Today a veterinary technician arrived to inspect our flock of sheep for the scrapie eradication program. Mercifully our flock got a clean bill of health, at least as far as scrapie is concerned, and we got some inside advice on the way the system works, its limitations, and how to stay in compliance. We took the opportunity to do some more rooing of the sheep while she did her inspection, and we have what must be a good two wheelbarrow loads of wool.
She exploded one myth for us: that scrapie has never been diagnosed in a Soay sheep. To her knowledge a rare form of spontaneous scrapie manifestation was found in one Soay sheep. To know that this is possible is good. To know that it is rare is better.
She also gave us some very appreciated advice concerning the market for sheep in the area: apparently there are some butchers who specialise in sheep and goats for the moslem and general middle eastern culture markets, but also for the hispanic. Apparently a lot of buyers come here and buy up anything they can and ship it to Mexico, which means that there's a supply dearth. This might well mean that we can get fairly decent prices for our surplus sheep. She promised to send us some contact information so that we can test the waters.
Double Nickel, our oldest sheep (but also quite possibly our favourite ewe, since she is an excellent mother and has a pleasant personality, and bears gorgeous lambs to boot) has a sore left forefoot, so our regular vet came out for a look. Nothing terrible was found - no footrot or anything like that - so we're just observing for the time being. There's a bit of a crack in the hoof, so the vet said that it looked as if she might have twisted her foot somehow.
We've been having trouble getting quotes from fencing contractors, so we are casting our net a little wider, but we still definitely intend to set up proper fencing for pastures, all the better to keep our sheep safe and controlled. A decent hayshed and a proper manger will save on hay expenses as well.
The scythe was certainly a good investment. It's quieter than a weedeater, but just as effective, and requires less maintenance and fuel. It's ideal for taking the tops off thistles, which the sheep are reluctant to eat. Wilted thistle parts, a day or so later, the sheep gladly eat, so we don't end up with much spiky debris lying around. This also means that bits of grass and forbs which grow under the shelter of thistle spikes are available for the sheep to eat, so it keeps the grazing more even.
The predators have been leaving our ducks alone, which is gratifying. Whether this is because periodic guarding by a farmer is making them nervous, because we have taken to leaving the porch lights on at night, or because we placed some fencing in a loose, incomplete circle around the duck pond is unclear, but we hope to keep a lid on losses.
Friday, June 25, 2010
Sunday, June 20, 2010
20 June 2010
With the rain we've been having, the sheep have decided that any port in a storm is good. Even under the truck.
They've been escaping and going to neighboring properties too much lately despite the prevalence of pasture here, so we're consulting with fencing contractors starting first thing tomorrow.
More tree guards, and one tree was damaged; we've taped it and hope it'll make it.
Monday, June 14, 2010
14 June 2010
cool & overcast
The sheep have discovered the side pasture, overgrown as it is. This creates an ovine 'Where's Waldo?' effect.
We've stopped giving them hay in the morning, instead turning them out to graze. We're looking into fencing options as well, as the sheep do keep ending up where we don't want them; including, more than once although only just, out in the road.
The geese have been holding their own. Nothing is more triumphant-looking than a goose with a piece of wool in its beak...
cool & overcast
The sheep have discovered the side pasture, overgrown as it is. This creates an ovine 'Where's Waldo?' effect.We've stopped giving them hay in the morning, instead turning them out to graze. We're looking into fencing options as well, as the sheep do keep ending up where we don't want them; including, more than once although only just, out in the road.
The geese have been holding their own. Nothing is more triumphant-looking than a goose with a piece of wool in its beak...
Friday, June 11, 2010
10 June 2010
Chilly & wet
The sheep have been being troublesome lately. Yesterday they decided not only to escape, but to flee to the neighbors' property when the UPS truck spooked them. They could not be found except for one poor lamb caught in the net. It was rescued in time, and upon walking the property and finding no sheep, the car was utilized. No sooner had the car backed out of the garage than the sheep returned, running for the lawn.
They later had to be coaxed into their own enclosure with alfalfa during a rainstorm bad enough that they were trying to take shelter in the band of rain forest. That got them in for the night.
Today they escaped again - the frequent rains make it all too easy for them. They spent most of their time splitting up into small groups and refusing to cooperate. The best methods of luring them into one space for a bit proved to be by feeding bread to the birds until they noticed, then leading them towards the enclosure and leaving them be. While they did still scatter and move around, they became much less interested in the areas which we prefer to have off limits to them.
