Gary*

Wether
DOB Jan 2005
Colour Noire Brunissante

This is Gary the lamb, hand reared by Patrick from the age of one week.
As a hand reared or cade lamb, hes very friendly, a little too friendly at times! Gary is our resident wether, adored by everyone, hes good with the girls and gentle with the lambs. He is also the Grandaddy of the current line. Photos of Gary as a youngster courtesy of Joe, Lesley and Patrick


Pictured here at the age of two and a half years meeting and greeting one of our visitors. Photos

Shearing your Ouessant Sheep*

Yours truly shearing one of the Ouessant girls . Now I don't get any marks for technique but shearing your sheep is important and necessary. Lambs don't need to be trimmed in their first year but come the begining of the second year May June is a good time although I have been known to start in April you should arrange for them to be sheared or look at doing them yourself not as hard as it sounds but beware if you didn't have a bad back to start with it won't be long...............

Here I am actually using an old pair of dog clippers oster A5 's to be exact and I have a number 15 blade on although a 10 would do just as nicely. Its a good time to do a routine maintenance check so as well as checking teeth and ears and getting a good look at whats going on under the fleece, you will be able to do their feet and worm if its in part of your programme.

I keep the fleece for hand spinners, so like to do a tidy job not to mention I get a certain amount of satisfaction out of it. Getting a shearer in needn't be expensive depending on the number of sheep you have but if you have just a couple you may need to take them to a friend and get a decent number done to make the cost of shearing economical.

Here is the finshed article.

Its arrived!*

I sent Dumplings fleece to the US. I heard this morning it has arrived and its new owner has fallen in love. great news! and I am so looking forward to hearing more . Next to be shorn will be Prima probably and she is also a first shear. I have ear marked her fleece ( if its as good as it looks) to a lovely lady in France who is really looking forward to spinning a Ouessant fleece. I will have one or two more to find homes for in the coming weeks. The youngsters born this year are already fascinating with what appears to be two types of fleece from the different lines. I can't wait to see how they grow. watch this space for photos of Primas fleece in the next week or so.

Baby Beau

He doesn't need a bottle his mum looks after him perfectly well but its all part of the fun of keeping sheep.

Local talent

I came across this fella today, rather handsome Ouessant ram isn't he.

and finally

The birth of Mugettes long awaited baby and a little too late for May day but whose counting. Guiness a nice ram lamb was born without any fuss on friday morning. I'll see if I can get some pics a little later on. Since all the babies have been born and no one is in danger of Dumpling presuming anyone to be on heat I have put everyone back together. Peace and tranquility is restored. Both Dumpling and Gary are good with the lambs , well they don't bother with them and the lambs are far too busy charging around and generally behaving like little hoodlums to take much notice.

We've had quite a number of visitors in the past week and everyone has ooed and aaahed over the babies and of course Gary whose charm and amiable personality wins everyone over. I really must find a pic of him too.

Another bit of good news the fleece has finally arrived in the US initial reports are GOOD! I can't wait for all the detail. Its so exciting being able to share the sheep with other people.