The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Blinkers on February 27, 2012, 11:42:22 am

Title: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Blinkers on February 27, 2012, 11:42:22 am
3 ewe lambs and 2 ram lambs out of my 4 ewes - DELIGHTED or what  :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

Here's a few turned out for the first time on Saturday........Weyhey  :sheep: :sheep: :sheep:

Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on February 27, 2012, 12:12:26 pm
thats not a sheep thats a teddy bear  ;D :thumbsup: lovely!!
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Rosemary on February 27, 2012, 12:20:31 pm
They are lovely. Well done  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Fronhaul on February 27, 2012, 03:54:01 pm
Congratulations they are gorgeous.
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 27, 2012, 04:36:50 pm
 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Sunnybank on February 27, 2012, 04:51:28 pm
Beautiful
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Hazelwood Flock on February 27, 2012, 05:32:01 pm
Well done you! they look bonny  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Tilly on February 27, 2012, 05:51:12 pm

 ;D Well done Blinkers -  :thumbsup:
Tilly :wave:
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Remy on February 27, 2012, 06:10:30 pm
So cute!  :love:
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: kanisha on February 27, 2012, 06:14:12 pm
 ;D you can't help smiling when you see lambs like that!
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Blinkers on February 27, 2012, 06:35:02 pm
I adore them (even more than the Ryelands, but don't tell 'em) and they are currently taking it in turns to leap across the tractor ruts in the field gateway - so cute. 

Here's another aaaahhhhhh
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Hazelwood Flock on February 27, 2012, 09:16:32 pm
She's done well! that's a strapping lamb.
On the subject of cute.....

(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa43/crazysheep-795/P2251027.jpg)
Pearl

(http://i198.photobucket.com/albums/aa43/crazysheep-795/P2251016.jpg)
a ram lamb with weather proofing!
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: feldar on February 27, 2012, 09:27:31 pm
They are so sweet, wish they could stay that size just right to scoop up and cuddle
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: kanisha on February 27, 2012, 10:13:31 pm
I NEED to adopt one! sooooo cute  ;D ;D
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: moprabbit on February 27, 2012, 10:39:37 pm
They are so cute... just like cuddly toys! Well done!
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Small Farmer on February 27, 2012, 11:07:28 pm
....and then they grow up!
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Tilly on February 28, 2012, 11:02:46 am
 love it!! ;D ;D ;D
Tilly :wave:
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Blinkers on February 28, 2012, 11:06:13 am
No matter what the weather, the lambs bring a BIG smile to my face every morning - they've just decided chasing chickens is quite a good game too  :sheep:   

This little flock are fantastic and I owe a HUGE THANK YOU to HAZLEWOOD who got me started with the foundation flock and who is a constant source of help and advice on all things 'GreyfaceDartmoor' - she even got me into 'showing' for the first time last year  ;D       Thanks mate x

Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: kaz on February 28, 2012, 05:19:15 pm
How do you show the Greyface Dartmoors, are they shorn at a specific time of year like they Ryelands and then  made all nice and pretty or are they shown with some of that lovely fleece on?  :)
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Blinkers on February 28, 2012, 06:57:03 pm
How do you show the Greyface Dartmoors, are they shorn at a specific time of year like they Ryelands and then  made all nice and pretty or are they shown with some of that lovely fleece on?  :)


No, none of that faffing around (which is why I decided to have a go).... you just have to tidy up the face a bit and the legs and "Bobs your uncle"  :thumbsup:   Having said that, they are sheared early (end April/beg of may time I think is the norm) and then they've grown a full fleece back ready for showing time.   :sheep:
 :wave:
PS. ......and guess what 'Karen' had this year !!?????........ Twin ram lambs.....doh......so STILL haven't had a nice gimmer out of her.   Mind you, LOVELY tup lambs  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Hazelwood Flock on February 28, 2012, 08:26:36 pm
You're most welcome Blinkers!  :thumbsup:
Showing early in the year (i.e Devon County Show) involves preparing a full fleece, separating it all into it's individual locks. It takes about 2 hours per sheep. Summer shows just require the sheep to be tidy - Greyface Dartmoors are not washed or carded and trimmed, they are shown in their 'working clothes' and just tidied up. It's great fun, but you have to jump in with both feet!
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: feldar on February 28, 2012, 08:47:27 pm
No carding!!!!  i want one :D  see you at Devon God willing that's our annual holiday! i get really tipsy in darkie's den after showing OH had to carry me back to the tent up that bloody hill nearly killed me!
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Hazelwood Flock on February 28, 2012, 09:04:49 pm
Nice one feldar! I love Devon County, such a nice friendly show and huge classes for us Dartmoors. I'll look out for you at Darkie's Den...any distinguishing features (apart from being horizontal!!)
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: feldar on February 28, 2012, 09:26:58 pm
Red wine lover!! will come and find you, i'm with the hampshires, not local but they don't seem to care. Love that show  still a proper agricultural show not a dressed up car boot sale! :wave:
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Bramblecot on February 28, 2012, 10:44:24 pm
1st ram lamb born 4-5 days premature on Saturday, sadly has a badly undershot jaw (thought it might be 'you-know-what '   :-\ .   But this evening another first-time mum has produced a ram so stunningly handsome that I have had to call him Clooney.  Such is the way of things...
Must go out for another peek at him :love: :love:
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Blinkers on February 29, 2012, 11:10:40 am

Showing early in the year (i.e Devon County Show) involves preparing a full fleece, separating it all into it's individual locks. It takes about 2 hours per sheep.

Yikes - I had no idea you did all that  :o :o :o  You must be up all the night before doing that ? ; 8)
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: kaz on February 29, 2012, 02:21:37 pm
Probably a stupid question, but do you wash them first? :)
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Hazelwood Flock on February 29, 2012, 05:41:32 pm
Noooo! no washing! just faces and legs. Blinkers, we usually have our classes in the afternoon so I do them the weekend before the show then go over them the morning before judging. I only usually have 5 adult sheep in fleece to show, so not too onerous!
Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Blinkers on February 29, 2012, 06:53:32 pm
. I only usually have 5 adult sheep in fleece to show, so not too onerous!

ONLY !!!      ;D ;D


Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: onnyview on February 29, 2012, 07:08:24 pm
So sweet! I have worked with Liz Dawson who has GFD and I get to see lots of photos! Never get enough of them! :thumbsup:

Title: Re: Greyface Dartmoors.....again
Post by: Hazelwood Flock on February 29, 2012, 09:46:52 pm
I have stock bred by Liz Dawson (Mudd'le Flock), nice typey sheep.
Bramblecot, i'm looking forward to meeting Clooney tomorrow - he sounds very handsome!