That's it, everybody out!

It’s amazing what can happen in just a few weeks of time. Not too long ago, we were pushing it, to move our first group of sheep out onto pasture for the first time. The pastures hadn’t truly bounced back yet from the winter, and our lambs had just hit the 30 day mark. It wasn’t but late April that we had the sheep shorn. Suddenly in just the past week alone, we sold a couple lambs for breeding stock, sold every single fleece we have on the farm, 6 skeins of yarn to a few different buyers and even took a deposit (yes we take reserves) for an order of lamb in the fall. Not to shabby for one week’s time.

In addition to the sales, there are alot of chores going on round here. Now that the rams were moved out of the barn for the season, we had to dismantle their temporary stall. Out went the boards and the gate and up came all the soiled bedding. Wish it were as easy as it sounds, then I wouldn’t absolutely loathe cleaning out the stalls.

From there we were able to move the rest of the barn group out to join their peers. All the lambs now, even the second batch, have reached the age that the can be taken out to pasture where they will truly flourish. It entails and ushering of sorts. We set up an aisle way of temporary fencing to escort the sheep from the barn out to the pastures. For these guys it was their first time outside their safe haven. However they were torn. While their instincts had them on high alert, their eyes and stomachs had them yearning to shoveling in the fresh grasses as fast as they could chew.



A view out the window



In just a few weeks time you watch the lambs bulk up with the limitless pasture that they pace themselves on. Nap, eat, nap, eat… repeat all day long. Still just a third of the height of an adult sheep, but truly starting to look more sheep than lamb in body build; it is great to get the sheep out on pasture where they are meant to be. Even better is the view from the house. I finally found something I can enjoy doing where I can just sit and relax. Milos moves over for me to share his couch (just a bit of course) and out the westerly window, I can gaze out onto the pasture and watch the sheep. It is such a site and definitely soothing for me, maybe thats why we count sheep to fall asleep.  My mind doesn’t race 100 mph about the next six tasks I should be doing, or how to build, fix or run this that and the other thing. I just exist. I drink my coffee. And exist. Silly as it sounds, it’s rare for me and quite difficult actually.

And so it begins.  The snow has long since melted, the rains have yielded to a few sunny days and we move onward toward summer.    

Take one on the chin.

Spring time may have finally arrived, just a little late.  This time last year every ram, ewe and lamb was out on pasture.  The temps were warm, the pastures had bounced back and the barn was empty.  Fast forward to today, and we still have rain, snow (believe it or not) and a packed barn; the pastures just aren't ready for 'em.  Our hay is running dangerously low, which meant I had to go back and buy more.  Luckily there was still enough to buy a few weeks of time. 

Hooves, deworming, and lamb weighing: all things that have to get checked off the list before heading to pasture.  We basically coral every sheep into the stalls (coaxing by shaking grain in a can).  Once inside it is grab who you can and check them off the list.  Repeat until all hooves, CDT shots and deworming meds are done. 

It has become an art. You get your feet shoulder width apart, squat down low, arms out wide and you have to be pretty darn quick.  The sheep start swimming around the walls of the two stalls, it's like watching fish collectively swim in a group.  Once you move, they react.  But hopefully you win and you have your hands on the one you wanted. 

I saw her coming, she had made it past me once, and I was lining up to catch her on the pass back.  One of our registered ewe lambs, Isadore; weighing it at 45 pounds, she made her way towards me.  She was being ushered with a few other lambs on her left and right, but I had her in my site.

Shoulder width apart, arms wide, bend your knees.

I jolted between a few to catch her, but my reactions weren't nearly as quick as hers.  I had already decided to go in for it, a split second after she decided her next move.  As I was bending down to grab Isadore out of the group, she (and her sixth sense apparently) was in flight mode.  Sheep are incredibly athletic.  Not all that smart (what's that say about me), but amazingly agile and quick. And oh, by the way, they can jump.  As I was bending down to get her, she began to leap up out of the small group of about 6 sheep.  All too quick it happened, I basically become a bullseye for her.  Her head clocked me square on the jaw.  I had just enough time to see it coming, and may even have winced before contact.  I took the shot, stumbled backwards and braced myself again the cement wall of the barn.  From there I slide down the wall, landing firmly on my rear.  With a face full of lambs now struting right past me at eye level.

I saw stars but never went out.  Definitely more TKO than KO.  Isadore 1.  Farmer 0. 

After the deworming and weighing was through, it was time to get the four adult rams out onto pasture.  The pasture can support four right now, but not another twenty seven.  A few temporary fences placed, open the barn door and gate, and away they went.  It is very satisfying to see animals out on the pasture again. Like a rite of passage, springtime on a farm is quite a landmark.  It's nice to see things returning to their prime.  Green grasses, buds beginning to grow, happy rams and chubby lambs.  Another spring at Windy Knob.

Lisa's fleece

Our fleeces have been shorn, and some yarns and other products available.  Be sure to visit out website, and yes we ship!  We even accept pay pal to make it more convenient for our buyers, just visit us at http://www.etsy.com/people/windyknobfarms .