treats
Posted by blackramfarm on May 6, 2008
Today is the first day with the sheep in the pasture across the road. We let the sheep roam around the winter pasture area after snow melt and they nibble it right down in no time. When they start pushing against the fence, nose inching towards the longer blades just out of reach, then it is time.
We had a nice boost of warm weather in April and a couple of rainy days. The grass is a 6″, a good place to start. If you put them on new pasture to early, then the grass is much to watery and they get the runs. Waiting for the grass to establish works a bit better.
It is time to vet the flock as well. Today was the annual Rabies vaccination. The littlest lambs were given a Tetanus shot, boosters for the next littlest. They are all too young for Rabies vaccines still. I will worm every one tomorrow save our brood ewe. Cory was wormed today and she got her new ear tag.
She has lost two tags already. Number VT56-0002 and VT56-0020. Then we were going to put in 0021, but decided that since she was probably staying here, and she was easy to be identified, then no tag needed to go back. The last tag ripped her ear and the hole needed mending, so leaving well enough alone was the call.
Part of the vet’s visit was to do a health check on Cory and give a health certificate prior to her leaving for her new home. We were able to put the new tag into the healed up hole. Tag # 0021 was broken, so we are at #0030.
I would love to be able to not vaccinate or medicate my sheep. But the reality is that sheep get sick. If my flock was HUGE then a higher mortality rate, would be acceptable. Maybe. But with such a small flock, I don’t want to take those risks. I vaccinated my children when they were little and gave them antibiotics when they needed them. Why wouldn’t I do that for my flock?
Like my kids when they were little, my sheep don’t like the checkups and the shots. So like my kids, they got a treat after the vet left. They were released from the barn, then gate was opened and I walked them to the pasture. They were up there up to sunset. Then when it was time to bring them home, the gate was opened again and they ran home to the barn. Kicking up their heals the whole time. 
Cory had the biggest, sideways kick. It was really funny looking. She leads the flock back home, full of joy. I will miss her.
