Beauty and the Beasts
Maura and Hamish,
first class building companions.
Ducklings from Maura’s friend Carol. Maura will use them to teach
Hamish how to herd. When he’s an
accomplished duckherd he’ll be ready to graduate to
sheep.
The ducklings have
run off to an adjoining farm where they are keeping company with chickens, guinea
hens, pigs, and cattle. Maura says they
are better off there than on our construction site. Herding lessons will be put off until the
house is finished.
Here are the grown up
ducks at their new home in May 2003.
They’ve flown in to visit our pond a couple of times but haven’t stayed
very long. I think the dogs being around
upset them.
In the meantime we
have acquired a second, temporary canine guest.
Daisy showed up about two weeks ago (mid September). We think she was dumped off by someone who
didn’t want a dog anymore. We’ve asked
all the neighbors and advertised in the paper but can’t find any possible
owners. Here’s Daisy and Hamish sitting
at Maura’s feet.
Daisy visited the vet for a checkup. She’s 36 pounds, about 2 years old, and had puppies about 3 or 4 months ago. She had fleas in the past but doesn’t anymore. She is calm and quiet and learns quickly…. And such pretty brown eyes!
Maura thinks she was kept
on a chain with a very tight collar because a ring of fur around her neck is
very short.
And she may have been
injured with a choke chain. Here’s a
sore spot on her neck.
Daisy needs a new
home. Drop us an email if you can give
her a good home. mailto:daisy@thumbknitting.com
Sheep:
Style was a ride in
the back of our
1990 Dodge Dakota pickup!
were joined by two crosses from Carol’s farm in
November 2002. Maura started working
Hamish with the sheep soon after when we enclosed a large circular area with
wire fencing.
The sheep were fed hay through the winter
but will be on pasture as soon as the grass grows.
The wool is getting
thick.
Two black welsh
mountain lambs were born
Both appeared healthy, but the following morning one of the lambs was down and died on the way to the vet.
March 22, at one day old, this little fella is looking good.
Maura in the library, her knitting refuge from the
clutter of construction, sporting her new short hair do.
On June 2 the shearer gave
the sheep a new short cut too!
The sheep have been pastured since the grass started
growing and find it much tastier than hay.
We use a polypropylene twine electric net and a small
solar powered charger to keep the sheep in and other critters out. When the vegetation inside the net has been
eaten down we move it and the sheep to a new area. It has been taking about four days for them
to eat an area.
When the vegetation in the area recovers, the sheep
can graze it again. It’s been taking
about 28 days to regrow.
The sheep do a great job of mowing our lawn! They eat weeds and grass alike.
Here’s the “little” lamb on June 3. He’s growing fast. And his horns are growing too. The horns help him hold his own with the
larger white ram.
Daisy doesn’t herd but she does think sheep would like
to play with her. The sheep ignore her
unless they get annoyed and then they butt her.
She snuck into the sheep pen when Maura was bringing Hamish in for a
herding session.
Here, Hamish is giving eye to the sheep. Daisy looks like she is doing the same but she doesn’t have a clue.
Maybe the little lamb ram in the background is
imitating Hamish too?
