I have had a hard time with the Nubian baby goats. They were wormed with Valbazen, which did not work and then with a triple dose of Ivermectin drench, which only worked marginally. The two wormers are of a different class, one being the 'white' wormers and the other being the 'mectin' class. Neither were effective. So I sent away for Molly's herbal wormer program. The program consists of two parts, a once in two month wormer with wormwood and a maintenance wormer for in-between, once a week. No, this is not an inexpensive alternative to chemical womers, which are very expensive too, but look at the photo. While the chemical wormers barely had any effect on the worms and the anemia resulting from a high worm load caused death, the herbal wormer caused an immediate expulsion of worms visible in the stool. The wormer does not work like a chemical wormer, killing the worms, but rather it causes the host to be inhospitable and the worms expel themselves. Then it is up to the chickens to find the worms in the stool and pick through and eat them up so the cycle does not perpetuate itself. Ideally, after worming the animals should be moved to clean ground, and a new pen entirely, but in my world, there are only so many pens and so many shelters and that is not a reality. The best I can offer is a good barn cleaning, which did happen, and since the temperatures are so mild right now, the barn is closed until needed. The goats do have a three sided shelter filled with clean bedding, so they are not left without a home. 

Along with the herbal wormer, I included a lot of granulated garlic. This also helps to encourage the worms to get out of town. To make the powder palatable and edible, I mixed it with the granulated garlic and sugar beet pulp covered with molasses. The sweet pulp encourage the goats and sheep to eat up all the wormer and I even sprinkled a few oats in the mix, just to encourage the more reluctant ones. Ideallly, each individual animal should be fed a proper dosage and that works well with only a few animals, but there are 50 sheep and 20 goats, so it is not easily done. 

I am extremely pleased with the result of the herbal wormer. The treatment needs to happen for three days and then then the second formula happens once a week for the other 7 weeks. Diligence will be the key factor in eradicating the worms. Molly's herbal wormer is a patented formula, so the ingredients are not available. I think any number of worming herbs ground to a powder and mixed together will produce a similar result. For now, I ordered a ten month supply with the intent of getting rid of the worms in the sheep and goats. The other animals can use this program too, but getting dogs to eat it might not be so easy. I did give some to the chickens, however; they were not interested in it. It is there if they would like it though. I might add it to the oyster shell, which they consume in copious quantities to encourage them to eat it. 

Worm resistance is a growing problem for ruminants and their keepers. Years ago, there were no chemical wormers and the misuse of them, routinely worming twice a year wether the animals required it or not, and under dosing causes the worms to become resistant and then the chemicals no longer work. This is what happened with the Nubians. My own animals have been on a different herbal program which was working for this farm. The Nubians were stressed and the adult does were already anemic when they arrived, so I suspect the problem was brought to the farm. For every problem there is a solution. I strongly encourage farmers to investigate herbs for the eradication of worms. Resistance is not a problem then and the animals are not subjected to chemicals which stay in the meat and milk. 

It is a universal problem. Natural is the only way to make it disappear, but constant diligence is the key. I see it work firsthand and encourage all to give it a try. 

It is a big day tomorrow. The sheep, Angora goats, llamas and alpacas will all be sheared. This time I am trying the Hutterite colony. They are experienced with shearing and have won awards for their wool (not sure where, just that is what they told me), so I am willing to give them a go. I did have to call them because they did not show up the first time booked. Nat, the man in charge, said he lost my number. Anyhow, tomorrow is the big day. 

I spent a few hours preparing the barn, sweeping the floor, putting down two sheets of plywood, making a holding pen and a release pen with livestock panels and installing power via two long extension cords. I likely will have to come up with a second extension line, because I believe there are two shearers and two helpers. I won't have time to skirt the wool, only to fold and pack it and then tomorrow I can lay it out and take my time cleaning and skirting, which is removing the manure tags and very dirty wool. It is supposed to be just above zero, so it will be cold again. They do not think they will take a whole hour to shear 50 sheep, 3 llamas and 2 alpacas, plus the 6 Angora goats. The cost is $7 per animal, plus so much a kilometer to drive here, calculated at around $130 dollars. All in all, it is estimated to cost $450 or so dollars. I did not ask if they trimmed hooves, but I will when he calls tomorrow to say they are on their way. It is going to be a big day!

