[blackbelly] sex in the barnyard

[Patricia Edmundson]

I've been lurking behind the scenes for 8 months and have learned so 
much from all of your experiences. We have 3 American BB ewes and two 7 
month old ewe lambs. We are very new at this adventure having just moved 
back to CA a yr ago. I'm 70 yrs. old and just beginning to live my dream 
of having a hobby farm. We live in the 'gold country' of CA. above 
Auburn and Browns Valley; a little area called Rough and Ready. (I'm 
serious! It's as much of an attitude as a place.) The ground is very 
poor as the property was once Placer mined and all the soil washed away. 
We grow great rocks. We also raise Nigerian Dwarf Goats who 'run' with 
the sheep. (Don't tell them that they aren't related.) The sheep and 
goats love all the big out croppings of rocks and look so picturesque 
playing on and over the huge boulders. A good pasture is not easy to 
come by and we have to work at it to keep some of it green during our 
hot dry summers.

I just had to join in on the sex talk when it got to ewes mounting rams. 
 About a week ago I noticed that one of my ewes (who didn't lamb this 
year although was bred, we thought) was trying to mount my little goat 
who I thought was due to kid next month. Joyce, the ewe, wouldn't leave 
Sarah, the doe, alone. Then I noticed Joyce chasing Rose, a very 
pregnant doe, around the pasture trying to mount her.  We have no rams 
or bucks on the property. I first thought she was bothering Sarah 
because Sarah might have come into heat. But that doesn't explain her 
bothering Rose. This activity went off and on for several days and has 
since stopped. My final thought is that Joyce came into heat and just 
didn't know what to do with all those feelings. I have to admit it was a 
pretty funny sight as Joyce is a large Blackbelly and both Sarah and 
Rose are quite small.

Several times on the list there has been mention of using Pine needles 
as a means of worming. Both the sheep and goats love it when we cut a 
pine bough for them to dine on. Is there any official results known from 
feeding pine for worming? We have mostly oaks but there are a few pines 
on the property which we are willing to share with the sheep and goats.

Keep up the good job of educating us.

Pattie Edmundson
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