Sheep Chat Thread

[Penny Hen]

Thanks for sharing that, Penny Hen. It strikes a few chords with me. He sounds like a remarkable individual, sorry to hear of your loss (and his family's). He sounds like he packed a fair bit of living into his short lifetime. Certainly far more than some much older people I know.

Best wishes.

I think one of his best qualities was that even though he was OCD (Obsesive Compulsive Disorder) and invested lots of time into every facet of his sheep (there was no guessing when his sheep conceived, he knew practically to the hour) he never expected or was impatient with those of us who were not able to match him. He always left me feeling inspired not intimidated by his skill. I think that was his greatest gift.

 

[chooks4life]

That's interesting. Some of the most talented people I know have OCD. In its milder forms it's definitely something that gives people an edge, much like quite a few other disorders. It's great that he inspired people, too. It's pretty sad when you see someone who's talented or knowledgeable to an unusual degree, and they're quite egotistical about it. Humility is healthy in its own way, and the ability to teach is certainly a gift or talent of its own. I reckon just about anyone could learn just about anything if only they find the person who 'speaks their language' in terms of being able to couch the info in terms that they understand easily. It's not all about using simple little words at all. Of course, most of us never get such a teacher. Such is life, I guess. Best wishes.

 

[boogburr37]

Ive

...

One other thing you being from Ky.
In Louisville starting this weekend is N.A.I.L.E. - [COLOR=000000]North American International Livestock Exposition[/COLOR].  The sheep section doesn't beguin until November 15 - 22, 2013. If you can at all go GO!!!!!!
You will learn more than you ever dreamed. This is the "World Champion" of Sheep Shows. Everyone who is anyone in sheep showing will be there. Take a camera. If you have to camp in a tent at the nearest State Park and drive in to Louisville (because all the hotels are booked) DO IT! Many different breeds of sheep will be their.  Take a notebook to gather names and take notes. Furthermore people bring stock to sell too. The best from all over the country converges. If you already have the cash for your sheep set aside you will never get a better chance to get the best. If you don't have it ready then shop and see who wins and talk to them and get their information and see if you can come back next year and get something from them. People come from California, Oregon, Washington and Canada.

 
OK, I looked up the detailed schedule. Here is the date and times of the sheep sales. These are auctions I do believe, not private contract.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2013
10:00 a.m.      Stars of Louisville Shropshire Sale - East Hall
12:30 p.m.      Stars of Louisville Southdown Sale - East Hall
  2:00 p.m.      Stars of Louisville Dorper Sale - East Hall
  3:30 p.m.      North American International Suffolk Sale - East Hall
  5:30 p.m.      Maine Anjou Sale - South Wing
  6:00 p.m.      Stars of Louisville Tunis Sale - East Hall


Here is the times for the sheep shows including the Shropshires

SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2013
8:00 a.m.     Junior Breeding Sheep Show & Junior Supreme Champion Ewe Selection - South Wing
 

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2013
 
8:00 a.m.     National Southdown Show - South Wing
8:00 a.m.     National Oxford Show- South Wing
11:00 a.m.     National Maine Anjou & Maintainer Show - Coliseum
12:00 Noon    North American Corriedale Show - South Wing
2:00 p.m.     National Border Leicester Show - South Wing
3:30 p.m.     National Border Cheviot Show - South Wing
 
 
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2013
 
7:30 a.m. National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest - East Hall
 
8:00 a.m.     National Hampshire Show - South Wing
8:00 a.m.     North American International Tunis Show - South Wing
9:00 a.m.     NAILE Wool Show - South Wing Lobby
 
1:00 p.m.     All American Columbia Show - South Wing
3:00 p.m.     NAILE Dorper/White Dorper Show - South Wing
4:30 p.m.     E.H. Mattingly National Montadale Show - South Wing
 
 
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2013
 
8:00 a.m.     North American International Suffolk Show - South Wing
8:00 a.m.     National Polled Dorset & Horned Dorset Show -South Wing
 
5:00 p.m.     North American Cotswold Show - South Wing
5:00 p.m.     NAILE Shetland Sheep Show - South Wing
 
