Stormy

Most of yesterday was shot rescueing the fawn. Later in the day I skirted another Cormo-BFL fleece from Sunshine's wether lamb. Had the fleece out on the skirting table was about half way finished and the sky turned dark and thunder was rumbling toward Atlanta. Ran out to the pastures to open the barns so everyone could get out of the storm and while I was gone it started pouring down on my fleece. It's not easy skirting a wet fleece. Ended up spreading the remaining wool on screens to dry and will get back to it today. When I took the goats back up the hill to the feeders this morning the fawn's mother came running toward us, I hope all is well with the baby I returned. I'm sure Wolf got one of her twins. Wolf is locked in the front pasture for a few months until all the fawn's are old enough run with their mothers.

Fawn

I knew what Wolf was up to when I went out yesterday. He wasn't with his herd of goats. Alex was off for the weekend and feeding went pretty quick. Was on my way to the mailbox when I noticed the goats acting funny. There was a fawn at the gate getting butted around by the does. I yelled at the dogs and went in, the fawn let me catch him, he was crying and looking for milk. I thought he was hurt but only had cuts on his legs. His heart was racing. I put him in a box of towels in the garage, he rested a bit. I saw Wolf was covered in blood. I have way too many deer here and the dogs sometimes catch a fawn and kill it, I can't do anything about it but yell at them. And I will kill deer during hunting season, but not a fawn. I called the DNR and explained what had happened and asked what I should do . She said to let it go, they have no place to release the fawn after he is old enough to be turned out. Just too many deer. So I moved Wolf and his herd to the front and moved the sheep to the back pasture. Then took the tiny fawn to the woods where I saw his mother and released him. He crawled under this brush pile. Took this picture before I left.

Does and kids get a day out

Tried letting the does and kids out to graze late yesterday evening, spent an hour trying to run them out of the barn lot, only to have them beat me back to the barn. Ran them back out and locked the gate this time, the does stood at the gate screaming and the kids just kept testing the electric fence with their nose, and yes it is working. Tara's kid Shadow jumped through the wires, so I let them back in the barn. My goats are perfectly contented to lay in the barn and let me bring their feed to them. Brought them several sweet gum tree tops and they were happy. They are not happy with their new hay, they hate fescue hay, I only wanted them to have some roughage since they get alfalfa, not going to eat it. Still no bermuda hay available.

Caroline scatching

Everybody had a turn scratching on an old pine tree that is worn slick from all the use. Squirt has a grin on his face. Scratch, sleep, graze, chew cud. Not that bad of a life for a sheep. The weather is getting warmer and some are panting, my job is to keep fresh cool water and mineral. The BFL have a hard time with the humidity. Moved corral panels to the goat pasture so I can lock crazy horse out to feed them some grain. They were panting also, do I feed them grain to keep weight on, or let them eat grass, fat goats and sheep have a harder time with heat than skinny ones. Made it to the feed store to pick up grain and mineral, then on to the grocery store before the mad holiday rush is on.

Squirt's turn to scratch

Hershey and Cocoa under the scratching post

Hershey at the scratching post