Ridgetop - our place and how we muddle along

[Baymule]

The barn is ready and looks fabulous.

 

[Ridgetop]

Went out this morning and finished attaching the side panels to the backs with zip ties. As I knelt there holding several zip ties in my mouth (my third hand) I remembered that the previous day the puppy had grabbed the bag of zip ties and dragged it away BY THE BOTTOM dumping the entire contents into the sheep pen dirt and manure. Did I shriek "BLAAGH" and spit them out? No, I am made of stronger stuff than that. I have gotten manure kicked in my face before, had nasty stuff splash all over me delivering kids and lambs, and in an unforgettable moment accidently vaccinated myself against CDT. All part of farming and ranching. Those college kids demonstrating for Hamas should all be required to work on farms on a "work for food" basis. Maybe they would learn a thing or two. I got the 8 new buckets out of the truck and assed them out n the jugs aling with the buckets I already had. I am 2 buckets short, but have a couple buckets I can use in a pinch. Counted and have 16 jugs set up with room fr an additional jug in the large barn. I only have the 36" panels left, but since there is a gate from the large pen on that sidek I can put thejug outside the current en and use that gate to access it. I have to move 3 large metal horse feeders, and a ciole other things but I can get another jug in there if necessary. The only thing I worry about is hw to unroll the hay bale to pull off hay for the jugs.

I got up on the ladder and put in the hooks for the tarps for Thursday. I was doing the back opening which has a lower beam across the opening. That wood is like iron - where it hasn't broken or rotted. I had to go 2 sizes up on the drill bit to be able to get the hooks screwed in and even then I used the pliers to turn them. Payton showed up with the tractor and his little cousin JL - about 10. Payton put out 4 bales of hay for the ewes and one for the ram before the snow hits. JL (cousin) said he goes back to school tomorrow but epects to be off again on Thursday. JL opened and closed all the gates and automatically checked the water troughs to make sure I had broken the ice. Already on his way to beng a good stockman. LOL Payton was delivering a load of wood to a customer (he cuts and sells firewood for college money) after he got home, but he moved the ladder to the front ridge pole opening which is 12' up, drilled and screwed in the hooks for me. Sent them off with money and cookies. DH was really worried about me trying to do that front height myself. He didn't want me to fall, break a hip, lay there and freeze to death. Neither did I. Couldn't leave my sweetie to fend for himself - he would never find anything! LOL

DH called me this afternoon to say that the wind is raging in California. The wind is expected to be 80 mph in gusts - he is worried that we will lose part of our roof again. Also Pacific Palisades is on fire again and no hpe of containment with the winds. DH is also really upset that he left me to deal with lambing, the snow, etc. by myself. He will be back in 2 weeks, I have plenty of food, and we put in the generator for any loss of power. I told him I will be fine. Sent him a picture of Blue Bell ice cream since he will be doing without.

If worst comes to worst I can light the propane stove in the trailer and boil water to add to the sheep water. Supposed to get 3-6" of snow. Barn is ready for lambs, all I have to do is hang up the tarps tomorrow, bring in hay and fill each feeder, get buckets attached and ready to be filled. I even put in hooks for the lanterns along the length of the side barn. I will go check them now and put in fresh batteries.

LET IT SNOW! DH is missing this Hallmark movie event.

 

[fuzzi]

Went out this morning and finished attaching the side panels to the backs with zip ties. As I knelt there holding several zip ties in my mouth (my third hand) I remembered that the previous day the puppy had grabbed the bag of zip ties and dragged it away BY THE BOTTOM dumping the entire contents into the sheep pen dirt and manure. Did I shriek "BLAAGH" and spit them out? No, I am made of stronger stuff than that. I have gotten manure kicked in my face before, had nasty stuff splash all over me delivering kids and lambs, and in an unforgettable moment accidently vaccinated myself against CDT. All part of farming and ranching. Those college kids demonstrating for Hamas should all be required to work on farms on a "work for food" basis. Maybe they would learn a thing or two. I got the 8 new buckets out of the truck and assed them out n the jugs aling with the buckets I already had. I am 2 buckets short, but have a couple buckets I can use in a pinch. Counted and have 16 jugs set up with room fr an additional jug in the large barn. I only have the 36" panels left, but since there is a gate from the large pen on that sidek I can put thejug outside the current en and use that gate to access it. I have to move 3 large metal horse feeders, and a ciole other things but I can get another jug in there if necessary. The only thing I worry about is hw to unroll the hay bale to pull off hay for the jugs.

