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KodeshAcres
Overrun with beasties
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Yes post pictures please, I can’t picture them. We have a small truck, no trailer. Where are you located?
Kodesh Acres - This is my journal about sheep
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Baymule
Herd Master
Trinity county, near Apple Springs between Lufkin and Crockett
Baymule
Herd Master
The hole is cut so a dog can go inside. You could wire it up with sheep and goat wire or just put a piece of plywood over it.
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KodeshAcres
Overrun with beasties
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@Baymule those are pretty neat!!! I don't think we could fit them in our 2003 Toyota Tacoma and you are 2.5 hours away from us
I appreciate you offering them to me though. I will keep an eye out in my local groups for them.
Baymule
Herd Master
Square bales fit perfectly. I use round bales. Dont need a dog house. Someone will come along who needs them.
We all find what works for us, make improvements along the way. Y’all are off to a great start!
We all find what works for us, make improvements along the way. Y’all are off to a great start!
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KodeshAcres
Overrun with beasties
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It's been a day! We moved the flock to a fresh pasture today. Separated the ram from the ewes, he was NOT happy. However, it was necessary to separate him because he was not being very kind to the ewes and 3 of them are pregnant, of which 2 will be lambing soon. When we got out there to set up fence and move all their stuff over to the new paddock, I notice Peggy ( the biggest pregnant ewe) was kneeling to eat and was not moving much, when she got up she had a bit of a limp. We got their paddocks set up and put Snickers (ram) in his new paddock, then the girls quickly moved over into their new paddock (without grain bribe. YAY!). We attached grain feeder containers to the hay feeder with zip ties. Once they had their grain and some time to graze the fresh pasture we had to get down to business and catch a few ewes (we are first timers here, I realize now I should use the grain to bribe them and catch then). We caught Gwynn (ewe lamb) because she had a weird looking dark spot near one of her back legs that turned out to be a giant sticker that we went ahead and removed. The ewe we were really concerned about was Peggy, who was laying down most of the day, kneeling with front legs to eat and limping while walking. Let me tell you, when we set out to catch her though... she ran like the wind!!! Once we got her we were able to check her front hoofs for any rocks or foreign object that might of gotten stuck on her hoofs. I didn't see anything in there but I also didn't do a great job of cleaning her hoofs to inspect ( did I mention we are first timers?) after reaching out to @Margali we went back out to catch her ( yes, it was a whole family event! The 12 year old caught her) and cleaned her hoofs with a wet rag and gently scrubbed dirt off with a brush, there are two areas that are of potential concern. @Margali thinks thorns. We need to get tweezers tomorrow and try to see if we can get anything out. I felt horrible for making her run and potentially having stressed her out so far into her pregnancy, but I was concerned for her and needed to check. She was standing while eating grain and that was good to see. I really enjoyed being able to spend more time with the ewes today once we had them separated from the ram. He was not happy and made a few growls, lowered head and came close to fence but we were ready to handle him if he chose to really test the waters. I am thankful that he respects the electric fence, that thing is hot 10.5 to 11 all the way around. I'm grateful for our big family of 10, we have many helping hands and I am grateful for this sheep community.
Baymule
Herd Master
We have a Snowmeggdon event heading towards us. Right now, go get some alfalfa hay for its better nutrition. And get some pine shavings, those will go fast. Be prepared to close up the ewes in the shelter. You can block the opening with a cow panel or pallets. Drive tposts and tie cow panel and or pallets to them. Attach a tarp to block wind. If using pallets, staple plastic feed bags to them.
Have extra buckets. You will have to carry boiling water to pour into water buckets for the sheep. Be prepared to carry frozen buckets in the house and place in bathtub to thaw overnight. You may have to swap out buckets. Hint: don’t fill sheep water buckets all the way up. This will give you room to add boiling water to melt enough ice for them to get a drink. Twice a day.
Construct a quick shelter or Mr Snickers out of pallet, 1 for the back, 2 on each side, 2 on top. Drive tposts, tie together with hay string and or cleat pallets together with 1x4s screwing them together. Cover with a tarp or plastic feed sacks.
Make sure you have plenty of hay and feed. Get it now before the panic sets in. Sorta like the milk and bread runs at the grocery stores. LOL
This is not going to be any fun. In 2011, my late husband and I lived in Lindale. Our barn was a 20x24 lean to roof off the side of a portable building. Cow panel walls, open on 3 sides. Great for the heat, ice and snow not so much. I put up cardboard to block the wind. Dragged hay off the round bale twice daily for sheep to snuggle in. We had 15 brand new baby lambs plus one born during the storm. All did well, none froze and all survived. It got to -6 degrees. It took me 3 hours twice daily to care for them all. We made it and you and your sheep will too. They are tougher than you think. After all, for the best cold weather coat what do we wear? Sheepskin.
Have extra buckets. You will have to carry boiling water to pour into water buckets for the sheep. Be prepared to carry frozen buckets in the house and place in bathtub to thaw overnight. You may have to swap out buckets. Hint: don’t fill sheep water buckets all the way up. This will give you room to add boiling water to melt enough ice for them to get a drink. Twice a day.
Construct a quick shelter or Mr Snickers out of pallet, 1 for the back, 2 on each side, 2 on top. Drive tposts, tie together with hay string and or cleat pallets together with 1x4s screwing them together. Cover with a tarp or plastic feed sacks.
Make sure you have plenty of hay and feed. Get it now before the panic sets in. Sorta like the milk and bread runs at the grocery stores. LOL
This is not going to be any fun. In 2011, my late husband and I lived in Lindale. Our barn was a 20x24 lean to roof off the side of a portable building. Cow panel walls, open on 3 sides. Great for the heat, ice and snow not so much. I put up cardboard to block the wind. Dragged hay off the round bale twice daily for sheep to snuggle in. We had 15 brand new baby lambs plus one born during the storm. All did well, none froze and all survived. It got to -6 degrees. It took me 3 hours twice daily to care for them all. We made it and you and your sheep will too. They are tougher than you think. After all, for the best cold weather coat what do we wear? Sheepskin.
Baymule
Herd Master
This poor little lamb was born during the storm. I cut an arm off a sweater for her. I picked her up every time I went out and stuck my finger in her mouth. It was always warm, she was fine, just looked pitiful. I stuffed her in my coat, tucked in my sweat hoodie in my pants, to hold her snug against my body heat while I did chores.
My barn. Notice the lack of walls. LOL There was a 8x8 shelter in there that was my first shelter for the first 4 sheep we had. The ewes liked to lamb in that little cave, they felt secure there. So I left it up.
I think we got 10 or 12 inches of snow.
My barn. Notice the lack of walls. LOL There was a 8x8 shelter in there that was my first shelter for the first 4 sheep we had. The ewes liked to lamb in that little cave, they felt secure there. So I left it up.
I think we got 10 or 12 inches of snow.
