This Saturday found us in the barn bright and early in the morning. The sheep needed weighed, vaccinated, and hooves trimmed. Like most farm animals, a bucket of grain will lead them anywhere you want to take them. The little ones don't pay much attention to the grain, but they will follow their mothers everywhere.
Once the sheep were put in the barn, each sheep was put through the chute to be weighed, vaccinated with CDT, and then placed in the tilt table for a hoof trim. This was one of the first times that we used this new contraption, which was heads and shoulders above the chair we used before. Trying to wrangle 27 sheep into a chair the places them on their back just wasn't appealing anymore, especially now that we have 150+ lb. ewes and one big ram. Besides, they seem to be far more comfortable in the tilt table and the trimmer doesn't have to break his/her back trying to get to all four hooves.
Once the sheep were put in the barn, each sheep was put through the chute to be weighed, vaccinated with CDT, and then placed in the tilt table for a hoof trim. This was one of the first times that we used this new contraption, which was heads and shoulders above the chair we used before. Trying to wrangle 27 sheep into a chair the places them on their back just wasn't appealing anymore, especially now that we have 150+ lb. ewes and one big ram. Besides, they seem to be far more comfortable in the tilt table and the trimmer doesn't have to break his/her back trying to get to all four hooves.
This whole processs took us about 2 hours, while the morning air was still cool. It's easier on the animals and the folks working them to get things done while the sun is coming up.
While we were in the barn, the chickens and the baby chicks were never silent nor still...
While we were in the barn, the chickens and the baby chicks were never silent nor still...
We call her Missy
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