Judi delivered a second set of triplets for this year – this last one on November 1st. There are 2 rams and a ewe. They are on track to have their vaccinations (and castrations) in time for a new home (and will be weanable), by Friday, December 20. I am willing to let them go at a significant discount to give some family a chance to love these little tykes and give them a life. They need each other’s company and should all go together. They will also produce lovely wool and give the new owners the chance to explore fiber arts – dyeing, felting, spinning, knitting, crochet!
The smallest ram is being bottle fed and all of them are friendly. Their names are Prince (purple coat, bottle baby), Perry (green), and Pickles (pink – the sister), but these need not be their permanent names.
This year’s lambs are ready to fledge! I have 3 ewes, 3 rams and 2 wethers available. The image below is how they respond when you come out with your phone to take photos. Very unhelpful. All are RR at codon 171 (Scrapies resistance), NABSSAR registration in progress (except wethers), and my flock is OPP free. UTD on deworming and CD&T.
Pretty girl shown here with her attentive mom, Ivy. Mom is exceptional wool producer.
MN6805-0394 Nicolle D.O.B 4/10/24 Twin
Nicolle’s dad is Lancelot (black) giving buyer flexibility in color of her future lambs. Breed to white – likely white lambs. Breed to black 50% chance of black lamb.
Rams
MN6805-0364 Nolan D.O.B. 3/21/24 Twin
Mother, Georgia, is known for great fleece – long and abundant.
MN6805-0366 Neville D.O.B 3/21/24 Twin
Mother, Dixie, is especially known for great maternal traits – birthing, nursing, protecting.
MN6805-0385 Noah D.O.B. 3/31/24 Twin RESERVED
Mother, Nina, favored him so he grew up sort of as a single. We were fine with coddling his sister as a bottle baby and keeper for flock.
MN6805-0393 Nigel D.O.B. 4/10/24 Twin
Beautiful darker nose and legs – a tribute to his black father. This provides flexibility in lamb colors that can be expected from him. Strong with good leg positioning/shape.
Wethers
MN6805-0362 Nelson D.O.B. 3/19/24 Twin
This big teddy bear was a bottle baby. He’ll be great for keeping a ram company when separate from the girls or as a pet and lawn mower.
MN6805-0389 Nikolas D.O.B. 3/31/24 Single
Nikko was the serendipitous result of an unintended mating. His papa, Matthew, was 5/8 Finn so Nikko is 5/16. This means he’s going to be a good wool producer with Babydoll spring but more Finn length.
Babydoll lambs basking in sunshineFinn x Dolls enjoying the creep feed offeringsEnjoying warm April day on pasture
All of the lambs have been born – with a total of 51 skipping around the farm! They are eating well from the creep feed and have even been out on pasture. All but the very youngest will be ready to go with hoof trims and both CD&T vaccinations (and castrations, where appropriate), by Memorial Day weekend. Some of the older lambs before then. I will also be reducing my Finn X Doll flock a bit so some adult ewes will also be for sale as well (with their multiple births they quickly outnumber my Babydolls). The Babydolls will be registerable with NABSSAR. I can offer breeding groups with the Finn X Dolls (Babydolls don’t get bred their first year so most folks don’t buy ram right away.)
Check out these website links for how to reserve sheep, pictures of available lambs, information on the parents and what they bring to the genetic pool, and the information about the wonderful wool of both groups. I enjoy mentoring individuals new to shepherding so try to be available to answer many of the questions that arise. I hope I can help you discover the fun of sheep ownership and/or add new genetics to your existing flock!
Easiest reached by texting 715.220.1183 or emailing swiegrefe@sbcglobal.net.
We’ve had a serious shortage of rain over the last 2 months in southeastern Minnesota and my pastures are not growing back fast enough to support the flock. I’d like to see these 2023 lambs off to greener pastures within the next few weeks, so am willing to take a hit. Better that than the alternative for these young’uns. Friendly Babydoll X Finnsheep lambs bred with fiber in mind, of multiple colors and percentages Finn. Finn heritage makes the fiber lock-like, soft, and long. Babydoll component contributes loftiness and reduced tendency to well felt/shrink (and reduces tendency towards out-of-season breeding, browsing trees & shrubs, and bottle babies from too many lambs for momma to care for). Multiple options for breeding pairs/sets. UPDATE 10/29/23 all animals have found new homes.
