I'm very excited.
Today we started work on our first official pasture at this new farm. Patrick cut down the small trees that were in the way, and pruned the Giant Cedar Tree. I learned to use a chain saw, too! It wasn't too bad, really - I definitely need to start lifting my weights again, though - I've gotten to be such a wimp since the whole surgery thing last fall.
You might think a one-acre paddock is nothing to write home about (write in the blog about?). But, when the new paddock is in use, we'll be back in business as a real farm - with the land growing the sheep and the sheep improving the land. Until then, we're basically a petting zoo. A petting zoo with really cute lambs.
We had one set of triplets born last week. The smallest lamb was a bit weak at the start and took a couple of tube feedings to get going. They all are from a North Country/Border Cheviot cross and are just the cutest things. The smallest especially looks like a toy lamb. I'm used to our ten to fourteen pound baby "ponies" now, so this little guy at about two pounds, is hilarious in comparison. He is very alert and has a look like he finds everything absolutely amazing, so I named him "Shaun the Sheep." His brother is Sam and his sister is Shortly. Their mother is Snorty. The name of the sister, Shortly, is a sort of complicated inside joke. Since I have an order for three wethers and other than Shaun, that's all I have right now, it looks like Shaun the Sheep will have a good long chance to catch up growing. Realistically, I don't see him at 90 pounds in August. So he may end up someone's pet once he's weaned.
Ted's driving continues to improve. It's probably the Worst Idea Ever to practice on a bunch of ewes with newborn lambs, but that's all we can manage right now. It's a real testament to how good this youngster is, that not only his driving is improving, but my handling is improving too. Plus, the sheep are settling much better for us in what may be the most awful training situation possible.
We've found quite a few lines now where we can set up a straight drive away, and cross drive, working various draws. Ted reallyreallyreallyreally enjoys driving now - it's hard to remember now that we had such a time getting him started. It's hard to get him to stop now!
Plus, now the trees are down in the new paddock and I can let out a few lambs from the feed lot, and drive them up and down the back lot. That's about 100 yards, we figured out today. And, the people next door said they didn't mind my coming over with a few lambs and practicing on the small area right next to their house (as long as the lambs go back when we are done!).
Another fun thing we are practicing is shedding. This is kind of a no-brainer on these ewes and lambs. All we have to do is let them settle for a minute and they'll let Ted come right through with hardly a blink - and it's super easy to pick off basically any group and just go with them - the ewes only care about their lambs, not each other, so Ted's main job once we've got control of a cut, is keeping them together.
So I'm taking advantage of this time to let Ted feel out this job with a view to more challenging training to come. It's already paid off - a couple days ago I let out all the sheep together, then had to split them up again.
Gate sorting in our current setup is nearly impossible and dangerous for the last couple of pregnant ewes, plus all the newborn lambs. So I left the gate wide open and we stood int he middle of the feed lot. I used Ted to "be a gate" and we sorted off the mamas between us and allowed them to go out the gate, while keeping the rest in the feed lot.
Ted was fantastic. After a while he figured out the job and could anticipate from my body language whether a ewe/lamb was a "keeper" (requiring him to make a move in and turn her off) or a "leaver" (requiring him to do nothing). That was pretty cool.
The only thing is, he's getting a bit big for his britches with all the control I'm encouraging him to take, so I'm going to need to set up a better controlled situation soon where we can have a little chat about who's ultimately in charge! :)
Today we started work on our first official pasture at this new farm. Patrick cut down the small trees that were in the way, and pruned the Giant Cedar Tree. I learned to use a chain saw, too! It wasn't too bad, really - I definitely need to start lifting my weights again, though - I've gotten to be such a wimp since the whole surgery thing last fall.
You might think a one-acre paddock is nothing to write home about (write in the blog about?). But, when the new paddock is in use, we'll be back in business as a real farm - with the land growing the sheep and the sheep improving the land. Until then, we're basically a petting zoo. A petting zoo with really cute lambs.
We had one set of triplets born last week. The smallest lamb was a bit weak at the start and took a couple of tube feedings to get going. They all are from a North Country/Border Cheviot cross and are just the cutest things. The smallest especially looks like a toy lamb. I'm used to our ten to fourteen pound baby "ponies" now, so this little guy at about two pounds, is hilarious in comparison. He is very alert and has a look like he finds everything absolutely amazing, so I named him "Shaun the Sheep." His brother is Sam and his sister is Shortly. Their mother is Snorty. The name of the sister, Shortly, is a sort of complicated inside joke. Since I have an order for three wethers and other than Shaun, that's all I have right now, it looks like Shaun the Sheep will have a good long chance to catch up growing. Realistically, I don't see him at 90 pounds in August. So he may end up someone's pet once he's weaned.
Ted's driving continues to improve. It's probably the Worst Idea Ever to practice on a bunch of ewes with newborn lambs, but that's all we can manage right now. It's a real testament to how good this youngster is, that not only his driving is improving, but my handling is improving too. Plus, the sheep are settling much better for us in what may be the most awful training situation possible.
We've found quite a few lines now where we can set up a straight drive away, and cross drive, working various draws. Ted reallyreallyreallyreally enjoys driving now - it's hard to remember now that we had such a time getting him started. It's hard to get him to stop now!
Plus, now the trees are down in the new paddock and I can let out a few lambs from the feed lot, and drive them up and down the back lot. That's about 100 yards, we figured out today. And, the people next door said they didn't mind my coming over with a few lambs and practicing on the small area right next to their house (as long as the lambs go back when we are done!).
Another fun thing we are practicing is shedding. This is kind of a no-brainer on these ewes and lambs. All we have to do is let them settle for a minute and they'll let Ted come right through with hardly a blink - and it's super easy to pick off basically any group and just go with them - the ewes only care about their lambs, not each other, so Ted's main job once we've got control of a cut, is keeping them together.
So I'm taking advantage of this time to let Ted feel out this job with a view to more challenging training to come. It's already paid off - a couple days ago I let out all the sheep together, then had to split them up again.
Gate sorting in our current setup is nearly impossible and dangerous for the last couple of pregnant ewes, plus all the newborn lambs. So I left the gate wide open and we stood int he middle of the feed lot. I used Ted to "be a gate" and we sorted off the mamas between us and allowed them to go out the gate, while keeping the rest in the feed lot.
Ted was fantastic. After a while he figured out the job and could anticipate from my body language whether a ewe/lamb was a "keeper" (requiring him to make a move in and turn her off) or a "leaver" (requiring him to do nothing). That was pretty cool.
The only thing is, he's getting a bit big for his britches with all the control I'm encouraging him to take, so I'm going to need to set up a better controlled situation soon where we can have a little chat about who's ultimately in charge! :)
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