Winter is a bitterly cold season in northeastern Alberta. Although the pristine landscapes offer vistas of sparkling white snow atop evergreen trees, with the golden sun highlighting the diamonds on each bow, it is also a time for survival. Sheep have adapted better than most livestock and are experts at making the most of winter. Their warm woolen blanket shields them from the elements and the wool fat, or lanolin, provides water and wind proofing amidst those tender fibers. This insulation keeps the sheep warm in winter, so much so, that the long wooled breeds, such as the Icelandic and Karakuls, do not seek shelter except in the worst blizzards. High winds will also send them looking for refuge, as will heavy downpours of rain. But, for the most part, the sheep snuggle themselves into a depression and sleep with the downy flakes falling on the downy wool that covers them. In the morning, they wake up and shake off the snow, leaving an imprint and the telltale dung passed during the night. The snow further blankets their wool and does not melt, since their body heat is kept well away from the exterior of the covering. Some breeds of sheep, not the more recent man bred ones, but especially the primitives, also eat the snow to acquire their water. When fresh water is offered, they are not interested, since their thirst has been quenched by the consumption of the snow. While the poor shepherd must dress in layers, hopefully some of them constructed from the precious wool from the sheep, to keep warm, the sheep are simply themselves. Nature is amazing and so are the wooly creatures on the Fat Ewe Farm.

Some days I have the luxury of sleeping late and not doing too much when I do wake up. Today was that sort of day. It was cold last night, minus 10, but the sun was shining this morning and the temperature quickly rose to 14. What a gorgeous day. I put plywood up on the lamb shelter to break the south east wind and enclosed a portion on that side as well. In winter, some of the most brutal winds come from the south east. The sheep do not go into their shelter much except when the wind is bitterly cold and when there is a blizzard. They hunker down in the snow and their wooly coats keep them warm and toasty. In the morning there is a depression in the snow where their bodies have melted the crystals enough to hollow out a portion. The lambs do not do this so much, unless they are by their mothers, but the mothers will be breeding in a month and the lambs are too young, so they will remain separated this year. Lambs and their mothers recognize each other two years after being apart and perhaps even longer. It is a delight to see them celebrate their reunion of love.

After that, I hung solar lights on the porch, and tiny ones on the arch way I created with a livestock panel earlier in the day. When the climbing rose is mature it will cover that arch, I am hoping. In between, the dogs got some raw liver, which they gobbled down, or at least Mikey and Joe did. The older dogs were not hungry at that time and lazed in the sun after working all night.

It was chicken catching day today because the roosters are scheduled to go to the processors tomorrow morning, but I could not bring myself to catch them. I called my neighbour Dale, a most wonderful man who actually practices what he preaches. He is a Mormon and is the pastor! I am glad to know him and his wonderful family and I know when in need, I can call for help. I try not to abuse that privilege, and would also assist him if he should ever ask. He brought his nephew along and the two men caught the roosters and put them in the large dog kennel for the night. It is in the smart car wagon because the transmission of the truck broke and I cannot afford to repair it at this time. I am grateful to have the smart car wagon for times like this for sure. Dale and his nephew also caught the last 7 chickens that were roosting in the tree and I stuffed them in the coop  to be imprisoned for the next 5 days until they know to come home to it at night. I would hate to lose those hens, those wonderful broody hens that raised wonderful chicks this summer. They were hard to catch too! Now they are safe and warm. Snow is not forecast until late November, yay!, a switch from last year, thank goodness, and temperatures are to remain mild until then too. Yahoo!

More chores were completed during the day, then the dishes were done when I came inside. I cooked Portabella mushrooms with kale for supper and then had a bowl of popcorn. The moon is stunning tonight, illuminating the sky and the Earth. Isn't life grand?