We put them in for the night a little early - around 6:30 instead of 7:30. Since it was overcast, this apparently worked reasonably well. The birds ate well, although the ducks have developed a taste for cat food...
Chilly & wet
The sheep have been being troublesome lately. Yesterday they decided not only to escape, but to flee to the neighbors' property when the UPS truck spooked them. They could not be found except for one poor lamb caught in the net. It was rescued in time, and upon walking the property and finding no sheep, the car was utilized. No sooner had the car backed out of the garage than the sheep returned, running for the lawn.
They later had to be coaxed into their own enclosure with alfalfa during a rainstorm bad enough that they were trying to take shelter in the band of rain forest. That got them in for the night.
Today they escaped again - the frequent rains make it all too easy for them. They spent most of their time splitting up into small groups and refusing to cooperate. The best methods of luring them into one space for a bit proved to be by feeding bread to the birds until they noticed, then leading them towards the enclosure and leaving them be. While they did still scatter and move around, they became much less interested in the areas which we prefer to have off limits to them.
We put them in for the night a little early - around 6:30 instead of 7:30. Since it was overcast, this apparently worked reasonably well. The birds ate well, although the ducks have developed a taste for cat food...
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Mini planting season
9:39 PM, 5 June 2010
Warm and sunny with very slight cloud
Today started early with a run to the nursery. They had arranged a sale on many plants, and we took advantage of it to the tune of 27 perry pears and a large number of silvan blackberries (sic).
Another purchase was an ubileen pear tree. This we planted over Wimsey's grave, as a memorial tree.
We assembled a few tree guards and placed them around our new purchases, but we need more rebar with which to brace the guards. As it is, the shifting of fences, placement of guards and addition of a temporary sheep shelter took much of the rest of the day.
The hunt for predators after our ducks continues, although the ride home from the nursery was a good one for wildlife. A coyote crossed the road in front of the truck, as did a doe with a couple of fawns. One fawn in particular appeared to be interested in the truck, and rather than wandering off, stopped to look, wandered up and down a little, still looking, and finally left only as the truck rolled on.
Warm and sunny with very slight cloud
Today started early with a run to the nursery. They had arranged a sale on many plants, and we took advantage of it to the tune of 27 perry pears and a large number of silvan blackberries (sic).
Another purchase was an ubileen pear tree. This we planted over Wimsey's grave, as a memorial tree.
We assembled a few tree guards and placed them around our new purchases, but we need more rebar with which to brace the guards. As it is, the shifting of fences, placement of guards and addition of a temporary sheep shelter took much of the rest of the day.
The hunt for predators after our ducks continues, although the ride home from the nursery was a good one for wildlife. A coyote crossed the road in front of the truck, as did a doe with a couple of fawns. One fawn in particular appeared to be interested in the truck, and rather than wandering off, stopped to look, wandered up and down a little, still looking, and finally left only as the truck rolled on.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
12:01 AM, 1 June 2010
Cool & dry, slightly overcast
We've lost several more ducks but no more geese. Investigation today turned up that in addition to a raccoon, there's coyote dung with duck feathers in it; this suggests that either the coyote are coming up to eat the ducks, or possibly they're finishing off whatever the raccoons are leaving behind. Discussions and research has been made and the conclusion come to involves a shotgun.
Wimsey's ailments finally caught up with him and we had the vet out on Friday. We miss him dreadfully already and will be planting him under a tree in the garden.
We have come to tentative conclusions regarding fencing in the sheep. Another lamb died today by strangling itself on the fence, and we butchered it and cooked it as part of our Memorial Day fare. The party was a huge success, the lamb tender and delicious, with a surfeit of other foods.
Cool & dry, slightly overcast
We've lost several more ducks but no more geese. Investigation today turned up that in addition to a raccoon, there's coyote dung with duck feathers in it; this suggests that either the coyote are coming up to eat the ducks, or possibly they're finishing off whatever the raccoons are leaving behind. Discussions and research has been made and the conclusion come to involves a shotgun.
Wimsey's ailments finally caught up with him and we had the vet out on Friday. We miss him dreadfully already and will be planting him under a tree in the garden.
We have come to tentative conclusions regarding fencing in the sheep. Another lamb died today by strangling itself on the fence, and we butchered it and cooked it as part of our Memorial Day fare. The party was a huge success, the lamb tender and delicious, with a surfeit of other foods.
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