The Weekly Bleat: An Important Lesson

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Apparently, huge temperature swings are something that we’re just going to have to get used to this time of year.  Lately, we’ve been experiencing what I like to call “yo-yo” weather.  Our forecast this week is 65 degrees F. today, 72 degrees F. tomorrow, and snowing on Saturday.  This weather isn’t great for people, but it’s especially not good for sheep and chickens.  Their bodies acclimate to the cold, winter weather, and when there’s an unseasonably warm day–they may feel overheated.  After a week of balmy, warm days, a 40 or 50 degree drop in temperature is jarring to these animals’ systems and may cause illness.  So, to help, Farmguy and I feed the sheep and chickens extra grain to supplement their diets, especially on cold days.

Yesterday, I was feeding the sheep their afternoon grain, when I noticed the grain bin was getting low. Well, let me just say, getting caught with no grain on Green Hill Farm is definitely a no-no.  Anyway, it reminded me of a lesson I learned last year.  And, I thought I would share it again.  🙂

Last weekend, Farmguy and I gathered our sheep for their spring shearing.  We’ve had a number of warm days since early April with temperatures in the 70’s and 80’s, and the sheep were appearing a bit stressed by the heat.  I was happy to finally get a shearing date, but also a little nervous about rain as we seemed to be in some kind of cool and wet holding pattern the last few weeks; however, we were lucky on Saturday.  The sun managed to come out and stay out, at least until all of the sheep were sheared, dewormed, and had their hooves trimmed.  Of course, around here, when it’s 80 degrees in April, go ahead and expect it to be 40 degrees in May, especially when you’ve just sheared seven months of wool off your sweet, lovely sheep.  I’m sure they were thinking, “We’ve been baking in all this wool, and now you think it’s a good time to remove it?”  Needless to say, I felt terrible.  But, I knew a grain treat would help.

Typically, we only give the sheep grain in the cooler months as a treat and to increase their body temperatures.  Once spring arrives, the pastures are lush with lots of grass, and the supplemental grain isn’t necessary.  However, we made an exception this past weekend because of the cooler temperatures, and the sheep loved it!  It doesn’t take long for them to get into a new grain routine as they’re pretty spoiled rotten. Getting grain a few days in a row translates in sheep logic to getting grain every time they see a human being.

So, when this human being went to feed the barn cats today, guess who was standing outside the cats’ windows baaahing—and, may I add, baaahing loudly–in a very demanding kind of way.  Yeah, it wasn’t nice. It wasn’t a kind request that may have sounded like this, “Farmgirl, please bring your sweet woollies some grain—baaah.”  No!  It was more like, “Hey Farm Wench, forget those cats, and get out here now and give us some grain—BAAAAAAAAH!”  Despite their menacing BAAAAAAAHs, I did feel badly for the sheep in this weather.  So, after finishing up with the cats, I walked over to the pasture to say hello.

They were waiting there at the gate, eagerly and expectantly, with all eyes glued on me.  They continued to baaaah and BAAAAAAAH!  I looked at the green fields full of wonderful grass, but I knew they wouldn’t be satisfied until I disappeared back into the barn and emerged with a scoop of grain.  You see, I’m very well-trained by our animals.  As I stepped inside the barn, their excited state increased as did the BAAAAAAAHING.  I walked over to the grain bin, took the lid off, and stared into an empty container. “Oh, No!  I CAN’T go back out there without grain. There has to be some around here somewhere,” I thought.

After a fruitless search of the barn for grain, I  realized there was none. The BAAAAAAAHs were growing louder and more impatient.  I couldn’t face them without the grain.  Feeling panicked, I spent a few minutes pondering another way out of the barn.  An exit strategy that would allow me to sneak out….without being seen by the sheep.  It was cowardly; I admit it.  But, in the end, I decided to just go out there and tell them. When I walked out of the barn, for a millisecond, they looked so happy and excited to finally be getting their grain.  Then, they noticed….there was no scoop.  They looked dumbfounded,  “What’s going on? Where’s the scoop? What kind of game are you playing?”  Looks of total disbelief were stamped on their little sheep faces.  I felt horrible!  The confused facial expressions and excited baaahs quickly turned ugly. There was lots, and I mean lots of loud, angry BAAAAAAAHING from all of the sheep, but especially Hamish.   He was so mad; I believe he would’ve stabbed me if he could’ve.  I walked over to them, explaining that it was all Farmguy’s fault for not telling me sooner that we were getting low on grain.  I apologized and tried to pet them, but it was no use.  There was no grain, and that’s all that mattered.

Here’s the thing:  Feeling disheartened, I slinked back to the house.  I could still hear some faint baaahing in the background.  And, just as I stepped onto the porch, almost out of their sites, I heard one last–loud–long BAAAAAAAH!!!!  You’ve probably already guessed….it belonged to Hamish.  So, after being dressed-down by our sheep, I called Farmguy to ask him to stop at Southern States Farm Store to pick up more grain on his way home.  Tomorrow’s another day, and a day with grain, is a better day for everyone on Green Hill Farm. 😉

 

 

 

 

Categories: Reflections on Farm Life, The Weekly Bleat

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46 Comments »

  3. I love that story, it cracks me up! Hamish, Farm Wench! BAAAAAAAH! Still funny 🙂

    I realized just now when I read this, maybe that’s why practically everyone thinks humans will get sick from the cold?

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  5. haha I love this! and your sheep! I know I would love Hamish. Too funny. I know that feeling and I am just as well trained as you. Also, the temp changes ugh, so hard with the animals. I always worry they will get sick because of it. Horses are especially sensitive to the yoyo temps.

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  7. Interesting story! I’ve been wondering if and how these crazy temperature swings were affecting farms and forests. Have you read Barbara Kingsolver’s book Flight Patterns? About a woman married to a Tennessee sheep farmer. . . if you get a chance you might want to check it out.

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  10. Our You-yo weather her is not quite so extreme. The last summer we have had days of 27 to 30 degrees (centigrade) followed by thunder, lightning, lashings of rain and a temp in the teens. After a few months of this the descent into regular, cooler weather of autumn where temps seldom exceed 20 degrees (C) it is actually a great relief. I have Alpacas, not sheep, just starting up and on Sunday will experience the first shearing, worming and hoof trimming….. so will be full of it next week!!
    Your Hamish sounds like my cat Thomas..very demanding and not slow to tell you.

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  18. Great story! Hilarious, too. I am taking notes as I hope to have our own little homestead soon. Other than being sure of chickens and horses, I am unsure of what other critters I want to add.

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  19. This is hysterical!! I especially loved your two versions of what the sheep might be saying to you. And trying to give the sheep the “slip” is too funny. I would be reacting just the same in the face of such a sheep revolt. Hamish would have stabbed you if he could have – oh my god, I’m still laughing!!

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