Pricing replaces previously posted pricing, including quantity discount. Call or text me (715-220-1183) or email to swiegrefe@sbcglobal.net with questions or to start reservation process. Because of the pasture issue, prompt pick-up (before mid-August). Later pick up possible, but hay feeding premium may be necessary. PayPal payment is an option with additional 3% convenience charge.
Lambing is complete for the spring season and I have an abundance of lovely lambs available to new homes. There are blacks, whites, browns and some with HST (Head-Socks-Tail) patterns and some with extra spots elsewhere (piebald). There are multiple percentages of Finnsheep versus Babydoll Southdown to choose from – depending on your desired wool traits. The offspring of my 2 rams used this year can be bred to each other without inbreeding issues. I’m especially interested in seeing my bottle babies find new homes. They are THE BEST!!!! Below is a chart of the lambs sorted by color and sire (dad). At the end is a link back to the lamb page for additional information about their moms, siblings, etc.
These are just a few of the 39 Finn X Doll lambs. If you are interested in a particular color/pattern/%Finn/sex combination, let me know and I can send additional photos. Also click HERE to see baby pictures.
I will be vending my wool and fruit preserves at the North Star Farm Tour booth this weekend at Harvest Hill Acres near Dennison, MN. Newly shorn fleeces from jet black through grays, tawny browns to dazzling white from my Finn x Babydoll flock will be available for reservation for later shipping. The sheep were originally purchased to maintain the orchard, so I like combining the fruit items with the wool at events like this. In addition to the skirted fleeces above, I will have rovings and a few precious skeins of the sock yarn I had made from my flock’s fleeces. There will be multi-species cozy socks (a.k.a. 6Farm Socks) for sale and many activities besides an abundance of wares for your fall shopping pleasure. The weather forecast looks to be perfect, so plan to take a ride and come visit!
UPDATE: As of December 3, 2022 I have a limited selection of Finn x Babydolls available for new homes.Of the animals described in the following post from 6/28/22, just Judi and Francesca are available.Currently accepting reservations for spring 2023 lambs.
These hybrid sheep grow fleece that is wonderful to spin, knit and wear. It is next to the skin soft, lovely natural colors (and takes dye well) and beautifully crimped. They can be shorn once or twice a year depending on the wool fiber length desired. The animals themselves are very friendly. (Note: rams are potentially dangerous and not recommended as “pets”!)
Me with Joy, my select replacement eweA handfull of luscious, clean Finn x Doll wool
I have 2 rams left from different fathers and they can be bred to the sisters of the other. I have images posted below with the rams first, their potential ladies next, and the wethers and a couple of adult ewes last as they could join any flock. Some fiber farmers don’t bother with the rams and lambs part and have flocks made up of just ewes and/or wethers. They can all be shorn once or twice a year depending on your desired wool length. Animals below are various percentages of Finn & Babydoll. The 62% Finns are expected to produce about 5″/year and the 82% Finns closer to 6.5″.
Shearing has been scheduled for the morning of March 20th, a Sunday, with shearer arriving around 9:30. Individuals interested in learning about shearing and associated animal & wool handling are invited. Please RSVP to 715-220-1183 with text or call.
Eleven purebred Babydoll ewes have been reserved, which is 50% of the expected lamb crop. If you wish to be put on a waiting list for any bonus girls, let me know – no deposit would be expected at this time or probably until Estelle lambs in 3rd week in April. On the male side, 6 potential ram lambs are still available intact or wethered (i. e. castrated – with pain relief).
Time is getting close for the arrival of the cute, friendly, and beautifully-fleeced Finn x Doll lambs. There are likely to be a number of bottle babies among them…. watch for pictures! A good selection is still available for adoption.
The ewes are almost all bred – awaiting confirmation and assistance with lambing dates in about a week of the final four to breed. There will be around 43 Finn x Babydolls to choose from and around 20 purebred Babydolls. Most will be available to travel to their new homes third week in May or early June.
I’ve created separate pages with a complete list of the breeding pairs and their expected offspring and guidance in reserving lambs. I’d love to help you add the joy of sheep to your farm lives in 2022!
Picture is of Brea with her threesome in spring of 2021.
Brea with red (Harmony), white (Harper), and blue (Harley) babes enjoying spring day
Due to availability of some of my work force I’ve shifted from Saturday to Sunday morning for the annual shearing day. Once again Brent Winslow will be harvesting the fleeces for me. The time is a bit uncertain, but mid to late morning is planned. Any one wishing to watch and/or join in is invited. A lunch will be served after the shearing. I should have some Finn x Babydoll cross lambs already by that date for snuggles.
