Now that we are entirely moved to our new 40 acres in the Northwoods of the UP Michigan, we need to get all of our animals settled before we worry about our living situation. We purchased these 40 acres with a log cabin on it that was built in the 1800's. The original structure is still strong and sturdy, but the additions that have been added in the years since the original family lived there are awful. They did serve a purpose of giving more living space, but are made out of mismatched vinyl siding, odd wood and leftover shingles of many colors. The front door to the log cabin is actually an interior wooden door that is peeling and falling apart. The deck that leads you into the front door has a large hole in it and all of the boards around it are questionable. We did put a large piece of plywood over the hole and the surrounding area on the deck, so that we could get in and out without worrying about falling through. This can all wait. It is November, winter is coming sooner or later - so we need to get the animals settled and able to get in out of the weather if necessary.
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My husband and one of his workers (from his construction company) came up to the 40-acre property with a full trailer and took some time to erect this lean to for the sheep/llamas before we were fully moved to this homestead. We could finish building the sides once we were up here full-time. Once we got the chickens settled, we put tarps around the back of the sheep/llama lean and also one side so that 'just in case' it snowed before we could get the sides built, they would have some cover from the snow and wind. Also, we needed to protect the hay bales from getting wet and snowy. The llamas and the sheep don't really seem to mind the snow or bad weather that much - they have thick fiber, and they stay warm and dry...But we need to know that they have choices.
They all seemed to be happy with their new home. Lots of room to roam the fields, lots of fresh hay, food and water and lots of pats and rubs from us every day.
We recognized that there would probably be lambs coming in a few months. Hopefully later, but as we were packing and moving, we were not as diligent as we usually are as far as breeding. We generally keep the males separate from the females after November so that they will lamb in better weather. Breeding in Sept./Oct. would be ideal because ewes' gestation period is 142-152 days, approximately 5 months. Which would put them in about March to lamb. Better weather, easier for all. But we really don't know about this breeding season - so, could be any day. And, we have had all twins in years past. So, we watch every day. Our ewes are amazing moms and handle everything themselves, but occasionally there are problems, and we have to be ready. But, as I said, we were preoccupied with packing, moving, working and just generally getting things done, so that we could move. We had a relatively short period of time to move all of our things, because our hobby farm sold so quickly. But fortunately, we sold to someone who was not in a big hurry to move in, so we had more time than a usual closing/sale. This hobby farm that we sold had a very large home, a barn and a large shop for my husband's business - which was construction (lots and lots of tools from 40 years). We had a great deal of heavy equipment also. So, we made many enclosed trailer trips and also hired companies to haul our heavy equipment and a large semi-trailer that we filled with my husband's tools/equipment.
So fingers crossed no lambs until we get this structure complete and hopefully no real cold weather for as long as possible...
We have raised many lambs in our home - bottle-fed. They were not our lambs, but other hobby farm folk that really did not take the care that they should have with their flocks. Many times, my husband and I would drive over to (after being called by a farm hand) a farm owned by an absentee owner, to pick up a lamb that was not well or not being taken care of by mom. We would pick up the little frozen, skinny baby and I'd immediately stick it in my coat/sweater. We had lamb replacer at our home and bottles ready as we had done this a number of times. I hated that the owners did not take the care that they should have, but I have to say I loved bottle-feeding the little ones and caring for them until we could put them out with our herd.
So, we were able to at least get the cross supports attached, and then stapled up the tarps, on two sides just in case. And it's a good thing that we did, the weather was turning, and several sets of twins were born....
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