Feeding Lambs

Holding pen 3, where we were feeding the lambs, got too mucky and muddy from the rain and traffic.  So, I set up an alternate feeding area with electric net fencing by the hay barn.

Here we are feeding about 160 lambs.  After taking several loads of lambs for processing, we were told that they have too much fat on them, so I am cutting most of them back to about 1/2 pound 20% protein feed in the morning and 1/2 pound 14% feed in the evening.  This is about half of what we were feeding.  Of course they have access to all the hay they want, which is about 8% protein Bahia grass hay.

We recently sorted through them to pull out the really small ones less than 40 pounds apiece, so we could give them extra feed.

That is Whitie in the foreground.

Weened Lambs from Ewes

Thursday we weened all the lambs off the main ewe flock and moved the ewes out to the lone pine field.  

 Oats are coming along in the south and beaver fields, but not ready yet.  So far, I have discerned no difference between the two varieties of oats planted. 

New Resident

We have a new cat that is hanging around the arch barn.  I  call him or her (not sure which) Midnight (I guess for obvious reasons).  Midnight is being fed now, so that probably encourages residency.   I've seen fleeting glimpses of another all black cat, this one with long fluffy hair.  I call this cat "New Moon".

This is Midnight hanging out in the backhoe.

Fall Color

Our Bloodgood Japanese maple is showing some fall color this year. 

A night shot lit by floodlight...

Ram Lineup

The back of the shed in the ram pen, that covers their hay, overlooks where the ewes are located now.  The rams, with Hero lineup to eye the ewes.  Zeus is with the ewes.

Remembering Kratos and Anneika

It has been a week since Kratos and Anneika disappeared.   I still look around hoping to see them come wagging out of the brush, but at this point I think it unlikely.   I am sure that if they were able to come back, they would. 

We have been having trouble with coyotes lately, in particular, trouble with a black coyote.  They tend to be loners, not part of the packs that for the most part respect the territory of our dogs and stay away.   There was a lot of barking and howling that night, I  believe Kratos and Anneika chased after the coyote, or coyotes, and ran into trouble somehow.  Searches have been unsuccessful. 

They were two of our best guardian dogs and dog friends.  Kratos  and Anneika are sorely missed and well remembered. 

Hero with Rams

At about 10 months old, Hero has lots of energy.  In adition to chasing after vultures and squirrels, he is also starting to chase after some of the sheep.  Rather than put a chain on him to slow him down, I am going to try moving him in with the rams.  Here are some "getting acquainted" photos.