Or maybe not? 
Hunter has decided that he needs to keep his girls as far away from any other sheep (and ME) as possible. So, instead of staying in the paddock, in my backyard, with a nice, cozy barn and lots of hay conveniently available, he has to herd his girls to the farthest corner of the pasture. Up, what in the summer appears to be a slight incline, but in 10 inches of snow, pulling a sled full of hay feels like Mt. Everest!!
Hunter and Godiva seem to be especially close today. I know that Zaria was the first to be bred, on Monday. I'll be happy when they're all bred and he lets them come back down to the barn!
Hunter has decided that he needs to keep his girls as far away from any other sheep (and ME) as possible. So, instead of staying in the paddock, in my backyard, with a nice, cozy barn and lots of hay conveniently available, he has to herd his girls to the farthest corner of the pasture. Up, what in the summer appears to be a slight incline, but in 10 inches of snow, pulling a sled full of hay feels like Mt. Everest!!
Hunter and Godiva seem to be especially close today. I know that Zaria was the first to be bred, on Monday. I'll be happy when they're all bred and he lets them come back down to the barn! 
I have got to ask! Where did you get that nifty-neato shelter? It's EXACTLY what I've been looking for.
ReplyDeleteHaha, i just love the first line, stupid ram. :) I know what you're feeling though- that hill is bigger than it looks!
ReplyDeleteI'm with Pamela! Where oh where did you get that sheep igloo! I need one for my sheep and another for my goats! Please do tell!
ReplyDeleteOh dear, Nancy, you are much too kind! It seems to me they can learn to eat their hay wherever YOU decide to put it. I'm sure it's easier for them (with four legs) to trudge up the hill with full tummies than is for you with only two legs. LOL
ReplyDeleteGood luck with your group. I can't wait to see the lambs you get in the spring. :-)
I'm with Becky. Let them trudge up and down the hill. You feed they will come! You need to tell us who is in your group, is that Dreamer I see?
ReplyDeleteSo, I possibly start counting from today for Godiva....looks like the honeymoon suite to me! Thanks for taking hay to her--after all, it IS her honeymoon--her FIRST TIME. I probably would have done the same thing.
ReplyDeleteTerry
They know Mama is still going to bring the hay. :-) not too stupid.
ReplyDeleteAh, Hunter is just looking out for you! Giving you a way to work off all those holiday goodies -- hee!
ReplyDeleteOur land is hilly, the walk up to the goat pasture is a hill, which isn't too bad in the summer but when it snows..ugh. Sometimes I envy people in central KS with that very flat land. I am guilty of spoiling my goats too, when it snows they stand in their shed and yell. I swear they are saying, "momma...it is too snowy and cold..bring us breakfast in bed!"...and I do it. Spoiled goats.
ReplyDeleteI want to know too - where did that great shelter come from??? I also agree that you should make THEM walk for their food - after all, it's good exercise for THEM, too! :)
ReplyDeleteLove the pics of the ram and his ladies in the igloo. that would make a great winter holday card! Just sayin'...
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed reading your blog for the first time today. I don't want to farm, but oh, I admire those who do! Especially those who have lovely fiber for sale for me to spin :) -WendyE
Do tell us where you got that great igloo. We just built a new shelter for our rams, and already they've made dents all over it! I'm thinking that if we have one that moveable, it will just move when they hit it, rather than being destroyed.
ReplyDeleteI agree about putting the hay down in a convenient place for you! They will make their way to it, I promise!!:) You are such a good, thoughtful sheepie Mom!
ReplyDeleteDuncan doesn't have that much room but he does try to move his ladies away from me too. Which I appreciate because he moves them away from the gate I'm trying to get into with their hay!
If I recall, the "igloo" is a "Porta Hut". I bet if you google, you'll find it. We got ours when a local implement dealer was going out of business. It was the only one he had and it was very reasonable. I'm thinking a couple hundred dollars. I know that I looked them up on the web, a few years back and there are all different sizes and configurations available. It has worked out very well over the years...
ReplyDeleteI found it! It is a PolyDome!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.polytankco.com/calf_nursery.html
The Portahuts are nice too but are metal, and I read about someone losing animals in them during a thunderstorm. Conveniently for me, they are made in Iowa. I might still get one of the portahuts. But I will be looking for a polydome.
You are absolutely RIGHT, Claire
ReplyDeleteThank you for researching it! It is indeed a polydome. I am VERY happy with it. My sheep use it as a shelter, a feeder and as a lambing jug. I would recommend them highly!