Just a note guys. Wool is a great nitrogen source and good at holding moisture. So it you put some at the bottom of your pots it'll help feed the plants and tamper down how often you'll need watering.

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

I used it as mulch in the garden, but this is a great idea! 😊

Sheep are the nicest people I've ever had the pleasure of knowing

It gives some comfort to know that everyone and everything is on or has a learning curve. Happy Easter

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Yes. We learned this early on.

Sheep get a bad rap about smelling from old westerns. We have not experienced that, just heavenly bliss 🙏

I'm a city girl who's never cut anything more than calories, so no judgement here, but I enjoyed the sheep shearing waaayy too much! Those sheep are a meme!! If I believed in it, those sheep,post shearing, would be my spirit animal 😂🤣😂

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Ha Ha!. You would be a great shepherdess then I think.

You did a much better job than we did on our first shearing! It's back breaking and nerve wracking but such a wonderful experience. Whenever I need to calm myself, I think of my sheep's sweet faces.

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

That’s actually encouraging to hear.

@tjjurake3506

3 ай бұрын

They do have sweet faces!

This video couldn’t have been more timely!! My husband and I have been talking about getting sheep and this is definitely pushing us in that direction. So excited!! 🤗

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

They are great! Especially if you need a manageable animals to get into the animal husbandry side of things.

We used to have sheep professionally sheered and started DIY, trust me there is a learning curve ‼️

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Yes! We are at the beginning of that curve unfortunately.

@Jamesjghome

3 ай бұрын

@@theelliotthomesteadshear on sister shear on, keep Blue Coat on hand to seal cuts and nicks, Oh! Keep fingers and any body parts you want to keep away from cutters, lol, been there done that haha ouch

At first, I thought the title said “Sleep” on the homestead and I thought, that sounds nice! 😂

@Motherhubbard170

3 ай бұрын

Love that :)

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Maybe we should do a future video on this.

Thank you! There is so much hate on sheep.... And we've enjoyed them. And they are yummy.....

This is beautiful. We feel the same about our goats. We got them for milk but we found we love the meat too. I really don’t know why goat meat is not more popular. It’s delicious. I love lamb as well. We would get them in a minute if we had enough grass. We are always learning new things. It’s wonderful. 💛

You can use the wool in the garden. Perfect isolation!

@Jamesjghome

3 ай бұрын

Yes yes yes, we also cover plants in greenhouse

@MARION55555

3 ай бұрын

Or for the sheep!

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Great ideas!

I love love it when Stuart is partnering up with you in these videos!

That was precious when you asked your son if he thought he could take over. I have been training my daughters to take over chores for a bit so I can take a trip to see my mom. They have learned so quickly and have done a great job milking the goats. We use a hand milker, but that milker looks like it would work well for us. What brand is it? We have Nigerian goats. Small teats are the name of the game. LOL

Can you imagine a city office girl cooking in your kitchen? I’m sure you’d see burns and cuts so sheer on sis sheer on ‼️

Shaye, I would love to come show you and Stuart how to shear your sheep. I have been shearing for many farmer's for 11 years. I am so excited you guys got dairy sheep!!

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

We might take you up on this. We clearly need some help.

Stew is a good feller, makes for a great sheep holder

I sheared my first sheep last spring. It was a learning experience, much harder than i thought it would be

@Motherhubbard170

3 ай бұрын

it even looks hard unlike most things that 'look easy' but are anything but, sourdough being a prime example

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

I’m glad we aren’t the only ones.

I'm curious why you didn't keep the wool? It could be washed and used to make so many things. It can also be used as insulation for bee hives.

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Those are great ideas. I think repurposing the wool will be in our future.

Good morning and Happy Easter! He is Risen!

@Jamesjghome

3 ай бұрын

Abundantly risen❣️ Amen ‼️

We have hair sheep. We use them for meat, but the idea of dual purpose is awesome. I have goats for milk, but will be raising them for meat too. Our zebu are for meat, but I would love to get the cow friendly enough I could milk her.

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Sounds like you have big farm plans. Happy homesteading!

Good to settle in on s Saturday afternoon to one of your videos

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

We are glad you did!

Great ideas for spoiled wool that I will be using in my garden this year!

I’m milking 5 ewes right now and I’m with you. I tried hand milking and immediately bought a milking machine 😂 I do not have the patience not the time!

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

The machine really helps!