I got up on the ladder and put in the hooks for the tarps for Thursday. I was doing the back opening which has a lower beam across the opening. That wood is like iron - where it hasn't broken or rotted. I had to go 2 sizes up on the drill bit to be able to get the hooks screwed in and even then I used the pliers to turn them. Payton showed up with the tractor and his little cousin JL - about 10. Payton put out 4 bales of hay for the ewes and one for the ram before the snow hits. JL (cousin) said he goes back to school tomorrow but epects to be off again on Thursday. JL opened and closed all the gates and automatically checked the water troughs to make sure I had broken the ice. Already on his way to beng a good stockman. LOL Payton was delivering a load of wood to a customer (he cuts and sells firewood for college money) after he got home, but he moved the ladder to the front ridge pole opening which is 12' up, drilled and screwed in the hooks for me. Sent them off with money and cookies. DH was really worried about me trying to do that front height myself. He didn't want me to fall, break a hip, lay there and freeze to death. Neither did I. Couldn't leave my sweetie to fend for himself - he would never find anything! LOL

DH called me this afternoon to say that the wind is raging in California. The wind is expected to be 80 mph in gusts - he is worried that we will lose part of our roof again. Also Pacific Palisades is on fire again and no hpe of containment with the winds. DH is also really upset that he left me to deal with lambing, the snow, etc. by myself. He will be back in 2 weeks, I have plenty of food, and we put in the generator for any loss of power. I told him I will be fine. Sent him a picture of Blue Bell ice cream since he will be doing without.

If worst comes to worst I can light the propane stove in the trailer and boil water to add to the sheep water. Supposed to get 3-6" of snow. Barn is ready for lambs, all I have to do is hang up the tarps tomorrow, bring in hay and fill each feeder, get buckets attached and ready to be filled. I even put in hooks for the lanterns along the length of the side barn. I will go check them now and put in fresh batteries.

LET IT SNOW! DH is missing this Hallmark movie event.

So, a "jug" is an enclosure for a ewe giving birth?

I am learning all sorts of stuff here...

 

[Baymule]

It sounds like you are ready for lambing and the weather!

That was so nice of Payton to help you finish up putting in the hooks for you.

I agree with your DH! Don’t fall off a ladder and just don’t fall down at all!

 

[Baymule]

So, a "jug" is an enclosure for a ewe giving birth?

I am learning all sorts of stuff here...

Yes, it gives the mom and lambs time to bond and the lambs to know their mother.

 

[Ridgetop]

So, a "jug" is an enclosure for a ewe giving birth?

Yes, the mom and lambs are moved into a small enclosure (mine are about 5'x5') either just before birth or immediately after. They stay in the jug for about a week. It makes it easier on moms to bond with lambs, lambs to recognize their moms in a flock, and the shepherd to notice if the mom is rejecting one or both of her lambs, or any other health problems. Also it gives us an opportunity to worm ewes (hormones immediately after giving birth cause worms to wake up in the sheep's digestive system). This is also when we dock the lambs, give first vaccinations and give the mom a booster on her CDT. We slso tke care of overgrown hiives at that time since "flipping" a heavily pregnant ewe is not a good practice. Confined in a 25sf pen means you can get up close and personal to the ewe without chasing her and the lambs all over the pasture.

Another word is "fold" referring to a smaller night corral for the sheep to keep them safe from predators. The LGDs do that job, but havng the sheep come in at night to a smaller corral means you can count them and make sure that they are all healthy and present. If you come up one short, you can go looking for it. Sometimes a sheep may get injured, caught in wire, or an unexpected lambing will take place and the ewe won't come in with her lambs so it is safer to go find her. Not everyone uses these practices, particuarly in large commercial flocks of 1000 or so, but for the smaller flocks it is a handy aid.

Just noticed I referred to "flipping" a sheep. This is a maneuver where one person can turn the sheep easily onto its back or butt. You put one foot behind one rear leg, grab both front feet and using the weight of the sheep and your body (like judo throws LOL) roll the sheep up and over onto its butt. By tuckng the head under one arm you can restrain the sheep in a sitting position to shear, etc. We use this method when we need to put our sheep into the hoof trimming equipment. I used to be able to do it myself, but with back and knee problems now, (even in my Prime LOL) DS1 flips the sheep for me.

Other sheep terms you will read on this site from us sheep people may be "creep", "condition", "FEC load", "marking", "culling" etc. Just ask what they mean and someone will be glad to explain them.