Of Barns and Backsides
Archives
- December 2017 (1)
- September 2017 (1)
- July 2017 (1)
- June 2017 (20)
- May 2017 (2)
- January 2016 (1)
- December 2015 (1)
- November 2015 (4)
- September 2015 (1)
- August 2015 (1)
Yup. You read that right. Barns AND backsides. Stay with me, folks...I haven't totally gone off the deep end...yet!
This summer I had some big plans for the barns, including the possibility of renovating our largest - it's a big metal structure down the hill from the house and would nicely hold the entire Fellowsheep (you can see it in the above picture). Upon further inspection (and running the idea past my husband), I realized that not only would the amount of work be more than just a summer fixer-upper, but it would also be incredibly cold in the winter time. All of the heat would rise to the rafters, and the metal would make it very chilly, even for woolly-coated sheep. So I crossed that off of the list and instead focused on the two small barns that we've been using. You may remember from my last blog post that the Prancing Pony got a new floor - paving stones and stall mats. The same needed to be done to the floor in Bag End - but this one was MUCH worse to clean. There was about a foot of piled up straw that needed to be mucked out - I'll spare you the gory details, but suffice it to say this was stinky, dirty, back-injuring work...if it hadn't been for my husband and son, I wouldn't have been able to finish. Because it took much longer to clean, we ended up not being able to get more paving stones from Walmart - instead my son hauled basalt rocks out of our yard and up the hill to Bag End, while my husband placed them to level out the floor. Then the two of them hauled about 10 wheelbarrows full of gravel up to the barn to fill in the gaps and make the floor level before putting down the stall mats (which are HEAVY...oh my stars...they are super durable, but good gravy...this life is NOT for the weak, I'm telling you!!)!
Unfortunately, the floor wasn't the only thing that needed to be done at Bag End...because of two VERY large, VERY pushy sheep who spent the winter in there, muscling their way to the feeder that really was too small for all of them, there were places where the walls had pulled away from the posts! Big gaps had formed, boards had warped, and my husband the engineer would NOT let that stand. He wasn't about to pound a few nails and call it good - no, he took the walls out and REALLY fixed everything! Fortunately for him, he had excellent supervisors:
So thanks to my awesome family and woolly helpers, the barn was fixed, put back together, and a new floor finished!
I haven't given up totally on the idea of using the big metal barn someday...it definitely does have advantages over the little ones. But it would require getting everything out first - tractor, parts, old bales of straw that have been there for probably close to 20 years...THEN we would have to put in a low ceiling in places to help keep the warm air down...oh my. I'm getting tired just thinking about it! Maybe someday we'll tackle that behemoth!!
In addition to cleaning and fixing, we also moved a bunch of stuff around - I didn't want to use the tiny hay storage room that I've been using anymore because it only holds about 15 bales. With nine sheep, that won't last very long, so it was time to clean out the larger room across from Bag End and store enough for a month or so at least! That got done, and I was able to buy a trailer load of hay from Lee (whose hay is MAGNIFICENT!!)!
So, enough about barns...now let's talk about backsides! I can't help it...I find everything to do with my sheep to be amazing and adorable! And over the last couple of years, I have taken LOTS of pictures - I mean, really, it's kind of ridiculous - and yes, there are a lot of butt pictures! As I was scrolling through some, and also observing the tails on each of my sheep, it occurred to me how different they all are, and I thought it might be interesting to explain why that is. First off, let's talk about Daisy - her tail is the saddest of the lot, in my opinion. She barely has a tail at all!
See that horizontal shadow across her rump, above the bare spot? Just below that is her tail - you can barely see it when you're looking at her, and that is TOO short. Her tail was docked when she was a baby, but she wasn't born at Lee's place, so we have no idea who did the docking - but they did not leave her a long enough tail. Not only does the tail help keep flies away (think of a horse, flicking its tail at the bugs), but it is an important component of her vertebrae! They need at least three of their coccygeal vertebrae to prevent things like rectal and uterine prolapses...so it is a testament to Daisy's strength and good genetics that she didn't suffer either of these when she gave birth! Why her buns are bare like that, I have no clue...but despite that and her sad tail, I still think her bottom is adorable!
Cupcake's tail is perfect - in fact, if you mention it to Lee, she admits to being quite proud of the job she did with her docking!
It's just so round and perfect - kind of bouncy and silly, just like her!
The Finns have very interesting tails - I don't think they were docked at all, but they are part of the short-tailed group of sheep (which includes Icelandics), so really, it isn't totally necessary. In areas where fly strike is common (I'll let you google that one if you want - it's pretty gross), it is a good idea to dock the tails to prevent a build-up of urine and feces. We are very lucky here, and in central Idaho where Ruby and Garnet are from, that we don't have to deal with maggots - of course, it's still very important to keep an eye on those tails and all parts of the sheep because cuts and open sores will attract bugs. When we got the Finns, we were so surprised to see their longer tails (longer than the Icelandics!), and we are continually amused by their antics - the tails' antics! Ruby will stick hers out to the left, and Garnet wags his, sometimes in circles! They are just adorable!
