Beginning with Sheep

Hosts Kathy and Val share a relaxed farm update: recent rain, a one-week-old hybrid lamb (castration and naming dilemmas), horn injuries, and a new ram settling in. Kathy outlines her plan to learn hoof trimming—tools, harnessing, and safety tips—while they swap tips for handling horned sheep. They also discuss routine chores: mucking stalls (now easier with the tractor), guardian dog Sammy keepin...

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 w...

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,...

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 co...

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 strategi...

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 cha...

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 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.    

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 she...

Kathy and Val share a brief farm update: Monica has a healthy 8.1 lb ram lamb and is very protective, Jubilee got her horns briefly stuck in a gate and freed herself, and the team is planning small fixes to prevent future incidents. They discuss ram selection and possible sales of excess rams, upcoming Sheep & Wool festival plans, the slow green-up of spring grass, and a playful puppy making l...

In this episode Kathy and Val share a farm update—Monica hasn’t lambed yet, Cupid is growing, and they’re on lamb watch—then dive into drought conditions using the U.S. Drought Monitor, how drought impacts farms, water rights, wells, and practical rainwater-capture ideas for rural living. They mix personal anecdotes about local water systems, well issues, and municipal supply with resources and th...

Kathy and Val record from the sheep barn during lambing season, checking on an expectant ewe (Monica) and sharing live barn moments while discussing lambing signs, breeding updates (registered ram Patrick and his son Cupid), shearing plans, and vaccination timing. They also talk weather and drought impacts, the economics of small-scale sheep farming, and encourage supporting local farms. Contact a...

Hosts Kathy and Val celebrate 1,000 downloads, share winter storm stories and farm challenges, and give updates on new lambs—including adorable ram lamb “Cupid”—and expectant ewes. They talk guardian dog Sammy, rising grocery prices vs. home-raised eggs and lamb, simple lamb recipes, and their pasture-based feeding approach, plus contact info for Parker Farm Jacobs.

Kathy and Val recap a hectic week on the farm: the vet sedates and trims ram Sir Archer’s horns, a first-time ewe unexpectedly births a tiny ram lamb who needs bottle feeding, and Kathy frost-seeds a new field to improve pasture. They also prepare for an incoming nor’easter, discuss long-term soil and grazing plans, and celebrate registering Parker Farm Jacobs LLC.

Hosts Kathy and Val give a farm update from a bitter cold, snowy weekend and share their lambing preparations. No lambs yet, but they discuss barn insulation, animal safety, and recent on‑farm dramas including a cat emergency. They walk through a practical lambing kit—OB gloves, lube, molasses, tubing and powdered colostrum, iodine, towels, jackets, tail docking/castration tools, and vet con...

Hosts Kathy and Val chat about a record winter freeze and how it’s affecting plants and animals, share updates on puppy training and livestock protection, and celebrate a delicious home-raised lamb meal. They also discuss processing chickens, pasture management, and the tradeoffs of different farm vehicles—from side-by-sides to Subaru Foresters to Japanese mini trucks—for hauling water, moving she...

Kathy and Val discuss this week’s farm update: a brutal cold snap and an incoming snowstorm, prepping sheep and chickens, and Kathy’s decision to butcher ram lamb Patrick — yielding 41.2 pounds of vacuum‑sealed meat. The episode then explores handling equipment for small flocks, from basic single‑file chutes to head gates and squeeze systems, costs and compatibility with horned sheep, and future p...

Hosts Kathy and Val share a warm farm update: heavy snow, a growing dog, lambs on the way, and difficult decisions about selling or butchering rams (including Patrick and Archer), plus vet care for horn trimming and the realities of farm losses. They also discuss marketing strategies for a small heritage sheep farm—finding your audience, using social media and local channels, defining your product...

Welcome, everyone, to Beginning with Sheep, Season 2, Episode 1, January 2026. Hosts Kathy and Val catch up on farm life, celebrating hens that have started laying and an unusual January thaw that has made the fields muddy. Kathy gives a farm update—several ewes may be pregnant and lambing could start early, she’s registering her first Jacob sheep, weighing options for selling or butchering excess...

Hosts Kathy and Val share a cozy farm update—cold weather, the first snowfall, playful lambs, and Kathy’s recovery progress—then dive into a beginner-friendly wool-washing experiment inspired by Mary Egbert’s book, “The Art of Washing Wool, Mohair & Alpaca.” The episode covers practical tips for skirting, water temperature and pH, soap-to-water ratios, avoid...

Hosts Kathy and Val recap a Jacob Sheep Breeders Association webinar with the Livestock Conservancy, covering what defines a breed, differences between U.S. and U.K. Jacob lines, conservation-minded breeding strategies (line-breeding vs. outcrossing), and the importance of registration and monitoring inbreeding coefficients. They also share farm updates — managing rams, a growing livestock guardia...

In this episode we share a wintry New England farm update: Jubilee is in heat, rams caused barn damage trying to reach her, and the team is rearranging pens and planning repairs while monitoring whether she’s been bred. We discuss seven-week-old ram lambs due for vaccinations, limited hay and pasture management, a growing puppy, arriving rat boxes, and upcoming educational events and product plans...

Hosts Val and Kathy share a quick farm update: early snow on the mountains, a finished electrified pasture, tagged lambs, and a new dryer-ball DIY project made from fleece. They also discuss shearing plans and upcoming Jacob Sheep Breeders events. The episode focuses heavily on tick problems and solutions — from plant-based repellents and safety for dogs to local tick-borne diseases like Pow...

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.

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 c...