SageHill Ranch Journal

[Baymule]

They are adorable. Lambs are irresistible. How can you not love those schmoochy faces?

Lambs typically don't drink much at one time. Their stomachs are tiny and don't hold much. Their tails go like an airplane propeller and they suckle, just not for long. If the ewe truly doesn't have enough milk, then by all means supplement the lambs. She may reject them because their butt no longer smells of "her" milk, but you probably already know that. It has never happened to me, but others have bottle fed the lambs while leaving them with mom because she could not feed them, and she continued to mother them. I can see you are not in a panic, but after careful observation, following your gut feelings.

keep those adorable lamb pictures coming!

 

[Mini Horses]

They DO have the sweetest faces...almost smiling

 

[SageHill]

Happy Sunday Morning.
Did my "barn chores" this morning. Gave the lambs a chance at the bottle - both took a few sips and said no. OK lambs - you know better. Did the normal put of hay in the pasture let the Bigs and 3 Littles out. Washed out their waterer, The fun time - letting the lambs explore the aisle. They are tooo stinkin' cute. Yeah - I know cute until they turn into sheep - kind of like baby chicks are cute until they turn into dinosaurs, pups until they turn into dogs (though they start as "fur slugs", then baby pups, then pups, then .... ).
@Baymule thanks!! I try not to go off the deep end , I've been around sheep since the 80s working dogs, and more from the 90's on when I got serious with training dogs and helping a friend who maintains a huge flock of sheep just for training dogs. But it's a whole 'nuther story when they are actually your own sheep (I get that too). Of course I do have the Story book as well. You all here are a wealth of knowledge that I so appreciate. It's all about learning and knowing that I don't know it all. Always learning!
Today's pics -
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Can I eat this?

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The stuff inside tastes way better.

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If we hop around do you think she might open the big door??

 

[Baymule]

Yes it is different when those lambs are actually yours. Enjoy!

 

[SageHill]

Sunny day today - last week was pretty much overcast and foggy most of the days with some sprinkles too. I do like that too - it makes for slow and easy going days.
The lambs are doing well, some supplementing if they want it. Mama sheep is very much into the babies - no rejection at all. I've had them out in the aisle way in the barn and they do their lamb dance and run and hop - it's hilarious - the aisle is rubber so it's almost like they are bouncing on a trampoline and the sound OMG makes me laugh just thinking about it. They are quite curious creatures. I've got the lamb fever pretty bad - I call "Lambie, lamb lambs" and they come over to me. Baaad I say Baad. Mama sheep took her first cracker from my yesterday. Too freaking cute.
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Can I come out?

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Check this out - there was something tasty in here.

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You're always holding that thing in your hands, can I taste it?

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Alright, we'll stop bouncing to pose for you, but not for long.

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While mama sheep and the twins stayed up at the barn Obi and I took the others out to graze. The intention was not to get to the meadow, but we actually got there - NO FIREANTS along the way!! Thank goodness that problem is taken care of. The meadow is pretty brown , though it's to be expected. There is green starting to poke through in places - but not enough to keep the sheep happy yet. Of course Obi was VERY HAPPY to be back working again. The crazy "trial" sheep actually played nicely today. The 3 Littles that were with us did fabulous, it was their first ever time to the meadow and their longest walking the road to get there and back. HAPPY!
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The meadow

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Munching wild buckwheat along the ranch road.

News flash - just saw Roadie the roadrunner go by as I was posting this! YAY

 

[BrahmerQueen]

Sunny day today - last week was pretty much overcast and foggy most of the days with some sprinkles too. I do like that too - it makes for slow and easy going days.
The lambs are doing well, some supplementing if they want it. Mama sheep is very much into the babies - no rejection at all. I've had them out in the aisle way in the barn and they do their lamb dance and run and hop - it's hilarious - the aisle is rubber so it's almost like they are bouncing on a trampoline and the sound OMG makes me laugh just thinking about it. They are quite curious creatures. I've got the lamb fever pretty bad - I call "Lambie, lamb lambs" and they come over to me. Baaad I say Baad. Mama sheep took her first cracker from my yesterday. Too freaking cute.
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Can I come out?