I would love more lamb recipes!! This looked wonderful

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Good to know! If you haven’t already, check out our cooking community. We have done several lamb recipes there. cook.theelliotthomestead.com

I love watching you cook 🥰🥰🥰🥰 I learn so many cool things! xoxoxo

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Thanks!

Thank you for the knife referral code I have been looking for this!

I would love for you guys to explain how the sheeps milk tastes in an upcoming video and also can it be used as a cows milk replacer THANKS

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

That’s a great idea! We may just do this.

@Elizabeth-fh9qe

2 ай бұрын

If you use milk replacer (designed for lambs) to feed young goats, the fat content will cause the kids to die. Not sure if there is an overlap to feeding calves, but I would definitely be very careful.

Could you do a video like a “beginners guide” to sheep, or sheep fencing? My favorite pickling spice, especially for corned beef & dill pickles, is from Curio spice. It has mace in it! Mace is a spice that is part of the nutmeg, it’s actually wrapped around the “nut” of nutmeg.

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the recommendation. We will have to try that out next time!

My dog looked just like your sheep first time she got groomed..... Like an angry badger chewed the hair off! ❤

@Motherhubbard170

3 ай бұрын

perfect description

@gailday7566

3 ай бұрын

😂 word picture for a good laugh

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Ha! That made me laugh out loud!

@jenniferr2057

3 ай бұрын

@@theelliotthomestead You're welcome. Laughter is good. 😊

@Jamesjghome

3 ай бұрын

@@theelliotthomesteadmay your laugh be Stews delight and thank you for being a light in a dark world

As a nursing/pumping momma with a 2 year old and another one on the way, I’m curious how you clean the milking pump and it’s tubing? Do you milk them once a day? Do you have a backup pump in case on of the sheep gets an infection like mastitis and they can’t share a pump? Sorry for the ignorant questions I’m just so curious how that works!

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

We do Milk them once a day. Cleaning is actually not that bad as the unit comes with scrub brushes made for cleaning out each section. And only one set of tubes comes in contact with the milk. Things seems to stay nice and clean.

We love our Katahdin sheep they have been the best homestead livestock!

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Agreed!

God bless you and keep you for trying and staying authentically positive ❣️

Where did you get the milking machine? That's for sharing

@theelliotthomestead

2 ай бұрын

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BM49ZVCV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Sheep ❤

We used sheers that where big metal scissors non electric on are lamb farm growing up.

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

I would love to get that point.

We are interested in dual purpose sheep, thanks for this content! What milker is that- do you have a link? Curious how much.

I was taught to “punch up” on goats to get their milk to let down. Are sheep the same? It seems awful but after watching goats suckle they’re far more violent with their mother’s teats than I was willing to be. 😂

@theelliotthomestead

2 ай бұрын

We aren’t nearly as violent as their lambs are. But sometimes we do have to encourage them to let their milk down. It doesn’t seem to take much though.

Sheep were one of our first animals and they spoiled us! They are my favorite, very sweet and easy! Pigs on the other hand….🙄

Thanks, for sharing. Happy Easter :) We raised wool sheep bred(Romney's) in the past I would like to try raising Katahdin . I heard that their meat taste less gamey/strong.

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

I would absolutely say that Katahdin meat is mild.

I never milked sheep, but I do notice that the lambs will really 'punch' the udders to get milk. May be something ewes need to keep flowing??

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

They do! When the flow slows down we do the same thing to get it going again. Though I must say I think we aren’t quite as aggressive as the lamb!

Also, how long are sheep in milk for? I see this video is c 2 months old, curious how it’s going along now.

I just found your page. We have cattle but are conidering changing to sheep. Do you have recipes you teach on how to cook the meat?

@theelliotthomestead

2 ай бұрын

Yes. We've been raising sheep for many years and have found great ways to cook the meat. I share many of my recipes within my cooking community. If you're interested in learning more, check out cook.theelliotthomestead.com

You should watch the Thornbirds😭 Sheep shearing is the main character❤

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the recommendation. We will check them out.

What breed did you get for dairy?

@theelliotthomestead

2 ай бұрын

East Fresian x Rideau Arcott x Border Leicester x Finn

Weve been considering sheep after hearing their milk has 2x protein and is actually anti inflammatory. Would love to hear if this is true 👍

What's the name of the milk machine and can it be used for cows? I've got a cow with the teats of a sheep lol

@theelliotthomestead

2 ай бұрын

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BM49ZVCV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 But this is not big enough for cows.

What is that milker?

