Rob came to see us again today. It is always a pleasure to have him come visit us. The free food for labor plan we have is always available to any one willing for a little adventure. The sheep have been having babies in droves and last time we banded and tagged was last time Rob was visiting. So we did it again today. Zeke came out and we tried to round up the baby sheep and mommas. I always forget how painful it is to try and herd a bunch of new mothers and babies. The Barbados in them causes the mothers to get all protective and they just don't want to comply with the dog pushing them around. We had to go into the old lambing barn to make sure it was empty of sheep. Nope, there was a month old lamb with its head stuck between the tire and frame of the mule. Luckily, it was still alive. We usually go a week or two before checking the building. It got lucky. So now, I need to get the tractor and move the mule. The sheep and horses love the old lambing building. Rob did good snagging sheep. He was able to catch each set of twins at the same time. We had nine more sheep to tag and band. We made the sheep run out of the barn through the chute. They are starting to get used to it.
Next on the agenda was the cows. We had one baby that was born last month that had not even been gender checked yet. We walked down and only saw 5 cows not 6. So we walked down the pasture to the school house looking for a dead cow. We didn't find a cow carcass but boy did we see some game birds! We scared up a big rooster pheasant, several covey of baby pheasants, a covey of quail, a covey of Hungarian partridges, some mourning doves and some fan tail doves. We also saw a set of twin deer laying next to the old school house. Once we hoofed it back to the apple tree where the five deer where located the 6th heifer showed up. A couple of attempts occurred before we got the cows out of the field an on there way to the corral. The corral was amazing! It will be even better when we get the two custom gates installed in the actual chute.
We got the calf separated from the herd and Rob went to catch it. I had warned him that it was not the same as catching the baby sheep. I don't think he believed me until he actually tried to catch the calf. Then he could not grab it or hold it down. It took a few tries and then I could not band it. we had to reposition the calf. I was able to band it and tag it. My mother will be happy, it is a baby boy so in 18 months it will be dinner. Tomorrow if the weather cooperates, we are going to start bringing in some hay.
Next on the agenda was the cows. We had one baby that was born last month that had not even been gender checked yet. We walked down and only saw 5 cows not 6. So we walked down the pasture to the school house looking for a dead cow. We didn't find a cow carcass but boy did we see some game birds! We scared up a big rooster pheasant, several covey of baby pheasants, a covey of quail, a covey of Hungarian partridges, some mourning doves and some fan tail doves. We also saw a set of twin deer laying next to the old school house. Once we hoofed it back to the apple tree where the five deer where located the 6th heifer showed up. A couple of attempts occurred before we got the cows out of the field an on there way to the corral. The corral was amazing! It will be even better when we get the two custom gates installed in the actual chute.
We got the calf separated from the herd and Rob went to catch it. I had warned him that it was not the same as catching the baby sheep. I don't think he believed me until he actually tried to catch the calf. Then he could not grab it or hold it down. It took a few tries and then I could not band it. we had to reposition the calf. I was able to band it and tag it. My mother will be happy, it is a baby boy so in 18 months it will be dinner. Tomorrow if the weather cooperates, we are going to start bringing in some hay.
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| Rob after a single encounter with a 3 week old calf. |
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