Odin Goes Visiting

I took Odin out on the 4-wheeler to visit the main ewe flock in the far west oaktree field and to feed Hero and Heidi. 

I'm using the 4-wheeler because the buggy has a broken front wheel bearing and the Gator has a broken starter motor.   We are waiting on parts.   Also down is the JD2955, it needs a new fuel Injector.  

Here are some photos of the visit.

 

Going to New Pasture

Yesterday we took the rams out of the ewe flock and combined the younger ewe lambs (the less than 85 lb group, too small to breed) into the main group.  This morning we moved the flock out to a paddock in the oaktree field.  I've set up five 5-acre paddocks that we will rotate the sheep through. 

Odin, the newest member of the guardian crew, helped move them along.

Of course he had help from Hero, Heidi, Whitie, Jackie, Jeffrey and me.

We all arrived and the sheep spread out to start eating. 

The next step is setting up accommodations.   I  brought out a water tub and the minerals feeder.  Then used the pallet lifter and the Gater to bring out the housing for Hero and Heidi.   They've been hanging out on the porch while the sheep were up near the house.   It's time to get them back to work with the sheep out on the frontier. 

Of course possession is a large part of home ownership.   Sometimes it's necessary to drive off squatters. 

Odin, Out and About

Each morning and evening when I go out to feed the animals, I try to take Odin around with me.  This should get him familiar with the farm and routine and make him comfortable riding around in a vehicle.   Also gives him experience hearing commands and me opportunity to give him commands. 

This morning we opened up the south beaver field and called the sheep in.  This is also when I feed Hero and Heidi.  In spite of the blog of a few days ago, when I moved sheep and dogs to the west bahia field, Hero and Heidi started climbing over the cattle panel gates again and coming up to the house.  Even though they don't stay with the sheep, I always feed them out with the sheep. 

So we all went out, including Whitie. 

Odin Arrives

Odin, at about 8 weeks old, arrived today.  He is a mixture of Anatolian Shepherd and Great Pyrenees, both traditional livestock guardian breeds.  We have him started with two sheep in the pen with him, but so far those two are keeping their distance.  One is in the distance of the next photo.

Odin is exploring his shelter area that provides a refuge for him from the sheep,  in case he needs it.  What follows is basically a bunch of cute puppy pictures. 

Joy keeps an eye on Odin.

Odin eats.

And after a long day, off to sleep.

Sleeping Arrangements

I snuck out early this morning to see how the sheep and their guardian dogs,  Hero and Heidi, were doing.  This is how I found them, sleeping just to the side of their flock.

Hero and Heidi have had their issues between chasing, trying to protect during thunderstorms and climbing over cattle panel gates, but I am hopeful for their future.