I finally get all the sheep together for the first time. This is a great achievement. I build a sheep chute so I can handle the sheep every move. It is a complete disaster though.
The dogs keep coming home and chasing lambs. I need to solve this problem.
I lost another calf, but another one was born — #44. And then a young heifer gave birth to a calf that isn’t standing and passes.
I officially start the spring rotation on 3/12.
Friday 3/1
Greg Judy’s rule on keeping sheep in the wire is that the sheep shouldn’t leave if there is plenty of forage for them.
The dogs are escaping from the field. I need to keep them at the field rather than terrorizing our neighborhood.
Saturday 3/2
A bull got out, new calf, #4 (tag tore out) gave birth to #44, and Rammy is following me around.
Sunday 3/3
#42 is dying.
Monday 3/4
I was able to move the sheep successfully.
Tuesday 3/5
I finally got all the sheep together!
Wednesday 3/6
Thursday 3/7
Friday 3/8
We got some rain today. I’m almost ready to start rotating for spring.
Saturday 3/9
Is spring finally here? Also dogs were chasing a lamb. This is not good.
Sunday 3/10
The cows are at the southernmost part of the pasture.
I’m trying to train the dogs to stay away from the lambs. They hurt Rammy’s sister.
Monday 3/11
Now I’m trying a spray bottle to keep the dogs away from the lambs.
Tuesday 3/12
We are officially starting the spring rotation. I’m moving all the cows back to the northernmost part of my pasture.
Wednesday 3/13
I’m having doubts about whether I started the rotation too early. If I had more hay, I’d keep them on hay for a few more weeks at least.
The sheep chute is a failure. I need better fencing leading to the chute — solid fencing! The sheep really don’t like new things and they certainly don’t like confined spaces.
Thursday 3/14
My new plan is to put up more wires in the cattle pen so it can handle sheep too. The weather is supposed to be really bad today.
Friday 3/15
Saturday 3/16
A calf got her head stuck in a nesting box so we had to rope her. New row! We got 1.5″ of rain so far.
Sunday 3/17
I got a new calf but he is not doing well. The young heifer gave birth to #45. He is not standing and not nursing. We fed her colostrum but it had no effect.
Monday 3/18
Tuesday 3/19
Yellow’s new calf likes to hide in the grass. She’s very good at it.
Wednesday 3/20
Thursday 3/21
Rammy is going to stay at the field full time now.
Friday 3/22
Saturday 3/23
Sunday 3/24
The puppies will no longer bother the lambs anymore.
Monday 3/25
It was raining so we brought Rammy home.
Tuesday 3/26
Wednesday 3/27
Reinforcing the cattle pen with woven wire so that the sheep will stay in the pen when I put them in there.
Thursday 3/28
I’m seeing Yellow Dung Flies and dock. Both are very good signs.