The sheep were beginning to complain. The sheep were beginning to complain LOUDLY! They were complaining about the lack of lush
green grass in the north-facing paddocks. The truth of the matter was…there
wasn’t any grass out front…lush or not.
The combination of cold and wind and forty hungry sheep had pretty much
decimated what little grass had been growing in those paddocks.
At my insistence, the Boss finally said we could move them
out back. I figured I could simply open
the back gate and out they would go. He
figured I would lock them out there with no access to the barn. I had forgotten there was no fence to protect
the precious hoophouse crops, and he had forgotten that the lambs still needed
access to the creep feeder. Suddenly, we
needed to re-think the whole project.
We took a short while to re-group and discuss. While it has been said that most couples
argue over money and sex….most of our “discussions” involve hay and/or grass.
Yes, we are indeed that “unique”!
The Boss pulled out the garden tractor, trimmed some grass,
put up some electric net, and we ran the sheep down the alley. We decided they could only stay out back in
the daylight hours when we were on hand to divert any disasters involving the
hoophouses. The Boss’ great fear is that they would somehow get out and eat up
all our profits.
My great fear is that they will eat themselves sick. The grass out back is
SO green and lush, we cannot allow them to graze without some type of
restriction, or they would indeed make themselves sick. Grass tetany is a very real
concern this time of year. This is caused by a magnesium deficiency and
exacerbated by rich grass. By keeping
the sheep somewhat confined and allowing access to hay and minerals, we can
keep this risk to a minimum.
It looked as if they had entered sheep paradise, nirvana…or
whatever you would call it. With grass
up over their eyeballs, they acted as if they couldn’t decide what to eat
first. The lambs nipped the seedpods off
the grass, while the older ewes gobbled huge mouths full of broad-leafed
weeds. They wandered and munched for
hours before they headed back to the barn to lounge and ruminate.
There is nothing quite as picturesque as sheep on fresh green pasture. The bucolic scene is both relaxing and comforting. …and wonder of wonders, they are no longer complaining!
Now that the rains have come, the front paddocks are already
beginning their regrowth. This is a
wonderful thing, because it is nearly time to wean the lambs. We need lots of grass
and lots of distance to work on that project. …and earplugs! The whole county may need earplugs.
But, for the time being…the sheep and the shepherds are
enjoying those green pastures out back.
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