Teresa & Mike CHS - Our journal

[Baymule]

It’s a dirty job but somebody’s gotta do it.

 

[Mike CHS]

We went to town and filed for the drought assistance with the USDA office. It is a wee bit less than last year but it is an uncounted late summer bonus. We had 44 sheep at the due date but you max out at 3 sheep per acre which comes to a max of 28 head for us.

 

[Mike CHS]

The rush is already on for paper products like toilet paper and paper towels. Costco shelves are already bare.

 

[murphysranch]

I've been reading the same thing!! Costco's around the nation were slammed yesterday!!

 

[Baymule]

Probably because of the dockworker strike. People are such dummies! We make our own paper towels and toilet paper!

 

[Mike CHS]

Today has been a mostly watch football kind of day. I'm still limited in what I can do but I am still trying to be a good boy. I can mow and did so with the zero turn for a couple of hours yesterday but even that one causes issues the next day. There are a few places that I need to use the riding mower but that doesn't get done because I can't turn the steering wheel.

The only sheep that are getting messed with right now are Jack and Toby (the young rams). I mess with the young rams to give them opportunities to head butt but make it a painful process. Neither of these young rams have tried to head butt me in over a month and they come into the shop to get their back scratches and animal crackers. There is a lot of sheep growers that think this is a mistake but I have been doing it for almost 10 years and will continue to do so.

 

[Baymule]

Both Rocky and little Ringo were friendly as youngsters, then realized they had testicles. They got fiesty. They have calmed down, I give them treats but neither one is as friendly as Cooper or Ringo. I’m hoping that with age, they get more friendly. Rocky challenged me for the longest, I’d make him move his feet. He’s finally calming down and not threatening me. In 20 days I’m going to pull Little Ringo out of the field with ewes and put him back with Rocky. I may put him back in his pen first to give him time to settle down, then open the gate between them. I haven’t had much experience with multiple rams so it should be interesting.

Being the recipient of 2 of your adult, older rams, I can vouch for your methods. I just do what you do. Rocky is coming around to having the sides of his face stroked.

 

[Mike CHS]

We had an appointment at Arnold Air Force Base at 11:00 to renew Teresa's ID card. Even with an appointment, we were there for well over an hour before being seen and we were the only people there. We stopped at a fast food and the chicken sandwich was either way over cooked or it had sat out for a long time. I settled for the french fries for my lunch.

 

[Ridgetop]

There is a lot of sheep growers that think this is a mistake but I have been doing it for almost 10 years and will continue to do so.

Getting rams used to being handled s a good thing. Over handling like pets might not be so good in certain rams. Our rams get used to being pulled out to be bred and by the time they are several years old are very docile to handle. Our newest ram is not so used to handling. I think we will set up a smaller pen when we return to TX and get him used to being fed hay.

 

[farmerjan]

You are making the young rams friendly ....BUT.... respectful.... they are not "pets" which are often spoiled... You teach them manners, along with being friendly and handle able. There is a difference...