The neighbour who bought two baby goats, Weezie's first set of twins, actually, 2 years ago, offered two sheep and two alpacas to me. He is very busy and his children are now grown, so he wanted to downsize and be free from chores. I went to see the animals and the alpacas were lovely and healthy. The sheep are brother and sister, but the brother is castrated, making him a wether, formerly kept as a pet. He has a beautiful fleece, so may stay on the farm for that wool. He and his sister are purebred Suffolk sheep, very large, and not overly friendly, but they were at one time, so perhaps they can be tamed again. The female will be bred this winter to Walter, the Cotswold ram. The two alpacas are both in tact males. Alpacas can mate with llamas and will produce a sterile (mule) type of animal called a huarizo and they are valued for their gentle dispositions and their fine fleece. The only problem is that the alpacas will fight over the girls, so only one can be exposed to the females at a time. Mating should take place in the early summer, since it is 15 days short of a year for the term of pregnancy for the baby. Twins are extremely rare, while singles are the norm. So, in May next year, Brad or Zach, will get to visit the girls. Aiden, the male cria will be gone by then, hopefully. A man is supposed to pick him up soon and take him to his new home. Welcome, new critters, to the Fat Ewe Farm.

Minnie Pig and Tasha Pig are gone. They were great on the farm, but began to eat the small animals, starting with the newborn lambs which they pulled through a small hole between the pens and then the birds. Over thirty ducks and chickens were demolished. So, once the taste of blood was sweet in their memories, Tasha and Minnie could no longer stay on the farm. First they were advertised for sale, but the fall is not a great time to sell pigs since most do not want to winter them over. No takers for Minnie or Tasha. The butcher came this morning and I cried for the loss of my friends. There won't be any more scratches on the ears for Tasha and Minnie loved belly rubs so much, she would fall over on her side in a trance when she got one. They got all the bed and breakfast left overs, which they loved and looked forward to each morning and evening. But, pigs can even be dangerous to humans. Stories have been told about hungry pigs devouring their keepers. Minnie and Tasha were well fed and had lots of room to roam and places to root. I could comfortably go into their pen and walk with them and they always came when they were called. But today, they are gone and it is a sad day. Dwayne and Ethel, the alpacas, were also on the list for the butcher and the four bodies left the farm to be hung in the cold storage before cutting and wrapping. Thank you for your presence and for the gifts of your lives, my friends. Thank you.

Two years ago, just after arriving on the farm, I acquired a beautiful young Pygmy goat pair. The doe had twins and basically they all played in the yard. There was little fencing in place and being so small, they were really no trouble at all.
The day before yesterday, the man who bought the twins that were born that year gave me a call. He is very busy with work and sold the goats and some donkeys he had and was wondering if I would like his two sheep and two male alpacas, for free. I went over to see the animals since he only lives on the next road. The sheep are Suffolks, one ewe and one wether, kept only as pets, and the two alpacas are how alpacas should look. I knew the two alpacas already on the farm were small, likely brother and sister and inbred. The male is infertile, but they were given to me. I must say, of all the animals on the farm , they are likely the least intelligent too.

So, I said I would take the sheep and alpacas and they will come home and at first live with the rams, except the ewe who will live with the sheep. Usually I quarantine the animals for a period to be sure they are healthy, but there is no place for them to be on their own at this time. I do feel that they are healthy and will not bring anything untoward to the farm animals. The Suffolk sheep are huge though, bigger than any of my sheep, including the E'st a Laine Merinos, who are big. I will have to learn to twist their heads to lay them down the way the shearers do because these critters are way to big for me to sit on their butts by lifting them up. I bet they are 200 pounds each.

So, Dwayne and Ethel, the two alpacas here, will soon have company. I also convinced the man to sell me his sheep feeder since he won't have to use it now. Yay! A round bale sits in it and they stick their heads through the bars but cannot climb on the hay, so hopefully they won't waste too much. Sounds good, eh?