Kodesh Acres - This is my journal about sheep

[KodeshAcres]

Well... it poured today and all the sheep were just out there standing in the rain my brother and I went out there (around 3pm), he walked them to the end of the paddock where the 3 sided shed is. As soon as we started heading back towards the house they came running out of the shed and back to standing out in the rain, they have not gone back into the shed since. They were very happy to see me at 5 with grain in hand Thunderstorms and heavy rain are predicted to continue for another 2 days, is this normal sheep behavior?
Also, now their hay is on the ground and all wet. Thinking about some how anchoring a tarp down to go over the feeder, but still give them access to all sides. Day #2.

 

[Margali]

You can get some 1/2 pex pipe to bend into u’s and put tarp over. That will allow you to fill hay feeder with tarp installed. Google mini-greenhouse for examples.

 

[Baymule]

My sheep will stay out in the field in soft rain, but run for cover in a hard rain.

Your shed is not “home” to them yet.

 

[farmerjan]

For a "quick fix".... get a wall hay feeder and put their hay in it in the shed. Attaches to the wall or sometimes a partial "round one" that goes in the corner up on the wall.... Or you can make something of your own... but it will hold a couple flakes of a sq bale. You don't have to use it all the time... but in the rain it might help entice them to go in there.
It isn't "home" to them like @Baymule said... and it is farther than they want to be from people and they are probably very people oriented coming from @Margali .

 

[KodeshAcres]

You can get some 1/2 pex pipe to bend into u’s and put tarp over. That will allow you to fill hay feeder with tarp installed. Google mini-greenhouse for examples.

ohh I like that idea, sounds easier than a pallet hay shed

 

[KodeshAcres]

For a "quick fix".... get a wall hay feeder and put their hay in it in the shed. Attaches to the wall or sometimes a partial "round one" that goes in the corner up on the wall.... Or you can make something of your own... but it will hold a couple flakes of a sq bale. You don't have to use it all the time... but in the rain it might help entice them to go in there.
It isn't "home" to them like @Baymule said... and it is farther than they want to be from people and they are probably very people oriented coming from @Margali .

Very good points. Yes they are very friendly towards us.

 

[KodeshAcres]

It's been 1 week since we got our flock. It was a very wet week! So we had to change up the pasture rotation. They've been in 3 different paddocks and tomorrow we will move them to the next. Gwynn (little ewe lamb) quickly understood that it was not a good idea to touch the electric fence. We added another board to the hay feeder because they were pulling a lot out and most of it ended up on the ground, at one point I saw Dottie (ewe) with her head all the way inside the feeder, she was having a feast! We introduced fermented alfalfa today. Everybody's poop seems normal so far. I sprinkled a bit of grain into the free choice minerals because they were never going to it, thought maybe they needed to somehow be taught that it's there for them to take freely, we will see.
Other than the fact we had DAYS of rain and very little sunshine, it was a pretty good week.

A few things I have learned while reading:
Apple Cider Vinegar = Trouble- Free Lambing
Seaweed (Kelp) - Prevents pregnancy toxemia
Cod Liver Oil is the best way to provide vitamin A & D
Happy sheep keeping y'all!

 

[Margali]

Good to see them happy! Smaller that 5"x6" holes are needed to keep heads from going in and maybe getting stuck.

 

[Baymule]

I have 2 totes that were used as dog houses and left here when I bought this place. The aluminum frames are often used as hay feeders. You can have them if you want to come get them. I have no use for them, I use round bales. You need a pickup truck or a small trailer. If interested, I can post pictures.

 

[KodeshAcres]

Good to see them happy! Smaller that 5"x6" holes are needed to keep heads from going in and maybe getting stuck.

Yes, other than the 2 incidents with Snickers, everything is going well