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. 21 jun

    Tornadoes, Skunks, and New Rams: Life on the Jacob Farm

    Hosts Kathy and Val discuss recent extreme weather in New England, ongoing drought concerns, and progress on hay and pasture management. They share updates from the farm, including a skunked livestock guardian dog and improvements to electric fencing. The episode also covers livestock news: a six-hour ram swap bringing in a new horned ram named Rocco, the arrival of a new ewe that surprised them with a lamb, decisions about castration and breeding, and a cost-effective DIY livestock trailer built for transporting sheep.

    26 min

  2. 26 may

    Predators: When the Coop Became a Target, S2, E17

    In this episode Kathy recounts a recent fox attack that killed four chickens, injured one, and exposed weaknesses in their electric fencing. She explains how they treated the wounded hen, secured the remaining birds, and are upgrading to a stronger energizer and hardware mesh to prevent digging and biting through the fence. The conversation covers options for dealing with the fox (shooting rules, licensed trappers), training their young livestock guardian dog Sammy, and the emotional ups and downs of farm life — including ordering replacement chicks and planning improvements to keep the flock safe.

    27 min

  3. 19 may

    From Weeds to Wool: Battling Toxic Plants and Pasture Problems, S2, E16

    In this episode Kathy and Val discuss managing pastures for sheep, including dealing with toxic plants like milkweed and tower mustard, soil amendments such as liming, overseeding strategies, and practical pasture maintenance. They also cover livestock and dog health concerns, especially a severe tick problem in their area, and share tips for tick checks and removal. Along the way they touch on composting, using sheep manure as fertilizer, chick updates, and everyday farm priorities that shift as immediate problems arise.

    32 min

  4. 11 may

    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

  5. 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

  6. 27 abr

    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

  7. 20 abr

    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

  8. 13 abr

    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
Ver todo (37)

Información

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.

Ficha técnica

  • Creado por
    Parkerfarmjacobs
  • Años en activo
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodios
    37
  • Clasificación
    Apto
  • Derechos de autor
    © Copyright 2024 All rights reserved.
  • Sitio web del podcast
    Beginning with Sheep

Quizá también te guste