[Buffy the eggs layer]

Hi
 Well after a long but very enjoyable day out yesterday with my dear friend and fellow forumer I arrived home yesterday with my new sheep
After much deliberation I decided to go for 3 coloureds which were born in march this year and 3 Whites which comprise of two ewes who have lambed before and a shearling.
The idear is that the I can put the older ones to a borrowed tup this year and the year after borrow two tups and breed from them all.
They all setted in to the orchard paddock well and have kept themselves busy devouring all foliage at sheep hight and snoozing under the trees. The whites are more than familiar with the vitues of a plastic bucket but the coloureds are not so sure and dont get chance to discover what the bucket contains as the big ones hog all the sheep nuts. Infact the big ones hog everything. This morning all three were in the chicken run devouring my layers pellets
They are a bit green in places as they have been rubbing themselves on the LPG tank but all in all they seem very confident and relaxed.
 

[kaz]

So glad you have finally got them. You will never regret having Ryelands of both colours, they are big soppy's and look nice but a bit green in places.
Good luck with you tupping this year.

[jaykay]

Very cute 

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Ha ha
They are a bit green arnt they?
But then so am I
I am hoping the experienced ewes will teach me about lambing when the time comes. In the mean time  though, I am reading all I can.
I am a bit confused about preparing the sheep for breeding and what time to put the tup with them if I want to my ewes to lamb in April. I have read that some sheep need minaral drenches and teasers and some seem to need nothing at all
All advice greatly appreciated. 

[Sbom]

Put the tups in on bonfire night for lambs april fools day 

[woollyval]

Put the tups in on bonfire night for lambs april fools day 

Agree! Also don't worry re all the jazz that everyone will say is necessary! They look well covered, will need little feeding other than hay in winter and perhaps a lick bucket, will need feeding about a small mug per sheep from 6 weeks before lambing and will be fine! People often get their sheep too fat if they have only a few and traditional non commercial breeds are easy to look after. You only need teasers if you need all the ewes to cycle together so they take the ram when he is put in and then they will lamb in a tight period so as to make lambing happen at time convenient to the farmer and for lambs to be ready for market. If for your own pleasure and consumption its not necessary. Also never ever overstock as that is the road to lots of problems!
Also apart from the odd nut or two I wouldn't feed those sheep...they look very well indeed! 

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thanks WoolyVal,
    they do look as though they have pleanty of condition on dont they   I gave them a couple of nuts in a bucket today just to get them to get used to coming when called but I understand the importance of not getting them too fat.
I have ordered the Tim Tyne book but its still awaiting reprint. Is there anywhere else that I can find out more about caring for my sheep. I have a couple of books but none of them are as detailed as I would like and are not breed specific.

[Mallows Flock]

They look GORGE!!! I bought this summer a white Ryeland x Poll Dorset. Much cuteness there too.   Hope you have a great time loving them! 

[Mammyshaz]

They look lovely 

[Bionic]

Buffy they look lovely. 
I bought 3 Coloured Ryelands from Kaz a couple of months ago and she is delivering 2 whites to me this weekend.
So far mine have been very easy to keep and they are so well behaved. None of this escaping lark 
My sister looked after my animals this week for the first time as I was away. I have pigs, sheep, chickens, geese and some ducks and my sister said she enjoyed the sheep most of all.
Sally

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thanks everyone,
                     all that wool on their faces does give them a teddybear quality. The older ones look so different minus their coats.
Although they have all been given mames by the breeder I think I need to find new ones as names like sybil and lindsey dont seem to suit them. If they were boys then Bungle, Rupert and Paddington would be perfect bear names but the only female bear I can think of is Sue from Sooty and Sweep
 

[kaz]

I used to have one I called Susie, she was a real big girl, but very tame.

[luckylady]

Cindy is Yogi Bear's girlfriend (I have no idea how or why I know that!) or Winnie (of 'the Pooh') Yeah I know he's a boy but the name needn't be.  Have fun naming your girls. 

[moprabbit]

They really are cute - lovely pics!

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Thanks everyone,
 
  I think they are great   and I love their docile nature. When I call out the cats names to get them in last thing at night the sheep bleat back at me
I have come up with names for the whites (or Ryelands to use their correct title) which are Pippin, Lucy ( origional name) and Lilly. But the coloureds are taking a bit longer to get to know.
I ordered some shears today as I can see that a couple of bottoms need tidying That will give me some practice I suppose.