Not-A-Spring-Chicken

I've been told this March is going down as the coldest March on record. I don't doubt it. Neither do the sheep.  It was warm (albeit wet) leading up to shearing, hot the actual day of shearing and at the time, the 10 day forecast looked like a normal March.  We decided to have everyone sheared, even ancient Elizabeth.  Bad decision.

Missing several teeth, she is skin and bones even with the extra grain and soft cookies, crackers, Cheerios...we try to give her.  Unlike, say Boudreaux, she only eats what she feels like and then walks away.  And for sheep's sake, don't tell her she has to do something.  Elizabeth has always had an opinion.  Usually a loud opinion.

The weather turned for the worst and she looked miserable.  She needed that wool back on and there was nothing we could do about that.  I tried putting a dog coat on her and the rest of the sheep lost their ever-loving minds, which in turn upset her as well.  We finally rigged up a small pen in the inside stall and hung a heat lamp over her and hoped for the best, but felt awful for her.  She was Not Happy about being locked up even though she was surrounded by her friends and family.  (See loud opinions above.)

For the last couple of days I've been forcing her to stay under the lamp.  And it's been a struggle.  So we have an ancient sheep, barely hanging on, looks like she's starving, shivering hard...  It becomes "the question".  The sun came out yesterday though and while it wasn't warm, it was pleasant if you could stay out of the wind.  And here is where I found Elizabeth.

Soaking up the warm sun, in a sheltered spot, surrounded by her friends, looking pretty darn happy.  So I guess that's the answer. 

This chicken is sure I'm taking her picture.  So vain ;-).

Buddy and Jester, another old timer.  Only he and Elizabeth are left from the original flock.

And Cecil's been here too.  More later.