Sheep Farming: How We Prepare For Winter
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- čas přidán 14. 11. 2022
- Today at Ewetopia Farms, we focus on all the preparations we have to do around the farm before winter really sets in. In Canada, winters can be very cold with lots of snow. We are located in eastern Ontario and luckily have not had snow yet this year but with temperatures dipping below freezing at night, it is bound to happen soon. Snow and freezing temperatures can lead to freezing water lines so today we make sure curtains on our barns are unlocked and ready to shut at a moments notice and all windows are closed and put back in their sills. We put down extra bedding to keep the sheep cozy and warm and to help create a bedding pack that in turn produces heat and further protects the water lines. All our feed is harvested and stored for easy retrieval to feed the sheep throughout the winter. But also before it gets too cold, we start decorating the barns for Christmas. Although not necessary, it does hep to brighten the spirits during the harsh, dark winter months.
And because the Dorset lambs are at a fun age now, we spend time watching them frolicking in the barnyard where cold seems to affect them not in the least!
Sheep and sheep farming is our passion and we hope that the love we have for what we do is obvious to you the viewers. Our operation is a large scale, purebred seed stock sheep farm combining the best of pasture and confinement to manage the flock for maximum comfort, minimal stress, and producing a consistent, very high quality product.
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Thank you!
Contact Information:
Website: Https://www.ewetopia.ca/
Lynn McKay and Arnie Droogh
3606 6th Concession Road
Kingston, Ontario
Canada
K0H 1Y0
ewetopiafarms@gmail.com
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The dogs they can run fast and watch what Arnie doing and going where he goes ,well trained .
Well, maybe not trained, but they are extremely fast!😁
Good morning Arnie and Lynn. Brrrr. A chilly day on the farm. It is interesting to see the work you put in to get the farm ready for winter. Those curtains are quite clever and gives you control of what you want in the barn. The lambs are getting so big and independent. The lamb that cries wants to be with her friends and her mom at the same time. Got to give her credit for being brave. Seymour is such a doll. The boys outside. Do they have trouble when there is a big storm. As I was watching all those preparations and you went pass the flower on the barn I thought Arnie needs to make you a metal fir tree. Stay warm. We have snow today. The first real one of the year. My husband is ready for winter too. The snowblower is on the front of the John Deere and the shovels are in the garage. Not even close to what you guys do. Have a good day. Big hugs. 🥰🥰🥰
I will show you the boys outside when we have a storm. Their lean-to is designed that they are quite cozy in their even when the weather gets really bad. Seems like we are one of the last to get snow but it's one of the times I'm really happy to be in last place. Arnie is also going to get the snowblower put on the tractor as well as putting chains on the tires - also all part of getting ready!🙂 We are supposed to get snow tonight!
When I’m knitting a wool sweater and it lays on my lap, I start sweating! I can understand how well the sheep are designed for cold. 😊 Have you ever tried to use any of the wool sheered from your sheep? I’d love to make something for you…
I haven't made anything from our own wool for years now but in the past I made scarfs and even had some felted hats made. I just don't have the time anymore - I probably couldn't even cast on or off anymore it's been that long! You knit?
Do knit, and process fleece and dye. Spinning and combing is m fav part. I’ve worked with a lot of different breeds fibers but not yet any from Dorset or Suffolk. Is it very fine?the staple doesn’t look very long. I think that’s common for meat or dual purpose breeds. And I bet you could cast on after a few tries. It’s like riding a bicycle. 😊
@@claymonsterpottery the Suffolk is shorter but the Dorset and Dorset cross wool is longer - probably around 4 inches and quite soft and lustrous
I know it feels good to have the farm prepared for winter weather! Also, the prep is so much easier before the weather arrives. That goes for decorating too!😁 Looks like the new boys got the job done for the ewes!! Hard to believe new lambs are just a few weeks away!!! Thanks for sharing your preparations!!! Stay safe!!!
Yes, you don't want to be working in a snow storm! 🙂 Thanks for always being with us!
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Hello again Lynn and Arnie! The lamb with anxiety over leaving mom but still wants to be with her friends is so funny. You should call it panic or gad gen anxiety disorder 😅 I was wondering if the metal strapping would work in the feeder that has duct tape on it? I can’t wait for the Suffolk lambs to be born.😊
She really is funny and was still doing it again today! I will mention metal strapping to Arnie and see what he says!
Do love the versatility of your coveralls. Poor little shed looks like it’s barely standing. Is the soybean meal ground from your soybeans?
Lots of winter prep chores. I still need to clean out our gutters! Sort of pushing it to the last minute. It’s supposed to get down to 29f/-1.67c again tonight…clear skies. (We don’t get as cold as you midwinter) During the daytime, putting horses out in pastures to enjoy the sunshine… touch their fur and so nice and warm from the sun. We plugged in the water tough heater last week.
I put those little hot hands things inside my gloves… my hands can get soo cold. And use waterproof gloves when cleaning/scrubbing water tough out.
I should probably try plastic gloves too for doing the drinkers in the winter. Yes, petting a horse, like a sheep, in the winter when the sun is shining on them feels so nice and warm! Our soybean meal is not technically from our soybeans as the mill takes them and prepares them for us but I'm guessing that they are a mixture of everyone else's beans too. There is never enough time to get everything done by the time winter sets in no matter how hard you try it seems!🙂
I'm a new subscriber☺ Love your videos! I really like your headband. Did you knit it yourself? 💜🐑
Hi Joyce and welcome to Ewetopia! I'm happy to hear that you are enjoying the videos so far. I wish I could say I knit the headband myself but it was hand knit by a lady in the UK. She did an awesome job I thought.
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Very interesting. I hope you don't mind me asking a question. What do you do with the waste bedding?
Thanks again, and I appreciate the content.
All our bedding is eventually removed and put on the manure pile which eventually gets spread onto our crop fields
@@EwetopiaFarms Thank you. I thought that might be the case, I wasn't sure because of the volume. Much appreciated.