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Spring and Fall are short lived in Texas. Before you know it, the chiggers will emerge, the flycatchers will lose their tail feathers and then the chicharras will buzz the evenings away.
Right now we are dodging June bugs and chasing rabbits. The lush pastures have been wonderful but some of the sheep have begun to eat young tree leaves.
The cold days are behind us and it seems every animal is jumping around the farm.
Mostly, we have Dorper lambs bounding up the hills and springing up and over each other. Last year we only had four lambs because many of our females were too young to breed. This year we have lots – we have tripled our herd.
We have 8 males and 7 females – 6 sets of twins – 14 altogether. Our cheviots have not given birth and one dorper female is all that is left but her milk sack is growing.
Many friends ask about holding them. the best time to hold one is the first day they are born. They are sleepy and often lay day to sleep – just like all baby animals. However, mother ewes are very protective and some are even scary and will hit you.
Young male lambs often weigh more and are more jumpy and they have a quick instinct to mount other lambs. We separate our males and will be selling them for meat.
You can read about Dorper meat and we invite you to dine with us to understand it’s qualities and see how pasture raised Texas sheep tastes.
This past weekend we had a birthday party for the girls at the farm and also made it a bit of house-warming party. We had almost 30 friends and family present, some of whom have been a part of the Naivar Farm for over 70 years. As is tradition we had lots of wonderful things to eat and drink. My dad fired up the bar-b-q pit. Pecan wood, no charcoal briquettes or gas fired food here! Old meets new as grilled chicken and sausage had to share space on the grill with organic zucchini and yellow crookneck squash.
Guests toured the in-progress remodeling on the farm house and poked around in the barns and outbuildings. They are all in much need of repair but on one was complaining. At least no one who didn’t have to don the work!
The kids chased the chickens while the adults marveled at the constant breeze that blows up the hill. Even the hottest Texas day is improved with shade from the live oaks and a breeze. I think it’s no coincidence the house is situated where it is. The Naivers knew what they were doing putting it there. The flip side being, the house has been struck by lightning on more than one occasion. I can’t all be birthday cake and ice cream, can it?
