Sugargum Farm

Sugargum Farm Sugargum Farm is home to two breeds of Stud sheep.....Babydolls and Rare Breed Elliottdales.

The three breeds of sheep you will find on our Farm are Olde English Babydoll Southdowns, Classic Cheviots and Elliottdale sheep. The Babydolls and Cheviots are not actually miniaturised sheep but the heritage or original type of today's modern Southdown and Cheviot, before their sizes were increased for greater meat production. The Elliottdale is Australia's carpet wool breed and is a specialty c

arpet wool sheep, developed in Tasmania, so the Australian carpet wool industry could manufacture carpets without having to rely on imported wool.

Falkor has a theory: the taller he is the more treats he gets. It just may be true! 😂😍🥰😍
28/01/2025

Falkor has a theory: the taller he is the more treats he gets. It just may be true! 😂😍🥰😍

They were back together for brekkie and were sitting together at the gate, but the babies are still not convinced Dottie...
27/01/2025

They were back together for brekkie and were sitting together at the gate, but the babies are still not convinced Dottie and Cal are their Mums. There is no more calling, but Dottie’s two and Falkor walked up the laneway with me. Dottie walked behind us and I’m pretty sure she’s still rolling her eyes at their behaviour! 😂🩷👑

26/01/2025

Five minutes later, still no recognition, and the Queen is puzzled by the confusion!🙄🤔😂
Even old Wattle doesn’t know what’s going on, but at 12&1/2, she rarely does. 😂❤️

Again, don’t worry about the two little nicks on Dottie’s shoulder. There is WAY more spray than injury! 🥴🩷

26/01/2025

We knew it would happen, but I’ll give the Queen 10/10 for trying to help her babies to recognise her. She called and called them but to no avail, they were having none of it!
“You sound like our Mummy, but you don’t look like her! Nope, we’re staying with the Shepherdess!” 😂 Silly babies! 🙄🫣👑

There were glimpses of hope, when they sniffed her, but still no recognition. Callie said, “Oh forget it! I get a few more moments of peace.”

But Dottie was not happy. They went back to their paddock overnight, were eating their hay together and I’m sure all will be fine this morning.

It seems “clothes” are important to sheep. Some of them won’t come to me if I’m wearing a dress!! 😂😂😂

PS. Don’t worry if you see Dottie’s shoulder. She has two little nicks on it, but Geoff went a little overboard with the pink spray!! It’s lucky she likes pink! 😂😂🩷

It’s time!! 👑 Off it comes! 🫣👑🩷
26/01/2025

It’s time!! 👑 Off it comes! 🫣👑🩷

The young boys are in ready, as it’s Shearing Day today. YAYYY! Dottie “un-fleeced”!! 🫣Geoff nearly made me spit out my ...
25/01/2025

The young boys are in ready, as it’s Shearing Day today. YAYYY! Dottie “un-fleeced”!! 🫣
Geoff nearly made me spit out my coffee when he asked,” Where are the Muster dogs?”
“Right here, Geoff.” One playing with her toy, the other looking longingly at the house!!😂🩷🐶

Our 2023 Babydoll rams, all grown up and ready to work. We have been working had to breed consistency into our boys, inc...
25/01/2025

Our 2023 Babydoll rams, all grown up and ready to work. We have been working had to breed consistency into our boys, including size and we are finally getting there.
These boys will be shorn tomorrow and then they are ready to go off to their new homes for this year's breeding season. 💙🩵💙

**These boys all have new homes. 😘**

Wilfred Gordon licking his lips in anticipation of the Bickie that is coming his way. 😂😋 Love my Big Boys! 😍❤️😍
24/01/2025

Wilfred Gordon licking his lips in anticipation of the Bickie that is coming his way. 😂😋 Love my Big Boys! 😍❤️😍

This is the look that says, “Please help me. I can’t find my Mum.” Or is it?? 🤔Can you see the mischievous twinkle in hi...
21/01/2025

This is the look that says, “Please help me. I can’t find my Mum.” Or is it?? 🤔Can you see the mischievous twinkle in his eye? 😂

A plaintive “Baa” made me stop watering the garden this morning, to check on the problem. I knew from the baa it was one of the Royal babies and most probably Caspian as Lucy never complains! I was met by this little princely face and another sad, little “baa”.
It appeared The Queen had gone off grazing and left the Prince behind. I gave him a couple of Twiggies and set off to find Mum. Caspian happily walked with me. She wasn’t far away, so I stopped before we reached her, as he had seen her. He started to walk towards her, so I returned towards the house. I hadn’t gone far when I heard steps behind me. It seems it was the Twiggies he wanted, not the mother! So he walked back with me and was soon joined by his partner in crime, Falkor, another little Twiggie fiend! ❤️😊
It looks like I may have to follow Dottie and cut the apron strings too, or I will forever be at his beck and call. 😂🩷

