Beginning with Sheep

Parkerfarmjacobs

For years I’ve wanted to have my own flock of sheep and now I have them! Follow me for the next year as I learn to raise Jacob Sheep. As a new shepherdess, I am not an expert and I will make mistakes. The goal of this podcast is to bring my family and friends along on this adventure.

  1. 14 HRS AGO

    Sheep, Shearing & Hamster-Wheel Energy: My First Jacob Sale, S2, E15

    Hosts Kathy and Val talk farm updates — Kathy sold her first Jacob sheep and is waiting on more lambs — and recap the New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Festival. They cover fiber mills, shearing methods (blades vs clippers), tipping practice, hoof trimming, FAMACHA scoring, and practical tools like stethoscopes and cameras for lambing. The episode also discusses pasture management, deworming strategies and resistance concerns, predator and tick issues, vaccination reminders (including rabies), and helpful tips for new shepherds.

    36 min

  2. 4 MAY

    Ram Swaps & Lamb Races: A Busy Day at Parker Farm Jacobs, S2, E14

    On May 2, 2026, Kathy and Val share a farm update covering flock management, a successful merger of most sheep into the main flock, and plans for a ram swap that’s hit a few logistical snags with trailer rentals. They discuss quarantine plans, pasture rotations, and ongoing fencing work. They also prepare to sell and register a ram—covering weighing and an oral deworming (drench) procedure—and chat about livestock guardian dog Sammy, chicken and chick care, a dramatic hawk encounter, and a pending grant application.

    25 min

  3. 27 APR

    From Cuddles to Clinic: My First Ram Lamb Castration and a Vet Visit

    In this episode Kathy and Val share a busy weekend of hands-on farming: Kathy recounts her first attempt at banding a ram lamb, a worrying post-procedure scare, and the vet visit that followed (including treatment with banamine and recovery). They also discuss applying for an American Lamb Board grant, updates on chickens and fresh eggs, changing weather and pasture management, and practical small-farm takeaways for new shepherds.

    17 min

  4. 20 APR

    Ram Boom: Why Are All My Lambs Male?

    Farm update covering new lambs (including a surprise birth), a first attempt at castration, and a broody hen successfully adopting three chicks. The hosts discuss research suggesting pasture diet enriched with polyunsaturated fats for one month prior to conception can skew lamb sex ratios toward males and consider management steps to influence future breeding.

    30 min

  5. 13 APR

    Sick Days & Sheep: Farming Through Illness, S2, E11

    Kathy and Val talk about managing a sheep flock while recovering from illness, emphasizing the importance of community help and having a vet on call. They discuss grazing and hay challenges, an unusual run of ram lambs possibly linked to drought, a potential first sale of a two-horned ram, and Kathy's new Sheep Production Handbook. The episode closes with practical advice on safe restraint and shearing trials, plus where to find them online.

    20 min

  6. 30 MAR

    Barnside Drama: Jubilee’s Horns, a New Ram Lamb, and Puppy Antics, S2, E10

    Kathy and Val share a brief farm update: Monica has a healthy 8.1 lb ram lamb and is very protective, Jubilee got her horns briefly stuck in a gate and freed herself, and the team is planning small fixes to prevent future incidents. They discuss ram selection and possible sales of excess rams, upcoming Sheep & Wool festival plans, the slow green-up of spring grass, and a playful puppy making life lively on the farm.

    18 min

  7. 16 MAR

    Will Monica Lamb? Farm Update & Drought Realities, S2, E9

    In this episode Kathy and Val share a farm update—Monica hasn’t lambed yet, Cupid is growing, and they’re on lamb watch—then dive into drought conditions using the U.S. Drought Monitor, how drought impacts farms, water rights, wells, and practical rainwater-capture ideas for rural living. They mix personal anecdotes about local water systems, well issues, and municipal supply with resources and thoughts on preparedness for small farms and communities.

    29 min

  8. 9 MAR

    Lambing Live: In the Barn with Monica, S2, Ep8

    Kathy and Val record from the sheep barn during lambing season, checking on an expectant ewe (Monica) and sharing live barn moments while discussing lambing signs, breeding updates (registered ram Patrick and his son Cupid), shearing plans, and vaccination timing. They also talk weather and drought impacts, the economics of small-scale sheep farming, and encourage supporting local farms. Contact and YouTube updates are provided.

    28 min
See All (34)

About

For years I’ve wanted to have my own flock of sheep and now I have them! Follow me for the next year as I learn to raise Jacob Sheep. As a new shepherdess, I am not an expert and I will make mistakes. The goal of this podcast is to bring my family and friends along on this adventure.

Information

  • Creator
    Parkerfarmjacobs
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    34
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Beginning with Sheep

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