Sheep P@#p

This post is about sheep poop.  But let me take a moment to get to the topic underfoot.

All summer and well into late fall, our flock stayed day and night out in the fields. But as the nights turned cold and howling winds made the air truly frigid, I began to worry. The books didn’t seem to have a consistent opinion on what that meant for our sheep. One book was pretty adamant that cold winds harm sheep more than bitter temperatures. We could bring them up to the barnyard where they could seek out shelter in the barn or we could leave them out on the field and let them fend for themselves. In the west field was an arched shed of sorts that Todd and Kate had built, but it had taken a significant beating during the winds of Hurricane Sandy – I didn’t think the sheep thought of it as shelter any more.  I did try teaching the sheep that the shelter was safe and cozy by walking into it with a scoop of grain. A few brave ones followed me in, but the lesson didn’t stick.  They loved the grain I offered, but they clearly didn’t give a hoot for the bent shed. Once the grain was gone, so were the sheep.

The easy solution would be to keep them up by the barn so that when the winds kicked up, they’d have shelter. But here’s the thing. Sheep shit. They shit day and night and they don’t care where it lands and they sure don’t seem to mind sitting right down on top of it.   Healthy sheep shit is a small pile of nuggets often referred to as Ewe Berries. Get it? Ewe Berries? Adorable. But it’s still shit.

We’re raising these sheep because they have wonderful soft spongy fleece that we hope will become a spinner’s delight or a knitter’s ball of yarn. And every day that these animals hang around the barnyard (instead of an open field) munching hay and pooping, the ewe berry piles increase and the risk of soiling the fleece goes up. Or so it seems to me. I think Todd feels it will get washed out over time with rain and melting snow. That will be a story for another day.

I needed to know if the cold winds were a threat. We belong to a wonderful organization called the Vermont Sheep and Goat Association. There are about 100 members from all over the state and many of them have come to our rescue more than once. I posted an email to the organization’s list asking if cold winds were a true health concern to sheep.  If that’s a dumb question, not one of the dozens of replies said so. Instead, within hours, I received photos of sheep out in fields with snow flying horizontally, and advice that assured me sheep often ignore the open barn door despite the winds.

With expert advice in hand, Todd and I have split the difference. Up until the deep snow arrived, we brought the sheep to the fields in the morning regardless of the wind. But, if by late afternoon it was still howling, we’d bring them up to the barnyard. And several mornings, I’d tug on my purple rubber gloves, grab a Kohl’s plastic bag, and collect Ewe Berries, just in case poop on fleece does matter. I kid you not. Before the deep snow arrived over the past three days, I had accumulated four bags of berries and set them beside our compost heap out back. Now they are freezing under at least a foot of fine Vermont powder.

– Peggy