@theelliotthomestead

2 ай бұрын

www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0BM49ZVCV/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

@Jamesjghome

2 ай бұрын

@@theelliotthomestead thanks so very much, from north northern michigan WE LOVE YOU AND STEW❣️

Are you leaving the lambs with her at night, or keeping them separate until after milking? If so, how do you have it set up ? I will be milking my FinnSheep after they lamb and last year they'd bust down a wall and one jumped a 5 foot solid wall (almost damaging herself) to get to her lambs, I milked a herd of Nubian goats for years, but always took the kids off the mama, now I want to "milk share". BTW~ LOVE all your videos, thank-you.

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Right now we separate during the day and milk in the evening. They stay with lambs until morning when I separate. We have trained our milkers to leashes so they stay manageable until we bright them back to the lambs. Our ewes seem more interested in their grain than getting back to the lambs so it hasn’t been much of an issue for us.

@laughingdovefarm3311

Ай бұрын

@@theelliotthomestead Thank-you.

Have you looked at the Whiltshire horn they are not known as a milk breed but they are known as milky mothers and they naturally shred

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Good to know. Thanks for the tip.

@jackiegawronski9988

2 ай бұрын

Do you milk yours?

@maxinedurling3425

2 ай бұрын

@@jackiegawronski9988 I don't own sheep maybe in the future, but have always wanted Wiltshire horns and want to milk them. I have also read that the shredding ability will be passed on if you cross a Wiltshire with other breeds

@Julia29853

2 ай бұрын

@@maxinedurling3425what is shredding?

I am wondering why you don't use the wool, or sell it?

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

We are pretty new with wooling sheep so we are dipping our toes in with the milk. Perhaps as we get better at sheering and such, we will figure out the wool side of things.

Lovely video! New to your channel. I’m familiar with the hair sheep breed but I don’t think I caught what breed your milk ewe’s are. May I ask the breed?

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for checking us out! Our milking ewes are a crossbreed of four different breeds. I’ll get back to you with what each of them are.

@tammykaltreider

3 ай бұрын

@@theelliotthomestead thank you!

Lamb is delish!!! How do people say they don't like it. Tastes like tender beef to me.

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Yes!

@Julia29853

2 ай бұрын

What is the best cut for someone who’s never cooked or eaten lamb?

How much milk sheeo gives

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Good question. Our black one ,Pepper, gives us a little more than Fanny, the white one. But together we get about a quart and half.

Sheep milk makes the best feta!

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

That’s good to know!

Your poor finger. Dishes and just everything to do with fingers would be tough. I prayed for swift healing.

Maybe you can go to a local farm and learn from a seasoned farmer.

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

We had the same thought. I think we will do this.

Isn't too cold for shaving? Just a question, not to offence.

@bassmanjr100

3 ай бұрын

Doubtful. Especially if they are in a dry climate. Probably is the perfect time to do it. End of March, early April. My hair sheep are losing or have lost their heavy coats.

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

Not anymore! Full spring here ❤

is your family related to the missionary James Elliott

@theelliotthomestead

2 ай бұрын

It’s possible but we haven’t officially traced the mine too far back.

All this sounds great but I couldn’t kill the animals to be honest. I would get to attached to them. Do you guys have them killed for you or do you do it ?

@theelliotthomestead

3 ай бұрын

We do some ourselves and sometimes we have them done. It really depends on our own work load during that season. You’re right though. It is a challenge and it hasn’t necessarily gotten emotionally easier for us either. But I think this is a feature, not a bug, of the whole process if you get what I mean.

I know you love your sheep. BUT, you eat them. It's the ways of farm life which I lived amidst as a child. I just can't deal. Sheep are so sweet and gentle. If I ever have chickens it will be for eggs and their sweet company only.

@bassmanjr100

3 ай бұрын

Do you eat meat from the store? Those animals are treated far, far worse. What could be better for an animal than to be personally care for on a beautiful small farm. They have one bad day or few minutes which is over quickly.

@rhondadean5455

3 ай бұрын

@bassmanjr100 that's a problem I have. I cook chicken for my 4 rescue digs. It breaks me. . No words. I see the bruises in odd places on the chickens. It's damn if I do damned if I don't. It's a huge issue in my heart. I run a hospice in my home for unwanted seniors with health issues. Out of my own food money. I get no help but our vets are kind..its a grievous situation. After these 4 dogs' are gone I will not go further. They are 10 dogs in 16 years til last breath.

Milking is so easy why not just do it bye hand.

@Julia29853

2 ай бұрын

You didn’t watch the video did you? Try it! It’s an amazing concept.