Shetland Sheep for Sale - Falkland Sale July 28, 2013

I am going to bring some of my Shetland and Shetland cross lambs (born April 2013) to the Falkland Sale and Swap on July 28. Wondering if anyone is interested? - I have mostly wethers (castrated males), most are purebred but not registered. Brown, black with various markings. Very pretty! I have one white Shetland cross wether. The purebred wethers are $150, the crossbred wether $100.

These wethers are gentle friendly boys, great little lawn mowers, lovely fleece, and in a few months a delicious lamb dinner if you wish.

I do have one purebred black Shetland ewe and one purebred black and white Shetland ram (both to be registered) I could bring if anyone wants them. If no one speaks up though I will leave these two at home.

I'm going to Falkland from Tatlayoko Lake (west of Williams Lake) and can deliver lambs (and turkey poults) along the way...

Heda, do you mean Falkland as in near Salmon Arm and Armstrong?

Please remind me again what kind of turkey's you have. Thanks.

Hedda, give me a couple of days, we may take a few of your crosses. What are they crossed with?

Yes Uno, there is a sale.  I'll copy details (from ACE) and post here.  

I will be bringing Blue Slate Turkeys and Beltsville Small White Turkeys. Various sizes (all hatched June-July 2013)

I also have Guinea keets of various sizes hatched the same time period.

And have just started hatching Buckeyes and White Chanteclers.

May also bring a few extra Buckeye roosters.

Off to find sale details...

Coop -

I may only have one cross - a white wether - the result of putting big meaty ewes ("Chilcotin Special - some Suffolk and Texel - who knows what else) in with my Shetland rams. Let me check. I've sold most of the ewes already.

I think we would be most interested in crosses. Just gonna use them to train a pup and then put in the freezer, so no pures would be good.

I started a thread here: https://wcps.canadian-forum.com/t8240-falkland-poultry-rabbit-and-craft-swap-july-28-2013-noon-to-3-pm

I'll double check - I may have another black cross too, back to you tomorrow.

The wethers I don't sell, even though pure (not registered) also go into the freezer.  Then get the hides tanned.  I like to butcher in the spring but the fall would be fine too, just a little smaller.

Shetlands however are not typically a good flocking breed - too independant minded.  So maybe not for you.

heda gobbler wrote:Shetlands however are not typically a good flocking breed - too independant minded.  So many not for you.

Interesting, will talk to hubby about it. Not making sheep dogs, making cow dogs so that may not be a huge issue.

My Australian Shepherd puts the sheep away at night and has no problem doing it - they may not move like iron filings on a magnet but they still can be encouraged to move in a group.

heda gobbler wrote:
Shetlands however are not typically a good flocking breed - too independant minded.  So many not for you.

Interesting! I have been doing some herding of my Shetlands with my dogs.. A Schip and a Keeshond. Nothing fancy, just moving them from one pen to another and into the barn when they don't want to go. They certainly don't want to be near the dogs and I use that to my advantage.

However, Ccopslave, herding cows and moving sheep seems to require a different technique and different breeds of dog are more suited for each job. Of course you know this...but I would be interested in hearing how the dog's work transfers from sheep to cows. Perhaps the lack of flocking instinct might be a good thing?

I suspect the cows would just laugh at the Schips.

Sue, I am not sure the cattle would even notice a Schip!  

The same breeds are used for cattle, Border Collie and Australian Kelpie predominantly, but many use the Australian Shepard or other crosses, here.  They still need the balance and cover they need for sheep, but they have to have a stronger presence and more strength for cattle.  Not being afraid to bite a nose helps too.  In sheep dogs they don't look for a lot of bite.

We use our dogs with a cast (or out run) and a gather. We stand at the gate, send the dogs and the stock is brought to us. They can drive too and are taught that too, but they must go and get the stock and bring it back. The old dog could blind cast a kilometre and come back with all the cattle in the paddock. Good ones are amazing things.

Australian Shepherd started with moving Highland Cattle - still his main employment - but he does love how easy sheep are to move around.  Although once in a while an older ewe will stop running and just pummel him.  We don't do anything fancy either, the sheep know just as well as the dog does that they are supposed to be going to bed in the barn.   It does help the dog's skills though -  he and I work on our communication skills while working sheep.  And commands while in full flight are a really good test. It did take some time not to be too "strong" with the sheep but he has a good grasp of what is expected now.

Duster, my cattle dog had a great nip and duck technique. Unfortunately no cows to try it on and it didn't work to well on the horses.

Oops...hijacking! Sorry Heda!

Schipperkesue wrote:Duster, my cattle dog had a great nip and duck technique.  Unfortunately no cows to try it on and it didn't work to well on the horses.

Oops...hijacking!  Sorry Heda!

Yep, we totally hijacked it.
You led me astray Sue, I was on topic until you showed up!!  

I assume the turkey poults are unsexed. Alert me if I am wrong. How much are you asking per poult? How many do you have available?

Yes, turkey poults are unsexed. They were all hatched in June some are huge already some are quite small. Due to the long drive I don't think I'll bring anything too small.

Over four weeks old - $20 each.

I probably have 10 of each type ready to go.

It wasn't really hijacking, especially as I'm now talking about turkeys!

Where are your turkeys from? I have some from grandma art and wouldn't mind some beltsvilles from a different line.

Mine are from Grandma Art too - a tom and 3 hens and they have laid 3 eggs every single day since early February - it really blows me away. And they are very friendly and have NEVER looked dirty or needed saddles. Quite an incredible breed.

The Blue Slates are from all over - I've been collecting different bloodlines for a long time now, trying to improve the breed (better fertility, better shape at maturity).

So here is what I have, still trying to decide who to bring:

Pure Shetland wethers (all $150) :
Oberon - light brown wether with cream underside/belly "gulmoget", very mellow and friendly, good size
Orinoco - little dark brown wether, calm and friendly
Opus - little dark brown wether, calm and friendly
Oregano - black with white mask and belly "gulmoget" - fast, shy. Good size for his age
Obama - light brown wether with cream underside/belly "gulmoget" and little horns (this happens sometimes although most wethers are polled), calm but bouncy, lots of "get up and go".

Pure Shetland Ewe ($225 with papers):
Oonagh - Solid black ewe lamb, gentle and shy, little.

Pure Shetand Ram ($225 with papers):
Orion - black with white mask and belly ("gulmoget") - and the start of nice symmetrical black horns. Good build, great potential.

Shetland Cross Lambs (all 50 to 75% shetland - $100 each)
Black Ewe - 75% Shetland, looks very shetland, lovely fleece, very athletic
White Wether - 50% Shetland, big strong active wether with little stub of horns, hardly more than scurs.

Just finished worming and vaccinating all of them. They will all be wearing CSIP ear tags.

I won't bring the purebred ewe or ram unless someone is really interested.