Barb I'm glad your mini-rodeo went well. I go through this about every three months with my sheep, and although when I was growing up all we had were cattle the rodeos were a lot more intense, some of my sheep can be pretty stout. Mostly the really big ewes and the Rams. Although, I'm glad for those big horns when it comes to the Rams! The main reason for me to respond is about the wether. Now, I live in Arkansas, so I can't help you find one, but I'd like to tell you about mine. Just like you said they tend to become pets. My boy who I've had for about four years, was born with one blind eye. I knew that I couldn't get anything out of him, so I made him a wether at a young age. It stunted his horn growth, but other than that he's fine. When I first put him and the Ram together they didn't much care for one another, but with a little time their doing good together now. I feed them wind fall apples off the tree and any thing else the wife has left over from the kitch! en(potato peels, banana skins, ect.) the wether has always liked these things and know the Ram is coming up to the fence and getting his share too. Oh, by the way My buddy the wether, His name is "blind mellow jelly"
Barb Lee <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Boy, this is one happy new sheep owner! :o) I've spent the last month
or two trying to come up with a plan for handling yards for these wild
little critters, and gradually building it in the 90+ degree heat. Of
course it is the sheep's responsibility to make a fool of me if at all
possible! The last little rodeo I had trying to nab the ewes proved
that!
Well, today was the day, and I was a bit apprehensive! I went out and
closed a few strategic gates. Then when I saw the ladies were actually
in the big yard and settled down, I gathered my gear and walked their
way. Bingo! They began moseying right in to the little labrynth. As
they passed each gate ahead of me, I quietly closed each one, then I was
in a small pen with the two of them. A mini-rodeo ensued as I tried to
snare the wild one with the crook, and before long, she was resting
peacefully against my shins! :o) Happy happy! I had the two of them
all fixed up and turned out in no time, with next to no trauma for any
of us!
The little maze worked perfectly! I had probably better raise the main
"treatment pen" fence up to 5 ft for future work, but neither tried to
go over this time, just through.
I actually feel like I can DO this thing now! :o)
BTW, is there anyone within reasonable driving distance of Portland OR
that would sell me a wether? It would just be a pet (for the ram).
Contact me at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Thanks!
Barb Lee (who REALLY can't wait for the meeting now!)
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