Winter Planning for the Spinning C Flock

 I spend a lot of time taking pictures of our flock during the fall each year.  I review the pictures again and again during the winter months to plan for the next breeding season.  I am looking at size, characteristics of the sheep, their wool, and each sheep's health records to determine the future of our breeding program.  Have you ever taken a picture and when you went back a couple of months later, you seen something different than when you first took the picture? 

 Birdie and Gerty are two of my choice ewes.  Bonnie, a registered Oxford was their mother, sire is White Knight, a hybrid BFL ram from Herbal Maid Farms.  both of these ewes are very large, gentle, long soft  wool.  We will see if they twin at lambing time.  I will also be monitoring the wool fleece that they will give me this Spring.  So far we favor this line.  Can't wait to see the babies this Spring.

 Gerty....look at that wool...It has a very soft handle.  She is a big baby. 

We added Liam, Registered BFL, to our line this last fall.  He is just a lamb but really growing this winter.  Liam has beautiful wool, not quite as long as White Knight's wool but his wool is finer.  I will probably send samples off of his wool to have it graded.



Liam's wool...first fleece



I took this picture in the fall.  We keep the flock up closer to the barn lot during the winter.  That makes it easier for the dogs to do their job of guarding the flock.  Coyotes come closer during the winter months when their food supply gets slim.  We have seen a few coyotes cross our pastures in the last few weeks.  Also see their tracks in the snow. 

I dyed a BFL fleece and have been running it through the drum cardeer.  Notice the glimmer of the wool.  This wool will be spun for weaving a scarf to wear with my black dress coat.  Working with the fleeces also helps us develop our breeding program. 



I love color...I think dyeing a rainbow of wool is the favorite part of working with wool fiber...what is your favorite task of wool preparation?