Feelin' a bit sheepish...

[Beekissed]

Sorry to hear that Dooley didn't work out for you.

Good to hear that he is on his way to a better situation.

I hadn't realized just how much he was working those birds from his zip line until he was gone. Instant calm in the flock and it was so very quiet....birds just strolling around at ease. He was harassing them so much that the flock felt like they were being hunted, even though he couldn't chase them down...constant squawking and running when he would lunge at them, bark at them, try to herd them from a distance.

I hated to see him leave but am so glad he's gone, if that makes sense. I value the peace of all the animals here, so when just one is out of harmony, it affects the whole farm....and that affects MY peace too. I like a quiet farm and I like the animals to feel safe, at peace.

 

[Baymule]

I couldn't agree more. One disruptive animal influences all. I want my animals to be happy in their lives. I sold a real nice mare one time because she kept beating up on my gelding. She made him miserable, so she had to go.

 

[Beekissed]

I couldn't agree more. One disruptive animal influences all. I want my animals to be happy in their lives. I sold a real nice mare one time because she kept beating up on my gelding. She made him miserable, so she had to go.

Will be selling a whole group of pullets and a cockerel for the first time off my land(usually I just kill and can, but don't have the time right now) and just for that purpose. The pullets are hatchery stock and have the temerity to peck my heels as I walk to the coop to feed! THAT'S never happened to me before. And the cockerel crows much, much too often and is too rough in his mating. They are all going to an animal swap this coming Saturday and good riddance. I like to farm happy.

The only suitable replacement I could find for guarding the chickens around here, after an exhaustive search, is a Goldendoodle puppy. Will be picking him up after coming back from our annual fishing trip. Not my favorite nor best choice but it's as close as I could come to a Lab or Lab mix dog in this area. Should be intelligent, easy to train, have a suitable prey drive and also be good with the grandkids. I hope.

 

[Beekissed]

Took the Ol' Bat down to the big field while I fed dogs....the dogs love that old lady! Especially Blue...and she likes him right back. She's 87 now and just starting to slow down a bit

.

 

[Baymule]

That is precious. Dogs know who likes them and they know who needs them. I know your Mom enjoyed all the attention she got from the dogs.

 

[Beekissed]

That is precious. Dogs know who likes them and they know who needs them. I know your Mom enjoyed all the attention she got from the dogs.

She's not a dog lover, by any means....but, she does tend to like the ones that behave well. That's the mother of nine coming out in her. I am the same way....those that behave well earn a special place in my heart. Blue is a very well behaved dog (that's why the truck chasing episodes were so puzzling...not in his character at all), very polite around all people and animals.

Pinky, on the other hand, is just a huge fluffy ball of sweetness that just wants to be petted no matter what and can't stand for Blue to have any attention. She's a drama queen....but I love her for her sweet nature. Makes her good with the sheep.

 

[Beekissed]

1963: Tonight: Sheep Recognition Experiment | #OnThisDay 1963: Tonight conducted a fascinating "sheep recognition" experiment. Why not play along at home? Try not to fall asleep, mind... | By BBC Archive | Facebook

#OnThisDay 1963: Tonight conducted a fascinating "sheep recognition" experiment. Why not play along at home? Try not to fall asleep, mind...

fb.watch

 

[Baymule]

I suffered through the circle of doom to watch that LOL. I am impressed by that shepherd's ability to really KNOW his sheep.

 

[Beekissed]

I suffered through the circle of doom to watch that LOL. I am impressed by that shepherd's ability to really KNOW his sheep.

Me too!!! I can't even begin to know my sheep that well....I have 8 sheep that don't all look alike and I struggle to tell the difference between at least two of them....and they have different colored ear tags/numbers. For the life of me, all those sheep looked alike except some slight differences in horns.

 

[Baymule]

I knew a man that had a herd of about 50 black angus. He called them "his girls", walked among them daily and knew each one of them by their face.

I'm going to have my own challenge this year. the 6 ewe lambs that I am keeping are all white. This year's lambs are the friendliest I've ever had. This is also the first year that I have creep fed the lambs. That may have something to do with it. When I feed them, I sit on a upturned milk crate by the creep feeder and when they have full bellies, they are curious about me, they sniff and nibble on my clothes. Or it may be feeding Tiny and Panda their bottles that has made the lambs so friendly towards me. Tiny and Panda both love to grab the zipper tab on my jacket and unzip it. Tiny loves to mouth my shoe strings and has chewed the plastic tabs off the ends. Other lambs nibble on my clothing and I reach out to scratch them. Adorable. I can sit out there with them for an hour.

I know one thing, I've been missing the boat by not creep feeding. Getting that early boost in growth is making a difference.