Sometimes it’s hard to take photos of your Babydoll girls especially when they don’t understand “personal space”! 😂🩷 Thi...
19/01/2025

Sometimes it’s hard to take photos of your Babydoll girls especially when they don’t understand “personal space”! 😂🩷 This was the first shot I got of the very gorgeous Bracken, who is our keeper ewe from 2023. Bracks is usually as close as she can be, but I eventually managed to get some full photos of her. She’s such a Cutie and will have her first lamb this year. 🥰😍🥰

Coco has such a beautiful nature and she loves the sheep. As a Tibetan Spaniel, her job was to run along the top walls o...
15/01/2025

Coco has such a beautiful nature and she loves the sheep. As a Tibetan Spaniel, her job was to run along the top walls of the Monastery and alert the Tibetan Mastiffs below to the arrival of strangers, but I think Coco was a shepherding dog in a former life! 🩷😊 She is currently trying to win over Wattle, which is proving tricky as Wattle is not fussed on dogs. She had to run back to the verandah after the first “nudge” to work out her next move. 😬😂 I’m quite sure Coco’s gentle demeanour will win her over as she has with all the lambs.

I was talking to one of our new Babydoll owners a couple of days ago, as she was having some grass seed issues. We are l...
15/01/2025

I was talking to one of our new Babydoll owners a couple of days ago, as she was having some grass seed issues. We are lucky we have very few seed problems as they can be quite nasty, causing damage and ulcers to the eyes if not caught quickly. These were a bit different and Jenny asked if I would give everyone a heads up to watch out for them. 🧐
Sheep and other ruminants have an infraorbital gland, sometimes called a preorbital gland extending from the eye downwards. They house sebaceous and sweat fluids and secrete pheromones used by sheep to communicate. Rams will often nuzzle heads to assess each other and determine dominance. So when your baby rams are nuzzling your knees and it seems cute, they are actually scent marking you!! 😂
Jen noticed a bit of pus in this area and on closer inspection found grass seeds stuck in this little sac. She cleaned them out, flushed them with antiseptic and is clipping back the wool. They can be harder to see in the Babydoll lambs due to the amount of wool on the face, as shown in the photos.
So if you are prone to grass seed issues, it may be worth checking the preorbital glands as well as the eyes. Thanks for the heads up, Jenny! 🩷

I wandered over to the yard last night to see if Wattle was around and found her sitting on her own in the middle of the...
14/01/2025

I wandered over to the yard last night to see if Wattle was around and found her sitting on her own in the middle of the yard, staring into space. I watched her for a little while, wondering if this was going to be her last night or if she was just enjoying the quiet evening light. I took a handful of soft Lucerne in for her which she enjoyed until the Babydolls descended upon us. She then followed me towards the gate. I let her out into the garden. Shhh, don’t tell Geoff!😬 She enjoyed tasting her way around until it got close to dark when we walked her back to the yard.
I figured if that was to be her last night, it was a good one. 🩷 I think, however, she was just enjoying the dimsey, as this morning she is fine and was waiting at the garden gate for me. Oops! I think I may have started something! 😬😂🩷

Those who have followed us for a while may remember Wattle from last year, who at 11 & 1/2, was not doing too well and h...
13/01/2025

Those who have followed us for a while may remember Wattle from last year, who at 11 & 1/2, was not doing too well and had to come over to the house block for extra feeding. She gained weight and we put her back with her flock. A year on and she is still eating well, but is now slower than the others and I think is missing out, so she will now stay permanently closer to us where we can monitor her easily. Twelve and a half is a good age for a breeding ewe, and although she has not been bred for a few years, she deserves the extra TLC. Hopefully that’s all it is and she is not unwell with something we can’t see, but only time will tell. Sheep are very stoic and it is often hard to tell until it’s too late. So far though, she is not showing outward signs of illness. 🤞
I I don’t like moving them from their flock, but she has Callie and Dottie, plus her crew are just over the fence. She doesn’t seem to be fretting for them and it means we can isolate her at feeding time. Come on Wattle, eat up and gain those extra kilos again! 😊🩷
So far the Queen is being kind to the older lady. 🙄🤞

