Working Sheep

Not working sheep as in "Boy, those are some hard working sheep!" but working sheep as in "We need to check eye scores, deworm, trim feet..." Equinox Farm style.

The first thing you need to do is block off all the escape routes.  If it doesn't involve eating, back scratching or tearing up something...sheep mostly aren't interested in participating ;-).

"I'M interested in participating."

Right you are there, Graham, which brings us to the second important step.  Lock Graham out.  While Graham is an excellent blocker (I'll explain that in a minute) he's also a pushy pickpocket who thinks whatever you are giving any sheep should be for him instead and he'd be happy to run the checklist if you'd just give him back that pen he's already grabbed out of your apron twice and oof he just stepped on you again and where did the screw on cap from the de-wormer go?!?...

We have a "working pen" at the end of the outside stall.  Simply, lock all the sheep in the barn, swing the end gate shut and then move all the sheep into the outside stall, down into that end and then swing a second gate shut.  24 or so "fluffy" sheep crammed in together in a small area make it easy to wade through and catch who you need without having to chase anyone around - not fun or good for your sheep.

While it would be nice to have chutes and gates and all sorts of fancy helpful tools like that, most of our sheep are friendly and easy to handle...wait, let me back up, our sheep from Nistock Farms are friendly and easy to handle.

Note all the Jacob sheep are huddled at the back of the pen.  The one with the big horns?  The biggest scaredy cat of them all.  Oh, and Maisie is locked out with Graham as is little Mia.  Maisie because she'd be a punching bag in there and Mia, not because she's so tiny, but because she'd be doing most of the punching!

So I need to give credit to B. Willard for being a helpful, easy to handle non-Nistock sheep.  That's him on the left and Boudreaux on the right.  Both of these large units, along with Buddy, Woolliam, Ewen and Keebler  (another two helpful NNS) are our "blockers".  There's not a Jacob sheep around that's going to get through that hefty wall.  That's important, especially if I'm working by myself.

"Am I going to grow up to be a blocker?"

Yeah Hershey, that would be my guess.  Which brings us to another important step.  If you can't find your end gate chain and need to use baling twine...try to keep the clever sheep (Daniel) away from the knot.

"I'm just trying to get out of here.  Heidi (our other tiny but mighty puncher) says this is all our fault and she's gonna kill us!" 

If Heidi was easy to catch without the pen, she'd be locked out as well.  Luckily, once you start catching sheep, she stops fighting and goes to hiding.  It's pretty easy to find you if you're punching sheep... ;-).

Last but not least, don't ever think you can catch a couple old timers without a little help.  While you might get ahold of tiny, feeble, crippled up old Elizabeth...there's an equal chance you won't and that hurts.  Usually just your pride...but not always ;-).  

These super handy portable hinged panels get a lot of use here.  They can be configured many different ways and are the perfect size to just step over without climbing and the closer together slats at the bottom keep lambs where they're supposed to be.  All 1" x 4"s and two hinges.  Saint Tim glued each board as well as screwed them together.  Kathy's husband's design.

After everyone's been checked, treated, trimmed...it's important to keep your promise "If you are good we'll have a cookie party when we're done."

I know these are kinda long and probably kinda boring, but I know I'll enjoy having these silly little videos.  A lot of these sheep (and chickens) aren't so young anymore :-/.