Beginning with Sheep

Puppy Patrol and Pasture Plans: A Week on the Sheep Farm Ep. 15

Hosts Kathy and Val catch up on farm life, sharing light-hearted updates about a new guardian puppy, fencing progress, and the everyday rhythms of sheep and chickens.They discuss tick prevention, pasture and ram-lamb decisions (including Hescock-line Jacobs), shearing concerns, and the practical joys and challenges of keeping a small flock.

Rams, Bears & a Growing Guardian Pup: This Week on the Farm

Episode 14 brings a concise farm update: a Komondor livestock guardian pup is thriving, lambs are enjoying their first time out, and the Blue Cochins won’t start laying until next year. The hosts discuss ram safety concerns, plans for a ram shield or rehoming, and arranging butchering and transport.Predator pressure is a major theme — bears, coyotes and bobcats have been active — so the episode covers electric fencing, deterrents (strobe lights, alarms, peanut-butter baiting), securing barn access, critter cams and other practical steps to protect the flock. The show closes with notes on gear, trailer options, and the host’s recovery progress.

Surprise Lambs & Ram Shields — Beginning with Sheep Ep. 13

Episode 13 covers a week on the farm: weather and pasture struggles, a new guardian puppy learning to signal, broody hens, and fence work to separate rams and ewes. Kathy also updates listeners on two three-week-old ram lambs (including one with fused horns) and managing them in the flock.The main topic is CD&T vaccination: what the vaccine protects against, typical dosing schedules, and updated recommendations when dams were not pre-vaccinated. The hosts also discuss ram shields, cast care tips, and plans for future episodes on rats and ram behavior.

Broken Ankle, Baby Lambs & Rat Drama — Beginning with Sheep Ep.12

Episode 12 brings a full farm update: the host is healing from a broken ankle with help from friends, expecting the first eggs soon, dealing with a rat problem (considering rat boxes), and babysitting a playful puppy. On the sheep front, ram lamb Patrick is being aggressive and may be sent for processing, Jubilee's twins are thriving and receiving CD&T shots, and the host considers options for castration, shearing, and tanning hides.The episode also covers sheep reproduction basics: estrus lasts 15–45 hours (commonly 24–36), the estrous cycle averages about 17 days, breeding typically occurs before ovulation, sperm can survive ~30 hours, and ovulation happens ~24–27 hours after heat starts. Seasonal breeding, out-of-season breeding techniques, and breed and condition factors affecting fertility are also discussed.

Surprise Twin Lambs and Emergency Tube-Feeding on the Farm: Ep. 11

Today’s episode covers a full farm update: a finished roof with skylights, reopening stalls, and plans to install feeders and waterers after construction.Kathy describes a surprise set of twin lambs — one healthy and one possibly blind — including emergency tube-feeding, concerns about missed vaccinations, and decisions about docking and castrating.We also hear about puppy training and messy adventures, a fleece workshop with spinning notes, plans to wash and skirt fleeces, and ideas for making DIY dryer balls and learning brioche knitting.

Puppy Protector: Training Sam, the Livestock Guardian — Ep. 10

In Episode 10 Kathy and Val catch up on life at the farm: introducing Sam, a growing livestock guardian puppy undergoing training, ongoing barn roof repairs and new breeding flocks, and concerns about regional drought and hay supplies.They also discuss watching Common Ground, a documentary on regenerative agriculture, and reflect on practical farm challenges and solutions.

Meet the New Komondor Guardian Puppy: Puppy Patrol Begins

Host Kathy shares a lively farm update: bringing home a new Komondor guardian puppy, progress on barn roof repairs, and daily life with free-range chickens.She also explains her breeding program for endangered Jacob sheep, how the approved conservation breeding plan works, the challenges of sourcing genetics, and the importance of preserving hardy heritage breeds.

Guardian Puppy on the Way: Solo Farm Update & Coyote Concerns

Kathy gives a brief solo farm update: increased coyote activity led to ordering a livestock guardian puppy, she hosted a busy spinning demonstration at the town fair, and barn roof repairs are underway after finding more rot than expected.She also reports a smaller second hay cutting, chickens with upset stomachs from too many cucumbers, and teases next week's episode with Val to discuss breeding plans and adding new genetics like a lilac ewe lamb.

Sheep, Horns and Coyotes: A Small Farm Update

The hosts share a weekend farm update covering roof repairs, recent predator activity after losing a dog, and decisions about getting a livestock guardian dog. They discuss sheep care—shearing schedules, a ram whose horns need trimming, and calling the vet for safety.
They also touch on Jacob sheep genetics, wool color, and long-term breeding plans. The conversation broadens to industry issues: limited regional mills, efforts like FiberShed to rebuild local fiber systems, and how tariffs and canceled grants are hurting small farms and indie yarn dyers.
The episode closes with practical advice to support local farmers and thoughts on future episodes about selecting rams and breeding programs.

Hawk Attack! How Our Sheep Saved the Chickens: Episode 6

This episode covers a busy week on the farm: stripping a leaky barn roof, a red-tailed hawk attack that the sheep miraculously thwarted, plans for a covered chicken run, and worries about drought and repairs.We also chat about learning soil science, the quirks of multi-horned sheep, small-farm markets, and the excitement of launching limited-run podcast merchandise.