Yeah, we thought we'd get clever and let the sheep into the horse pasture...as my husband decided that he should put a lower wire for the sheep under the horse wire, and I took the opportunity of the ram being out to clean the pen...the sheep found the area he hadn't wired yet and got into the front yard. Then it was a matter of trying to get them back in the pasture.
This is when a REAL sheep dog would have been a wonderful addition.
We took our sheep dog breed out on a leash, but the ewe just butted her under the ram and she was running back to the house tail between her legs. I caught the ram and put a rope halter on him and dragged/coaxed him back to the pasture in an attempt to lure the ewes in. I rattled the "magic can" with pellets, and the family fanned out and attempted to herd the sheep through the hole we made by taking down the wire.
Minnie (7 months) thought it was a blast and went pronging every which way, but the more matronly pregnant ewes just trotted here and there finally finding the hole, the path to the ram and the magic feed can.
All of us were tired and so happy to sit down to a turkey dinner...and after all that running and coaxing, and shoveling, mashing a few potatoes and making stuffing was nice light work. The turkey was done right when I came in, and it just worked out perfectly.
Hope everyone had a nice day after Christmas! Besides running after sheep, I spent the morning reading the fascinating book my mom gave me as a present....The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball is about the first year on a 500 acre farm for first generation farmers. It sure makes my 7.5 acres look like a piece of cake!
3 comments:
A good sheep dog (like I don't have) isn't as good as the "magic can or feed bucket". Getting the ram was quite gutsy on your part, he could have butted you like he did the dog.
I think my ram (Elvis) is more of a poseur than a truly battering ram. He runs up to you, almost skipping, and if you put out your hands like you are catching a football, he stops and shoves his head in your hands. In fact, once I had him in the improvised rope halter and in the pasture (both of us trembling a bit) he sort of sighed and leaned on me like a dog. I do take care not to turn my back on him, ever, I must add. I am not sure he would stop if there were no hands to cuddle into. He mostly gets mad if you are looking like you'll manhandle one of his ewes or if you are carrying any source of water - hose, spray bottle, bucket. I gather his last owner used a spray bottle of vinegar....
That sounds like a really good book. Nice to pair up with cozy leftovers and restful night after lots of work.
~Faith
Post a Comment