 
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2013
 
8:00 a.m.     North American International Suffolk Show - South Wing
8:00 a.m.     National Polled Dorset & Horned Dorset Show - South Wing
5:00 p.m.     North American Cotswold Show - South Wing
5:00 p.m.     NAILE Shetland Sheep Show - South Wing
 
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 2013
 
8:00 a.m.     National Shropshire Show - South Wing
8:00 a.m.     Regional Natural Colored Show - South Wing
12:00 Noon    National Lincoln Show - South Wing
  1:30 p.m.     Katahdin Show - South Wing
 

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2013

8:00 a.m.   Rambouillet Show - South Wing
8:00 a.m.   Romney Show - South Wing
11:00 a.m.    Selection of Supreme Champion (Sheep Show) -South Wing

Im actually going to be there anyways! Im showing a heifer so i'll just find time to go watch some sheep shows!

 

[AlienChick]

There were a lot of beautiful sheep at the NAILE.
I went on Thursday for the Katahdin show.
I enjoyed looking at all the different sheep breeds.

Someone posted this pic on FB; beautiful ewes!

 

[chooks4life]

Lovely! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Penny Hen]

I just had to post this shot of my senior ram and my mini horse Sterling. They are almost the same size and color.



When you shear Rusty he is the same shade as Sterling.

 

[chooks4life]

Lol, cute.

I'm in the process of getting some company for my sheep, so will post a pic or two when it's achieved.

 

[theuglyduckling]

merry christmas everyone. anyone have any baby ewes yet or any ewes expecting?

 

[chooks4life]

Oh, lol, forgot about this thread. Busy, busy...

Got a little companion for my sheep, a Merino-mix runt orphan, but she's a mangy, sickly little thing. Sweet nature but I fear her stuntedness is actually due to a dwarfism gene and perhaps will kill her young as it appears borderline severe. She's 6 months old but still walking around on legs and hooves the size of a newborn. Only her barrel, muzzle and urogenital area appear to have developed beyond birth size, and not at a normal rate either. But she's smart and seems like a good one, though she and my sheep haven't bonded.

My sheep didn't know what this new thing was. The new thing knew what Lucy was and tried to follow her, but Lucy ran, the lamb followed, Lucy smashed herself into various fences until restrained. Lost a horn and gashed the other, as well as gashed her chest, but seems well on the way to recovery. Had to put the lamb on a collar and tether while they get used to each other. So far so good, they have bonded over lucerne, and Lucy's still occasionally spooking away from the lamb but no longer to the point of trying to go through fences.

Biggest issue with them right now is my dog. He's got designs on this lamb even though he's good with the other sheep. So, more work to do. He's never seen a wool sheep and obviously a wool sheep and a hair sheep are not the same creature in his mind.

 

[theuglyduckling]

Oh, lol, forgot about this thread. Busy, busy...

Got a little companion for my sheep, a Merino-mix runt orphan, but she's a mangy, sickly little thing. Sweet nature but I fear her stuntedness is actually due to a dwarfism gene and perhaps will kill her young as it appears borderline severe. She's 6 months old but still walking around on legs and hooves the size of a newborn. Only her barrel, muzzle and urogenital area appear to have developed beyond birth size, and not at a normal rate either. But she's smart and seems like a good one, though she and my sheep haven't bonded.

My sheep didn't know what this new thing was. The new thing knew what Lucy was and tried to follow her, but Lucy ran, the lamb followed, Lucy smashed herself into various fences until restrained. Lost a horn and gashed the other, as well as gashed her chest, but seems well on the way to recovery. Had to put the lamb on a collar and tether while they get used to each other. So far so good, they have bonded over lucerne, and Lucy's still occasionally spooking away from the lamb but no longer to the point of trying to go through fences.

Biggest issue with them right now is my dog. He's got designs on this lamb even though he's good with the other sheep. So, more work to do. He's never seen a wool sheep and obviously a wool sheep and a hair sheep are not the same creature in his mind.

aw i hope she gets better hopefully nothing happens to her. hm thats kinda weird that she was that scared of another sheep. mine just walked right up to each other and then just started eating grass like if they new each other, but that good that they are bonding now. kinda funny about your dog youd think even the scent would make him know its a sheep haha.