Lambs to Lone Pine Field

Big trek today with the lambs.  We went from the barn area where they overnight in an area better protected from coyotes, to the lone pine field, which is on the western side of the Schommer crossing.   We made it without too much trouble. Here is Zeus, with the lambs on the radish and ryegrass forage.

We went along the alleyway to direct their flow, with Zeus in the lead, until he disappeared into the distance. 

They bunched up going over the stream. 

Most problematic was getting past the puddles in the road that must appear like deep lakes to  them.

But, we made it and they are enjoying the fresh forage.  This evening I will bring them back to the barn area.  Then tomorrow do it all again.   They will get better with practice. 

Pipe Laying

We are developing the use of what we call the Coast Electric field (because of the power line on one side).  We put up fence around the area and now we are setting up watering areas for the sheep.   To that end we need to trench in several thousand feet of water line connecting back to Jeffrey and Jackie's house.  After a couple false starts we successfully installed a little over 500 feet of pipe using a plow that Jeffrey modified.   In the photo, there is the JD2955 with the plow and spool of pipe.  Attached to the plow is a long chain to the International on the road ahead.   The soil is wet and slippery and with trenching down 1.5 to 2 feet, the John Deere needs help pulling the plow.

This is a photo of the plow Jeffrey modified to get the pipe down lower.

The plow feeding in the pipe.

The pipe in the trench. 

We used some planks to bridge over an open trench that leads to the concrete slab where the water trough will be located.  These are called Heavy Use Pads and will prevent mud and erosion caused by the sheep coming to the water trough.