Finally, the Icelandics - all 5 of them! They were all born at Lee's, so their little bums have lovely tails of a proper length. Yes, they could have probably gone without being docked, but even with the low odds of fly strike, helping them to stay clean back there is really a good thing. Probably due to the incredibly wet late winter/early spring we had, we saw an increase in biting flies and horse flies this summer, so leaving them plenty of tail to flick while not leaving so much that it's covered in excrement really helps keep them healthy and happy! If you would like to read more about tail docking - and learn why it is not only humane but incredibly important - check out this article!
Well, if you made it this far, well done and thank you!! I appreciate everyone who is willing to read about my sheep, their care, their accommodations, and their backsides! See you next time!
Comments
Cynthia Falk
I love learning new sheepie facts!
Jennifer Bogut
I'm so glad - I appreciate your reading the blog so much!! :)
Amy Matilda
Hi Jennifer, I think sheep bums are adorable, too!
My friend keeps Gulf Coast Natives here in Florida and she leaves the tail long.
The lambs are so cute when nursing: one would stick his tail straight out, and another would swing it in big circles.
I love "meeting" your sheep.
Cheers!
Amy Matilda
Jennifer Bogut
Thank you so much for commenting! Aren't lambs just the best? They are so happy when they're eating, when they're playing...they are just full of joy and fun!! :)
Thank you, too, for reading!!!
Jennifer :)
Carolyn Daly
I feel like I can be a sheep herder vicariously through you
Anonymous
Really I enjoy your site with effective and useful information. game free fire It is included very nice post with a lot of our resources.thanks for share. i enjoy this post.
MNF Live
Action and highlights from a Monday night match in the American Football League. Watch Monday Night Football Online NFL in partnership with ESPN announced the schedule for Monday Night Football games for the 2020 season.
glen
Intriguing post. I Have Been pondering this issue, so gratitude for posting. Cool post. It 's an actually quite overall quite Useful post. Much obliged https://www.roofingtempletx.net
Mike Rooney
Awesome blog. I have read and thought about what you said. I have bookmarked it and I am looking forward to reading new articles. Keep up the good work!Yellowstone Merchandise
west virginia rehab
Excellent one highly recommended. drug rehab west virginia
Carren
Who doesn't love a good rice crispy treat? And who doesn't love ice cream? Now, you can have the best of both worlds with this delicious tutorial for ice cream cone rice crispy treats. selling homes Southwest Florida To start, you'll need some rice cereal, mini marshmallows, butter, and ice cream cones. First, you'll melt the butter and marshmallows together, then mix in the cereal. Once it's all mixed together, start pressing it into the cones. Be sure to pack it in well so the cones hold their shape.
John smith
Really, I appreciate your website's informative and effective content. free fire game It has a lot of our resources and a very great writeup. thanks for share. i enjoy this post.
tow truck cost
alijen
Ruby will stick hers out to the left, and Garnet wags his, sometimes in circles! They are just adorable!
color blind test
Anonymous
Their attorneys are committed to providing the highest level of legal representation to their clients. They will guide you through the legal process, ensuring that you are informed every step of the way. They will work tirelessly to ensure that your case is resolved as quickly and efficiently as possible. Best Advocates for Civil Cases
Anonymous
London Guttering - This company provides a comprehensive range of gutter repair services, including gutter cleaning, repair, replacement, and installation. They have a team of experienced technicians who can provide a fast and efficient service at competitive prices. gutter repairs London
Anonymous
I would recommend researching each clinic's services and reviews to determine which one is the best fit for your pet's needs. pawnbroker
Anonymous
AutoImage Enterprise - Located at 10 Kaki Bukit Road 2, #03-26 First East Centre, AutoImage Enterprise offers ceramic coating, paint protection film, and other detailing services for cars. animal health
Anonymous
Best Buy is a large electronics retailer based in the United States and does not have a physical presence in Singapore. However, there are several electronics retailers in Singapore that offer a similar range of products and services. Here are some of the most popular electronics retailers in Singapore: immigration consultant
Anonymous
Philips is a well-known brand that produces a wide range of electronics and home appliances, including digital locks. However, as of my knowledge cutoff of September 2021, Philips did not offer digital locks in Singapore. Digital lock
Anonymous
Be open and approachable - Smile, make eye contact, and engage in conversation with those around you. A positive and friendly attitude can attract new friends. how to manifest friends into your life
Anonymous
At Rajendra Civil Law Firm, they understand that each case is unique and requires a tailored approach. That's why they take the time to listen to their clients and understand their individual needs. Their team of skilled advocates for civil cases will work tirelessly to ensure that you get the best possible outcome. Best Advocates for Civil Cases
aSSHas
Valid and Legitimate GTINs: Amazon requires that the GTINs you provide for your products be valid, legitimate, and associated with the correct product. GTINs must not be duplicated or reused across different products. Using incorrect or invalid GTINs can lead to listing and account issues. gs1 upc
SMM Panel One
Introducing SMM Panel India, your gateway to unlocking the immense potential of social media marketing in the Indian market. With our panel, tailored specifically for India, you can harness the power of social media to reach a vast audience, build your brand, and drive meaningful engagement. Our services include likes, followers, comments, and more, all carefully crafted to cater to the unique needs of businesses and influencers in India.
soccertwo
Great tour to see what you only hear about...watching the horses do their daily routines, early morning outings on the famous track tunnel rush.
Post new comment