Summer showed up a few weeks ago and then exited quickly leaving behind strong winds, rainy days, and low temps, but today, she’s returned and while it is always stunning up here, there is something postcard surreal about the spring green hills splashed with blurry streaks of yellow flowers, soft clouds, a deep blue sky that pales along the horizon. May I never grow bored of the sight.
The lambs, moms, and men are all well-established on pasture and the chores have become, well, infrequent – check for fresh water, see that the mineral box hasn’t been licked clean, scout for any signs of injury or slowness. In short, simple and fast. However, this windy Sunday, we brought all the moms, lambs and two wethers up into the chute at the top of the west field for two critical chores: a second round of deworming and jacketing a select few. There was something distinctly different this time. No longer does the morning start with thoughts of how long will this take, what might go wrong, who’s method will win out. As Todd heads to the west field to shoo the sheep up to the chute, I calmly gather up the jackets, sorting them by size, find the clipboard and the records, golf balls and mini bungee cords, pile high the cart and head to the gate by the chute. It’s all just so familiar now. Even the sheep get it. With no trouble Todd walks behind the sheep clapping as they dutifully fill the chute and Todd closes the gate at the base.
We squeeze them back down to the bottom of the chute with portable panels secured with bungee cords, the only discussion being the need to switch a long bungee cord . Todd wades into the flock. He finds and lifts up a lamb, muscles through the pack and brings the lamb to the panel where I have a loaded syringe with about 1.5 ml of Safeguard dewormer, a milky white opaque oral drug. Once aimed at the back of the throat, I hold the lamb’s mouth shut with my left hand as my right depresses the syringe. I keep the hold watching and listening for sounds of swallowing. A few times some green slime slips out and runs down Todd’s gloved hand – cud. It all takes about 15 seconds. Once done, Todd brings the lamb down to the ground, and we crack open a panel to scoot the lamb out. Repeat. 20 more times. The lambs are strong, healthy, and simply gorgeous. Some are true tanks, but they have cute little faces that you can’t help but grin at.
Once the lambs are done, I get inside with the flock, the syringe, the jar of dewormer, and the clipboard. We start with the yearlings and one by one administer the drug. They’re bigger and stronger, but it goes smoothly. Next up the ewes and wether Ralph and again, no hitches. Even ornery Hillary and big Ralph stand still and take their meds. The older animals are actually getting used to being handled – the yearlings not so much.
Next up I arrange the jackets by size and we jacket about 8 of the adult sheep. It’s tough to really know which jacket will fit and in two cases I cinch up the jacket and with the mini bungee cord and tie a golf ball into the fabric to tighten the fit. I have mixed feelings now about jacketing all the flock. It’s a lot of work and really only pays off if you sell that fleece to a handspinner. I am still struggling with what business am I in – servicing hand spinners with raw fleece and roving or knitters who appreciate natural colored yarns. It’s my challenge for the summer.
In any case, we open the gate and the ewes and lambs trot back down the hill to the fields to resume a late breakfast.
Peggy