-v44pv1OltMdb1astPU6L3O9oxzFKzeZRbcPKS-gMo1zxSFn8Exll1xYngBjat8_TyfwRqHh9On1KpnuuAUV9cLGpHYgGhRZgGFxTo37BO5Ifl18TcvL3-vJWRRkf2sPEdBGwCm0ZKsmzgbMZyzdtg=w400-h303) |
Bernadette |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8RMaDbDr0ErkBM1LRJXrPOaQ3rdqhJp96oJj31i3Txqgd2rVoDyzm7uTw144atLrkBVGl9rRU7-rI9QbiEVbRmA72yZBWalgK6m-z61qweUJKOjdGajjXrHwCvM9ST4JwaPnjfcN26iQQKNFORJW9CR34PpOWMw_bcStaWXWBMGm0mC6naQ=w400-h334) |
Bernadette in a bigger coat |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQxl_WaMOdMpMh2HUYz5RuCJW77ith-EzhI37h-1pfmdeAuZ06wKvNdS9BnC41lAEMCrk8e4if1KX4H1RE2VufiIB6Pm15TyMzPNaYAuZ7gj8sWu9zIT0mmzliNLoPEF2kVzEjamMgO9SpRUQuJdMbov1HpCf13QoTFskj1bpCTd2e6PP8Pg=w400-h300) |
Bridget |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg7yXdtTVumJeW2WdHniLcEz6NWl_zh9eviRuvVt1k2rSB6x1lZ35dqxRsHU8i9b4iTjj1dg1FrrlenHYklQoo8JtR6ITMkERXR7lF91hl_fvgeW8cqRfJw71Z_XL8EsYP1qxNoByGLHIqCu-gN4YYgYgMwm0iVwilnCq9_yaWFcYytSmq_8g=w300-h400) |
Bridget's backside trimmed |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjwCprYYrSXQpYVl4ToWnyMuE1rRzXun_NeSbEuefZ98l7_DEEWYPoB4hxkDJ2zz2kxynmvMrhoZwDLe_H7w_EeP0YKaOvZfUZC-QSfh2mlmUsozzkeYzwwNPgZPrv2gfj4V9UhggV-eIKhj3bHhSo4-6qXs9-6EXjGTnb8hbnRhhvQ8Zquug=w400-h326) |
Blaise, head in bright sunlight |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhaL0CqmLyil-5FOdhdlZVk7yG0EywhOM158AEm9INPUSaLt7CpRbHZwTNXDXm-afZYvD3SymcmsmvqCikAdVFWuMpxPti_yFHDXH7Z3y_uHDnsGYFwuafa7roVc-oBtgVdtXAPRyDFfmz_56hWMimyJ6qHdRlKBNV6p6X_Ijr9r-iCknV6_Q=w400-h300) |
Bette |
I also bumped bellies and felt for udders. All lambies must have been napping because I could feel or see no movement. Only Bette has the barest beginnings of a bag and a slightly puffy vulva so she may well be the first to lamb, possibly in early March. Bernadette and Bridget look convincingly plump, but Blaise does not. 😕 Nothing to do, though, but wait and see! (Well, I could ask Rick to ultrasound them, or at least Blaise, but the less I say about the burgeoning of my flock, the better.)
I posted the four ewes' fleece shots to Instagram/Facebook, and someone asked if one of them was my ram. Oops, no; I hadn't thought to take a photo of his! So this morning I caught him and remedied that:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgkbzIyv7ZZ5HdNs13-1Wq5OKL7cl3zi2C67GoZGqJEB643zrApJbaLerWcTJnEvDz9shdwZx7ydT3bYLbt_ahIUO_PA2HSUgKp-OPFjILTM8v3Pg2qo-pmv_wvnvEMuK_eChv9D31kF5ONWT8maRSiOqfMF1g_xlOvvOrroRg1maZEQFvI2A=w275-h400) |
Spot's fleece |
He was sheared late the year I got him and his rise hit early last spring so his 2021 fleece was too short to sell. It sure is looking good this spring!
The harvest is promising at . . .