Today was one of those humbling days. While Zachary and my Dad were cleaning livestock sheds, I decided it would be a great time to move the 2 big sheep, Ricky and Fred, to their pasture. We were keeping them in an old horse stall until their pasture dried up a bit. It ended up being an exercise of sheep wrangling. I thought my fences were sheep proof. The pasture is an old calf pasture and it always kept the calves in. After a series of escapes and fence fixings, I gave up. Back to the horse stall they go. Good thing I had their favorite treat in my pocket, Saltines, otherwise I would be still chasing them. I guess we have a new project to work on- rebuild pasture to "sheep spec". Yes Liz, you can lecture us now... :-)
Last night, Zachary and I picked up our hens. We have 6 Production Reds, a cross between Rhode Island Reds and New Hampshires. We don't have their home and yard complete yet, so we put them in a temporary home. We planned on working on the coop and yard this afternoon, but it seemed we were eternally building temporary homes, catching, and moving chickens all day. They seemed to find a way out of every place we put them. They ended up in a old empty corn crib. When we thought it was safe, we ran to Fleet Farm and picked up fencing supplies for their permanent yard and when we returned, only 5 were in the pen. Chickens! We found her later in the shed and put her back with the rest and triple secured the door. It was like the movie Chicken Run, without the meat pie machine and these chickens do fly. At last check tonight, all were accounted for. We did get a chance to work on their yard at sunset tonight, when they went to roost. During all the ruckus today, they laid 5 eggs today. Cows are easy compared to these things.
3 comments:
Ovines...mutter. Yes Jennifer if there's a gap of any kind they get out. Having nice owners you'd think those two would be fair but..NO of course not. Best fencing for sheep is sheep netting or a six wire electric fence with a 6 joule unit. Anything else...forget it. They'll keep you on your toes but food always works. Why is it you're starting to sound like you've just transplanted some Madbushitis disease into your place...oh dear. Lectures? Nah - looks like they could do with shearing though before the heat comes on. You'll have to keep them dry overnight for the shearer. Be a night in the old stables again when you need to get them done. I'll shove some stuff up on the blog for you about the care of woolly friends and their diseases etc.
Love the chickens. Great they've laid for you. They may go off the lay temporarily since they've been relocated. They'll be so your friend at feeding time otherwise go away hoomans..get them some shell grit they'll love you for it. It helps keep the shells of the eggs strong. Oh well you get to chase sheep I get to dig gardens and get clawed by cats...
I'm going to go and tend to my wounds now..LOL
Take care
Liz
Don't try goats! They are worse than chickens or sheep when it comes to escaping. I know, I've got all 3. The goats are never where they belong. The chickens are where they belong about half the time, and the sheep are always where I leave them.
Your blog made me laugh. That's so funny. I can't just see the madness.
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