Sheep Man

Matt has reluctantly been recruited into the world of sheep. If it was up to him he would raise pigs exclusively I believe. Matt adored his pigs, and even enjoys the ducks. He pulls a hose outside to the duck pen and empties the frozen tub every day just to give the ducks a swim in warm water. The quackers go nuts when they see him coming with the hose. Lambing time is tough on husbands. I've heard from other shepherds that husbands often get moody and withdrawn due to lack of the attention they are used to. Sinks fill up with dirty dishes, laundry hampers run over, and meals are scimpy and late. We spoil them most of the year, but when ewes are lambing our focus is out in the barn. I wanted to skip lambing this year, but there was nobody around to help me catch and remove the ram so here we are. People at work say, wait, lambs coming now? When left to nature's devices lambs do come now. Any hint of cool air over the summer and fall triggers the hormones in the sheep and they do what nature tells them. There is an ancient Celtic holiday called Imholc, or ewe's milk, right about now, celebrating the birth of lambs and access to the delicious sweet sheep milk. An old shepherd friend told me that lambs born now are healthier than later spring lambs. That may be so because only the hardiest stock survives the cold!