Expecting Great Things

I love these girls.  When they get this big and pregnant, they start running into me with their bellies, like they don't realize how far they stick out anymore.  

And they get so hungry! 
​Granted, this time of the year there is almost nothing for them to find out in their field.  

I promise Emily is not choking here! She is just super excited and has a big huge mouthful.

They love perennial peanut hay!  That is what Emily and Katie are eating here.  Those bales are heavy!  (Stack them and find out what we mean!)  It smells amazing!  Our neighbor grows the best quality peanut hay ever!  They can eat Bermuda hay.  That's what I mostly feed the horses. I have been feeding them some of that, but they really prefer peanut hay.  Perennial peanut hay is a little richer and higher in protein than the lighter, grassy Bermuda.  Sometimes sheep need that little extra protein boost in their diets.  That extra protein can help them grow and develop, or help make plenty of milk for their babies after they are born.  The soft little leaves are their favorite part; but honestly they will happily eat it stems all, as you can see here.  Sheep don't chew with their mouths closed either.  Nobody cares about that when you are a sheep.

The right balance: Feed those pregnant ewes good wholesome nutrition so their unborn lambs can develop properly and mom can maintain a healthy body condition. Don't overfeed though, or babies that are too big and fat can make for a difficult birth.

Random but highly important sheep fact: They can handle very little copper in their diets.  They need a tiny bit of copper mind you, but feed them grain that is not okay for sheep (like horse feed for example) or let them have access to that same mineral block you leave out there for the cows or the horses, and you may just end up with a dead sheep on your hands.  Not cool.  So grateful that the lady that sold us our first sheep told us that.  They get their own special salt mineral designed especially for sheep.  As a grain supplement, I feed them half cracked corn and half all stock sweet feed (approved for sheep).

We are looking forward with eager anticipation to new lambs shortly.  I can't wait to snuggle sweet little babies and watch proud mommies take such good care of them.  Right now we are preparing.  We are expecting great things.