It’s Me, It’s OK!

Tomorrow is forcast to be in the 90’s. It is forcast to be in the 90’s for the next 15 days. That’s as far out as the forecast goes and is 14 1/2 days more than they are able to forcast. Out here it pays to look ahead. Unfortunately, knowing what to look ahead for many times requires past mistakes. Many I don’t like to talk about. It makes me sad and feel real stupid. Warm, humid weather is tough on sheep. That weather combination encourages and manufactures flies. Flies can turn living sheep into dead sheep. I won’t go into the details. If you want the detais, call me. Anyway, an increase in fly potential means being proactive. Fly strips, fly repellant, some insectide placed strategically and carefully (there is a difference), garlic in the salt and air movement are good to begin.

Our sheep like our pens in the shed. They must go into the sheep corral, which I leave open for them. They like to run in when rain and thunder arrive and coyotes howl. They must go through another gate, down an alley and into one of two small doors designed for them to get into the inside pen. It’s safe there and out of the direct sun. We have many shady areas available for them out along the pasture , but they like the pen. That’s OK by me most times. Since they congregate there, some manure and urine accumulates. It’s difficult to keep it Spic-N -Span. So, it’s time to hang some fly strips.

Walkimg into the shed, I opened the door leading into the pen area. All of a sudden the sheep jumped up. Running into one another, they ran as quick as they could to the little exit door. I had startled them and they were making a mad dash out. “It’s OK, It’s OK” I called out. “It’s me. It’s OK.” They immediately stopped running and came back in.

I tell you, that made my day. I even went in and shared the event with Sandy. I am making headway caring for my sheep. Next time I’ll give them a heads up before I barge in.