Alacrity

What do I love most about the sheep, besides their docile nature, their sweet ways, and their playful selves? 
I love their alacrity which makes them so easy to work with and be around. Need to move them to a different area in the pasture? No problem. Need to vaccinate them? Can do. Such gentle and kind creatures. Although large, they are eager, quick and enthusiastic. Their physical quickness always surprises me, every time.


Front Row: (l to r) Clara, Grace and Lulu
Back Row: (l to r) Eve, Belle and Licorice

So what's the problem then?
It has come to our attention, that we need to reduce the area that they graze. It's not that we didn't already know this, as we've had 'this discussion' on numerous occasions. Bottom line, our sweet sheep are getting too big. They have too much to eat, and although vaccinated  for "overeating disease" (a real thing in sheep and goats), I feel like if we are going to buy a Ram, and have more lambs, that getting them in a better physical condition would be optimal.

Hold that thought for a minute
Speaking of getting too big, the goats are doing a wonderful job of eating the back pasture. But, it's too much food for them, as well. Recently, we moved Chia and her cutest-kids-ever Petunia and Dotty to the back pasture with the rest of the goats. Her little ones are getting bigger now, and it's time to integrate them all together. We felt like they were ready, except we had one goat in particular that may be too aggressive for the little kids. So, we made a decision to right-size the goat population. Ironically, a local man of which I've bought chickens from prior, was looking to replace some goats in his herd. It's amazing how things fall together so well at times. He came by our farm, and ended up taking Peanut, formally named Sprinkles, but David could never remember that name. Peanut rivals with Nona for lead position, and is not always nice in the herd. We are all about nice around here. And because we did not want to send Peanut alone, and because this man wanted two of our goats, we also gave him Georgia. We loaded Peanut and Georgia into his crate, and off they went. Technically, we sold them to him. He got the Family and Friend Deal.

Tell me more 
Now, that left Chia, Petunia, Dotty, Nona and Twizzler in the back pasture. Still with too much to eat. They are all getting along, with no issues or concerns. Everything is wonderful for them, and even Dixie and Davis are enjoying the new combination of goats. The guard dogs seem to enjoy having the goats there, and follow them around as they graze, making sure all is well for them. It brings so much joy to my heart to watch this all happen, right before my eyes.

Is eating too much a bad thing
Our sheep in the front pasture are too big. Our goats in the back pasture are working on getting too big. This recipe calls for mixing the two. And mix we did. Yesterday morning, David and I coxed the sheep, whose alacrity I spoke of earlier lends them to cooperate wonderfully, into the back pasture. And in a matter of minutes, the sheep are out back with the goats. The sheep immediately start investigating the area. They are loving this field trip! Look, new things, new food, and even a new barn back here. What good sheep they are. On the other hand, the goats are over huddled together asking each other, "Who are they? And who let them in?" Dixie and Davis are dancing happily around, literally doing their Happy Dance. Of course, while we taking in all this excitement, Davis decides to slip out the gate and run off, which we had not sufficiently shut. Nothing ever goes as planned around here. Not a dull moment, for sure. So, David tries to get him, then I try to get him, and we finally get him back in his spot, out back with the goats and sheep. Whew! So you ask me, "Why can't he just run around? Why the frantic behavior to get him back out back?" Because at last watch, while he was out and about running around, he has a tendency to run after the chickens and accidentally on purpose bite them. No bueno.




Isn't it workie work time
After all that, it's now time for David and I to go back inside the house and start getting ready to go to work, right?! We like to do these things (move farm animals, fix fencing or other time-consuming projects) at the most inopportune times. Sweaty and gross, we head inside. Looking out on the back pasture, all is well. The goats and sheep are milling around, and Dixie and Davis are there to keep watch over them. They have turned out to be awesome livestock guard dogs. They take their job seriously. Did I tell you they turn 1 year old this month?! Happy Birthday, and you now have more responsibility. I'll need you to keep the sheep AND goats safe.

Side note
David and I mowed the back pasture down last evening, completely, in an effort to help restrict everyone's (sheep and goats) diet. I'll report back with results of this experiment. I prefer calling it Pasture Management. I mean, it is an experiment because we are not Pasture Management experts by any means. We are constantly working towards the goal of understanding how to use each area of the land to make it useful, efficient and good for the animals health. It's ever changing, ebbing and flowing. More animals in one pasture, and grass mowed should help this situation. So we thinks.

So how did it all shake out
While we both made it to work, and ended up back home as usual that evening, we found everyone to be adapting well. We have even moved the donkeys to a different area, to mix up their eating patterns and graze a new area, as well. There's one question that remains......Whisper and Levi are now without their usual sheep herd to keep watch. They are hanging out, just as they were when we moved to the property. They guard the property, that's just what they do. I can't help but think........certainly there may be a new farm animal group in our future to enlist their assistance with, since the sheep and goats are all out back with the other guard dogs. I mean, it's almost like an opportunity to step out of our box and see what else might be out there. Or, we could just sit back and wait until it's time to shift the sheep and goats back to them. It would be an opportunity for Whisper and Levi to relax a bit. But do they want to relax? Ahhh, how I love  this. It's like solving a puzzle each day. The same puzzle, with new puzzle pieces every time. No day is ever the same. The puzzle pieces are ever changing.

A new day, a new farm animal
Yes, it's true. A new day dawning could be an opportunity for a new farm animal. The goats and sheep are now in one area, which was our ultimate goal for them. We just had a few hiccups along that journey (pregnant goats, etc). It literally took months for that to happen. The donkeys are eating a different pasture now. So that leaves Whisper and Levi with a big barn, and chickens to watch. I'm thinking there's room for more. How does miniature pony's sound? Sounds good to me!

I'm so tickled by the thought of mini pony's, I'm all giddy. As in Giddy-Up! I think I'll get a saddle for them, too.

Cyndi