13/01/2025

These little girls travelled down to the South West yesterday to start their new life. First meet and greet was Billy, the Shetland pony. They were very brave as they have never met an equine friend before. But with typical Babydoll inquisitiveness, they took it in their stride. 😊
Happy new home, girls! 🩷💕🩷

Herbie, Harvey, Pumpkin and Pretzel went off to their new home today. These very good boys loaded themselves through the...
13/01/2025

Herbie, Harvey, Pumpkin and Pretzel went off to their new home today. These very good boys loaded themselves through the side door of the float, with no need for the ramp. I hopped in and two immediately followed me. Two needed a bit of a leg-up from Geoff! It’s a problem when you have short legs! 😂 The lucerne probably helped as well!! 😉😊
A bit of a drive and they got to meet their new Mum and Dad, but first they had to walk the perimeter of their new home and check out the water. Then it was back to check out the new Shepherd and Shepherdess.
“Do you have treats?”
“We sure do!”
Phew!!! 😉😊❤️ Happy new home, boys! ❤️😍❤️

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Elaine, VIC
3334

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+61407048864

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Five minutes later, still no recognition, and the Queen is puzzled by the confusion!🙄🤔😂 Even old Wattle doesn’t know what’s going on, but at 12&1/2, she rarely does. 😂❤️ Again, don’t worry about the two little nicks on Dottie’s shoulder. There is WAY more spray than injury! 🥴🩷

We knew it would happen, but I’ll give the Queen 10/10 for trying to help her babies to recognise her. She called and called them but to no avail, they were having none of it! “You sound like our Mummy, but you don’t look like her! Nope, we’re staying with the Shepherdess!” 😂 Silly babies! 🙄🫣👑 There were glimpses of hope, when they sniffed her, but still no recognition. Callie said, “Oh forget it! I get a few more moments of peace.” But Dottie was not happy. They went back to their paddock overnight, were eating their hay together and I’m sure all will be fine this morning. It seems “clothes” are important to sheep. Some of them won’t come to me if I’m wearing a dress!! 😂😂😂 PS. Don’t worry if you see Dottie’s shoulder. She has two little nicks on it, but Geoff went a little overboard with the pink spray!! It’s lucky she likes pink! 😂😂🩷

These little girls travelled down to the South West yesterday to start their new life. First meet and greet was Billy, the Shetland pony. They were very brave as they have never met an equine friend before. But with typical Babydoll inquisitiveness, they took it in their stride. 😊 Happy new home, girls! 🩷💕🩷

The Prince has learned how good chin scratches are and Auntie Callie is next in line. 🥰❤️🥰

Hope Ewe enjoy your Christmas Party as much as Dottie & Crew! Merry Christmas from the Queen, the Warrior Princess & the Kids. ###

“DOTTIE! CALLIE! It’s Christmas Party time!!! WOO-HOO!!” 😂❤️💚🎄🎅🏻

And then there’s Her Royal Pigginess, who will scoff any colour, as well as applying the 5 second rule if one drops on the ground. 🙄 No Garden Parties for you, Dottie!! 😬 Sorry, Dottie, I just can’t pass them fast enough when my other hand is holding the phone!😬😂

Miss Peri and Miss Mindy are off to their new home today. I hope their new owners have plenty of time for scratches and cuddles, especially for Peri! 😂🩷🥰🤗 PS. I know they do and they are very excited! 🩷

Well, that didn’t last long. She did have a couple of Twiggies and she’s now camped in the yard glaring at me! That face is equal to old Maudie who also used to glare at me! 😬😂

If you don’t hear much from us over the next few days, don’t worry, we and our woolly friends are fine. Telstra are working in our area and we have very limited anything that requires their network, including phones, internet and television. We can’t even ask Koda to help with the old landline as that is out of action as well. Mind you, he was as frustrated with it, as I currently am with Telstra! 🙄😂 We will post as often as we can when we are in Ballarat. 🩷🐑

Teddy Bear Tuffy says, “I want ALL the petting. No, don’t scratch Monty’s chin. Just keep petting ME!” 🥰😍🥰

After treats comes the quiet time of chin scratches and everyone wants a little bit of love. 🥰😍🥰

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The three breeds of sheep you will find on our Farm are Olde English Babydoll Southdowns, Classic Cheviots and Elliottdale sheep. The Babydolls and Cheviots are not actually miniaturised sheep but the heritage or original type of today's modern Southdown and Cheviot, before their sizes were increased for greater meat production. The Elliottdale is a rare breed sheep developed in Tasmania, Australia for the carpet wool industry. Although they numbered in the tens of thousands in the 1980’s the breed is now listed as Critical with there being less than one hundred purebred breeding ewes left.