Taking the Bus to Lee's House

Len borrowed a liner and brought the truck home last night. We loaded up most of the flock this morning and took them into Lee's to acclimatize themsleves for the trial at Coldstream. Lee also has lots of grass, we are still feeding, so I really appreciate being able to take them in early. Good thing Len's mom, Millie was out and took pictures because I thought about taking some after we were done. The sad part of the morning was Clairice crying with every bunch we loaded. She is one of the Livestock Guardian Dogs and although she has the lambs and about 30 sheep left to look after, she didn't want the flock to go.
Here are pictures of the morning:

Kip bringing the first group for the back half of the top level. We found it easier to load them in groups. I was very pleased with Kip, she has alot of stock sense and was always in the right place at the right time.

Kip, the Queen of the Trailer Loadin' Dogs 

The Day After

See Previous Post..'nuff said

The part I left out yesterday when doing "sheepday" was the injuries. Len fared well, only bumped his head on one of the center posts in the barn. Not sure how that happened?? Jumping out of the alleyway prehaps? I cut my palm with the new sharp hoof trimmers and thought I had been blinded when one of my sheep spit the Valbazan straight back into my face and one eye. You can picture this:  Me yelling for water, Len grabs my water bottle which had cran-water in it and I'm yelling..no no get some clean water..  Now I would have grabbed the bottle, dumped out the cran-water and filled it up at the waterer not far from the barn. Not my husband. He ran all the way to the house, searched for a container and brought me some clean water. Poor guy could  hardly breath but he ran all the way. My hero!

Ok, where the heck is that Aleve?

About 400 Feet

For a couple of weeks now we have been saying we need to trim the sheep's feet, replace eartags, de-worm and get them ready for Lee's trial at Coldstream and breeding for November when they get back.
Here's the start:

This is the group of open ewes and the 20 new ewes from Jennifer L'Arrives's flock. The weaned ewes were next and they are doing great and bags drying up just fine!

Jennifer's sheep tried to get to the phone and call for Greyhound tickets to McBride and the SPCA They were actually pretty good for being new to the place and different systems but like ours, they love to eat! They were happy to hear that they didn't have to go to the sheep trial this year. They are new to my flock and it wouldn't be fair to them or the handlers so they get to stay home with the Guardian Dogs.

Tilt Squeeze table which we haven't used for awhile. When we just had a few sheep it was easier to just tip them and do feet...or so I thought! Len made a few improvements to it like a breakaway floor after they are tilted so it is more stable to let them down. We have the scale under the table so get a digital readout for the sheep's weights. Wow Jen, those 3 Suffolk girls weight 204, 206 and 210!! No wonder they move me when they bump into me.

Had to stop to make some adjustments.

You want us to what????????????? The sheep aren't bad to go into the chute but next plan is to build a round pen with a crowding tub. Makes moving the sheep easier and more curves are better.

Len taking a break, coffee and turkey sandwiches.

Sonny would like to know when we are finishing so I can feed him supper.

And if the sheep think they are tired, they should see us.....................

April Blahs no April Blog

Still waiting for that warm Spring Weather, like everyone else it seems. Not much happening these days so here's what we've been up to.

Putting the canopy back on farmer style after hauling a minibag (ton) of barley. My little camper waiting in the background to go to a Dog Trial!

Yep, April 10 and that's snow up there but the fields are finally bare. As you can see no green out there yet.

Handy Man Len putting the aluminum bars on the canopy windows to haul some ewes to McBride next weekend. Replacement ewes going up so Jen has some light sheep to work for the summer, the rest of the ewes we bought coming here.

Spring is Here or Vacuum Cleaner Overtime

Lambs 2011

It's the winter lambing but we have been very lucky for warm temperatures, a large barn and nice pens. Instead of me prattling on forever, here are the pictures. Just click on the Pictures to go to Picasa and click Slideshow to see the rest.

Len & Holly February 2004