The lady who was giving me the sheep, let me down a little by not being able to sort out the necessary paper work for them. Since the foot and mouth disasters of the 1960s ( and again in 2001 and 2007) the documentation relating to the registration of sheep and the movement of livestock is complicated and important. All sheep owners ( and that includes someone who only has one pet lamb) has to have a "flock number" and all animals need to be tagged and the relevant papers completed before any movement can be carried out. I have learnt that things have to be done properly, so when things are not quite "right" I will not be involved.
I discussed all this with one of the local farmers, who has offered me a couple of his grazing sheep on a "loan" basis which is very kind of him. This will allow me the opportunity to learn about the care of sheep,so that perhaps next year I will get a couple of my own!
I am also asking around to see if I can get an alternative turkey house for Bingley and his two hens......the old pig house in which they live needs a spring clean in readiness for the Gloucester old spot weaners I hope to buy very soon! I am going to check the piglets out later in the week!
Those tiny quail are adorable! Get some good, clear photos of them for me please.Do they have the little feathers on the top of their heads like Gambles Quail??Sorry you had the disappointment about the sheep.
ReplyDeleteWait, you said you "have a prospective customer in line for these little delicacies." Are you planning on eating these tiny little bites? Joooohhhhnnnnn, nnnooooo.... :-)))
ReplyDeleteI feel sort of personally attached to your menagerie already...
ReplyDeletekim!!!
ReplyDeleteno#!!!I am selling their EGGS ( when they start laying WHEN OLDER, later in the year!!!!!
xxx
~Whew!!!~ :-))) I was kidding, I knew you wouldn't be eating them now, but I know that people love quail, and I know that the eggs make some delicious additions to some dishes--A restaurant here has a dish with spring greens salad topped with a quail egg that is one of my favorites!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Kim - thank goodness it's the quail eggs that's yummy.
ReplyDeleteA loaner sheep is a great idea. Wish I could get a loaner goat for weed control.
Sorry about the sheep, but the loaners will give you an idea if you really want to go this route.
ReplyDeleteBaby quail are cute, (so are the adults for that matter) Glad you are not eating them! Piglets - you raising them for food or babies to sell - like the quail?
My God, you are taking on practically every farm critter, ever think about a donkey?
Probably it will work out better with the sheep this way. They are 'different' critters so getting some experience with them might be a good idea before you decide to get your own. (When I got sheep ten years ago, I had a crash course on Sheep 101--we all survived, but it was, ah, interesting.). While the gov'nment continues to figure out ways to control us, livestock movement and tracking are still pretty wide open here (US). Can't wait to see your new borrowed sheep!
ReplyDeleteTammy
sheep are nice...but goats...now they are the ticket! You would be a wonderful goatherder and think of the lovely milk from a nice Dairy quality alpine...not to mention cheese...butter...chevre also you would be a hoot describing the antics of a goat. They have extrordinary personalities!
ReplyDeleteJohn, I am absolutely in LOVE with that little quail baby. Sweetest thing ever! I'm sorry the sheep didn't work out as planned, but I'm hoping we soon have reports about your new spotted piglets.
ReplyDeleteThat has got to be the cutest! So very small. Pretty soon John you can have 'school tours' of the place and a little 'petting zoo/farm' going on. Kids would love it! too bad about the sheep. I was looking forward to learning about how to raise them too!
ReplyDeleteJim
I adore baby quail...around here they're perfect little miniatures motoring along behind the adults. They run around in random circles a lot and I've almost driven off the road a few times trying to miss them.
ReplyDeleteYou're starting to remind me of a Mother Goose? rhyme about Farmer John...each new stanza has a new animal with its sound. "Bob bob" goes the quail, "Oink, oink" goes the pig, "Cluck, cluck" goes the hen, "Bow wow" goes the dog. And stay tuned next week for "Baa baa..." :-)
I adore baby quail...around here they're perfect little miniatures motoring along behind the adults. They run around in random circles a lot and I've almost driven off the road a few times trying to miss them.
ReplyDeleteYou're starting to remind me of a Mother Goose? rhyme about Farmer John...each new stanza has a new animal with its sound. "Bob bob" goes the quail, "Oink, oink" goes the pig, "Cluck, cluck" goes the hen, "Bow wow" goes the dog. And stay tuned next week for "Baa baa..." :-)
I'm smiling now...
ReplyDeleteBut wasn't earlier, as I thought the same as Kim " he's going to eat the litlle peeps ".
I'm glad that isn't the case, I don't do well with raising babies and knowing their demise is ultimately my plate.
'Fraid i would have to live on wild mushrooms, and grasses if it came down to growing my own meat.
Best of luck with the loaner sheep, maybe that's the way to go, have a 'little go' and then you'll know if you like having them around.
I feel as if I have my own little farm, reading about yours most everyday, I'd help with the chores, if I were closer ;)
You are welcome over from the deep south any day to help me!!!
ReplyDeleteThat little thing is just adorable. I have to admit, though, that I was wondering why you picked sheep over goats. They're just so much fun.
ReplyDeletebelieve me I am looking at goats too!!!
ReplyDeleteJohn, just curious why you think you'd like sheep better then goats? I've heard that sheep are so stubborn; difficult to get 'em to do what YOU want 'em to do.
ReplyDeleteIn the USA we have to do the flock-ID thing too. Do not need the flock ID and heath certificates if traveling within our state but if you cross the state line then you need it. Does the sheep lady live in another territory from you?
joanna.... to be honest would love a couple of goats...... more than sheep....... but am worried about them getting out!!!!
ReplyDeleteHello! We love quail here. Thistle is the only one who ate some and that was because the quail got out of their cage and flew at his mouth! I visited Andrew's blog! I want to wear a read bracelet on each leg and swing them around on my horns. Tee hee. XXX OOOO
ReplyDeleteEr.....goats don't try to get out of their enclosures....ahem....la la la la la la la la
ReplyDeleteyou are getting quite the farmyard's worth of animals aren't you?
ReplyDeleteGill
You're one busy boy John! That's too bad about the sheep...too bad the lady hadn't had everything sorted out before she talked to you. Oh well at least the 'loaners' will be a good learning experience for you before you get your own sheep. If you weren't busy before you're going to be really busy by the time you get all these new critters...looking forward to pictures when they all arrive! Have wonderful Wednesday.
ReplyDeleteMaura :)
Hey John! I just tried leaving a comment on Janet's blog and it wouldn't "take". I'm not sure what's going on as I was able to leave one before. Anyway, here's the comment...maybe you could cut and paste it over to her site? Sorry for the trouble. :-(
ReplyDelete"What a great idea Janet! Y'know, you're kind of a natural at this whole thing--really great organization, creativity, and networking skills. Very impressive. I'm fresh back from a trip but will be ordering bracelets as soon as I can figure out the whole Paypal thing!
I'm looking forward to the video!
Dia"
Thanks J, This photo shows the little peeps head in all his glory!!
ReplyDeleteMy word but that's a teeny tiny baby! I've never seen baby quail.
ReplyDeleteThe loaner sheep - what a great way to see if you like having them around. Too cool.
Loving your blog.
Aw....so very tiny.
ReplyDelete