New Shepherds Information Center

 

Here are articles about sheep health, buying your first flock, lambing, and wool handling.

 

 

Icelandic Sheep

Icelandic Sheep: a breed for the new millennium   One of the world’s oldest and purest breeds of sheep, the Icelandic sheep have been the only sheep raised in Iceland for over 1000 years. Now, they are rapidly gaining popularity …

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Bringing New Sheep Home

Bringing New Sheep Home   You have just bought your first sheep…or, maybe you have a flock of sheep and now it’s time to add some new and different sheep. Here are a few tips to make the transition easier …

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The Healthy Flock

The Healthy Flock   Here at Frelsi Farm we innoculate our sheep against rabies, they get an annual CDT (Clostridial Disease and Tetanus), they are OPP (Ovine Progressive Pneumonia) tested each year. We deworm our sheep on a regular basis. …

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Budgeting and Building

Your Icelandic Sheep: Budgeting and Building a Flock   Frelsi Farm sells sheep to first time flocks in pairs (or more) only. Sheep are flocking animals, and they must have a companion. So for the same reason we don’t sell …

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Flock on a Shoestring

Your Icelandic Sheep: Flock on a Shoestring   How do you build your flock if your farm budget is a little tight? Time, you’ll find, is the friend of a farm on a shoestring. You’d be amazed what a little …

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A Shepherd’s Glossary

A Shepherd’s Glossary of Terms   Everyone is a beginner at some point in time…and the new words that come flying at us are confusing and at times overwhelming. I found that when I first learned to sail…why can’t they …

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Lambing for the First Time

Your Icelandic Sheep: Lambing for the first time   Recently a shepherd who will have lambs for the first time emailed me about advice for lambing season, supplies and some advice to help him be ready. After writing back to …

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Lambing Supplies–The List

The List: Supplies for Lambing   Laura Lawson’s Book, Managing your Ewe: online or Frelsi Farm often has a few. Digital Rectal Thermometer-must have: baby thermometer available at any pharmacy Scissors to cut cord: small and sharp  Iodine for naval …

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Tube Feeding Lambs

Lambing: How to Tube Feed a Lamb   Tube feeding is not hard…really. Sometimes it is necessary. It is not a bad idea to try it once or twice in a non emergency situation…   You will need a feeding …

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Barn/Jug System

Using the Barn/Jug system of lambing … and why it works for us   This April of 2016 will be our 20th lambing here at Frelsi Farm. Our first lambing produced 13 lambs and our total live lambs born here …

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Fostering/Grafting Lambs

Fostering or Grafting Lambs   There have been a few occasions on which I have had to try to convince a ewe to accept a lamb that is not her own. Hopefully, my experience can help you if the need …

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Will to Win!

Will To Win! Entering Your Fleece at a Fair   It is great fun to enter a fleece or fleeces in shows. It is even more fun to win a prize! The time spent preparing the fleece is well worth …

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