View attachment 94045
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Check this out - there was something tasty in here.
View attachment 94046
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You're always holding that thing in your hands, can I taste it?

View attachment 94047
-------------------------------------
Alright, we'll stop bouncing to pose for you, but not for long.

View attachment 94048
----------------------
While mama sheep and the twins stayed up at the barn Obi and I took the others out to graze. The intention was not to get to the meadow, but we actually got there - NO FIREANTS along the way!! Thank goodness that problem is taken care of. The meadow is pretty brown , though it's to be expected. There is green starting to poke through in places - but not enough to keep the sheep happy yet. Of course Obi was VERY HAPPY to be back working again. The crazy "trial" sheep actually played nicely today. The 3 Littles that were with us did fabulous, it was their first ever time to the meadow and their longest walking the road to get there and back. HAPPY!
.
The meadow
View attachment 94049
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Munching wild buckwheat along the ranch road.

View attachment 94050

News flash - just saw Roadie the roadrunner go by as I was posting this! YAY

I'm never going to get over that barn LOL

 

[SageHill]

I'm never going to get over that barn LOL

Come on out! We can sit on the porch and sip coffee or ?? and check out the view too. I love it, The stalls are all "Softstall" --- which is good and bad. Easy to totally clean - but have to be cleaned a lot and go through lots of shavings to soak up the wet.

 

[SageHill]

Typical Tuesday, cleaning out stalls again.
I think I've figured out my creep feeder. I need a sort pen to put by one of the arenas. IMO it would be nice to be portable. If I get 4 sheep mesh panels I can link them together and leave a fixed opening only the lambs can get through. Since I don't need both at the same time it should a win win. And when not in use it won't take up a lot of space. I could probably do it 2 or three panels up against the corral panels - but might as well get what I eventually need (while the getting is still doable). Thoughts?? Bad or otherwise are always welcome.

Before getting into barn chores and cleaning I of course snapped a few pics of the lambs. Too cute. And took out the rest of the sheep to graze down the greening roadside. It of course adds hour(s) to the day but they are good hours for all. Got back to the barn and let all the sheep out in the pasture. Figuring out where to put another pasture. Looking around at some of the hillsides. Still have a roll or two of woven 2x4 to put to use.

Much quieter than a weed whacker!

...
"Do purple towels taste like purple flowers?"

Have a good one everyone.

 

[Baymule]

I had a creep feeder with slats the lambs could pass through. Only problem was, as they grew, they would squirm about halfway and get stuck. @Mike CHS has one with round holes that only their heads can go through.

 

[SageHill]

Just when the weather was getting nice the Santa Ana blows in. Sigh - typical weather always keeps ya' guessing. With the cooler temps the last two weeks it was inevitable that we wouldn't settle into a cool fall that quickly. This morning the Santa Ana blew in - getting 90 today and dry, very very dry. Humidity when I got up around 5:30 was 30% and going down. Put hay out in the pasture - here some, there some, ..... feeling like a keeper in the zoo that hides food for "enrichment activity" for their wild critters , Obi and I took the flock out to do a little roadside maintenance - a couple hours out "sheep mowing". Yeah - a weed eater is definitely faster, but this is definitely more centering - sheep get fresh green stuff, Obi gets to work, I get to start out decompressed. Win, win, win.
The HayGuy bought hay for us - it should last about 2 months. Every time I buy hay I feel like I'm buying futures . At least the price has not changed since I last bought it.
My detection dog student cancelled today because of the heat. No problem there, I can use the time to reorganize the tackroom.
There was another sighting of the mountain lion about three miles from here. I know that predators are out there, and also active in the daytime - but I'm sure glad I have a very secure barn for the night time.
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Roadside Maintenance Crew..

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Obi "Helping"

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... and obligatory lamb pic