https://www.facebook.com/1437420299862186/

Appalachian Hills Farm

Home
United States
Latrobe, PA
Appalachian Hills Farm

A local farm in the Laurel Highlands; Specialize in raising llamas, sheep and alpacas; Creating hand
(7)

12/08/2023

Honey is one of our middle aged ewes. She was part of the first grain room crew many years ago. She is also the first of the sheep to try a treat. She saw me offering them to the llamas and alpacas. For days she kept bumping my leg but I ignored her. Eventually her patience wore out and she started pawing me with her front feet. With some annoyance in my being I offered her one never expecting her to eat it. Much to my surprise she gleefully ate it. From that day on she begged for a treat. Soon others saw her eating something. Thanks to her we have about fifteen sheep who eat treats.
I was walking past her section of pasture today during my fence walk. She matched me step by step. When I stopped she stopped. I knew she wasn't being companionable out of caring for me. No, she was hoping I had treats in my pocket. Lucky for her I did have some.
She sure does put on a great earnest look. Those soulful eyes are perfect begging eyes.

Thanks for stopping by.

12/07/2023

Thumper has a nice pen inside where he can be out of the wind and weather. On cold nights he curls up in a cozy corner filled with some bedding. During the day he will stay outside even in nasty weather because he wants to see his ladies.
We had a very sheltered area for him to have his meals but he couldn't see those ladies. Often his grain and hay would go untouched for a whole day. We decided to move his grain pan to an area where he can eat and still glance at the ladies if they are outside. He takes a few bites then he looks over his shoulder to see where the girls are. This spot is still under the roof of his pen but close to the opening. When we go in to put grain in the pan he walks outside until we are finished then he walks past us to the pan. I feel like we are his maid and butler.
Through the warm months we move his hay rack and grain pan outside. We move them back inside on rainy days.
The building this pen is in is also the barn where the one rabbit visits. It likes to glean the dropped bits of grain. I often wonder if it sleeps near Thumper. I never get a chance to see if this happens because it is so afraid of us and runs as soon as we get near the building.
Thumper is a Suri alpaca. His fleece grows in long silky locks.

Thanks for stopping by.

12/06/2023

For most people today was a grumpy weather day. I didn't think it was. Sure there was rain but it was a misty rain that felt like a soft blanket. Everything was quiet so there weren't any distractions from noticing the depth of the trees in the woods, the pattern of clouds in the sky, or the gentle sound of the creek.
Toward evening the misty rain changed to misty snow. The flakes of snow were extremely fine. They silently trickled down. Most snow flakes make a sound as they land. These didn't.
With my head light on I walked to Turbo's barn to give him his nightly hug. He heard me coming and met me. The little snow flakes accumulated on his back. In the light they gave him the appearance of being covered with tiny sequins. The top of his ears were sparkling but the head light was too bright for his eyes so I couldn't get a picture of the snow sequins on the tips of his ears.
As I strolled out the driveway I noticed a thin film of ice was forming on top of the posts. The bars on the gate also had ice. By the time I reached the gate Turbo had returned to his dry barn.

Thanks for stopping by.

12/05/2023

We don't use this octagon hay feeder everyday. It is positioned a bit away from the barn. We moved it to this spot to keep it from the runoff that had developed over the summer. Well, the ewes decided it should be used. This group stood around it waiting for a bale of hay. The racks inside were filled to the brim but they stood beside this one and baaed. They were still there when we were finished with our chores so Lee carried a bale out to them. Those stubborn ladies were thrilled. They also reminded us that we are not in charge but we are their servants.

Thanks for stopping by.

12/04/2023

This evening we had some weather come in. It started as a shower but soon changed to small pellets of hail. Before it rained we had tossed most of the night's hay feeding outside since it was pleasant temperature wise. Everyone was enjoy their meal when the rain started. No one was bothered by the gentle rain. As soon as it started to hail there was a stampede toward the barn. The wind followed which sent the bits of hail flying like bullets. It sounded like pebbles hitting the barn.
Precious was the last one to arrive inside. I think she was a bit perturbed about getting pelted with the hail.
Once the hail stopped she walked over to look out the door and was hit in the face with a gust of wind that kicked up some dust from the floor.
Her look truly explains her mood.

Thanks for stopping by.

12/03/2023

Harper is a Border Collie. This breed is the perfect sheepherding dog. They are born with a herding instinct that becomes stronger as they age. This breed does not have an off button.
Even with this instinct they need training and guidance to help them become masters of their trade.
Yesterday Harper had a veterinarian visit for a rite of passage for a dog who will not be used for breeding. He is now a neutered male. One of the post surgery requirements is for him to be kept as still as possible for ten to fourteen days. After he came home yesterday he was exhausted, in pain, and really tired so he slept most of the evening. Today he was back to his normal self who was ready to go to work. He is really confused as to why we are keeping him inside and making him lie down. The cats, Onyx and Amethyst, are enjoying the reprieve from being herded around through the house. Early in Harper's life, Diamond trained him to not herd the real boss of the house.
Ted seems to understand that he isn't allowed to rough house with Harper.
Keeping Harper from become bored is our new task. Too bad he can't play board games or play cards.

Thanks for stopping by.

12/02/2023

Goldie's son, Racer, has joined the big boys.
Goldie had not had a lamb in a few years so this guy is our hope to continue her genetics. It will be a few years before he has grown to his full adult size but he does have the potential to breed a ewe this year. He started showing an interest in the girls which is why he has been moved to the ram pen.
Racer was born in June with this light nutmeg colored fleece. So far he hasn't shown signs of changing color. He has white markings on his face and on his right side. The markings on his side look like racing stripes hence the name Racer.

Hope you have a fun weekend.

Thanks for stopping by.

12/01/2023

Cube was just one of many who happily spent the day in n the warm sun. He was dozing and seemed reluctant to go to the hay rack so I tossed a pile of hay outside for him. After some serious thinking he slowly stood up, stretched, then made his way to the hay. For some strange reason he walked back and forth through the pile, spreading the hay around on the ground before he decided to eat.
All of the other animals were either grazing or sleeping in the warmth of the sun.
A jolly flock of sparrows were flying in and out of the barn. They made some comments to each other while they watched me fill the grain buckets.
I did feel like I was being judged on my performance.
I can always tell when there is a hawk close by because the sparrows take shelter in the barn. They sit close together in total silence. Today was not a hawk alert day since they were so active and chattering.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/30/2023

One of the hunters on the farm sent me this picture. This is bear clawings on a tree near the back side of the farm. There was some bear s**t nearby.
During the summer we saw a black bear in the woods below the sheep pasture. It was running full speed away from us.
Black bears are omnivores but we are wary because sometimes one can act out of character. In the true wild they are afraid of humans but a sow with cubs can become aggressive. We are always watchful when we are in the woods. I make a lot of noise as I walk which often means I scare every wild animal within range.
Bears that frequent suburbs to raid garbage cans are not as afraid of humans like the true wild ones.
Through the years we have seen bears walking around the farm.
One year while we were baling hay a medium sized one strolled across the field in front of the tractor. I was glad I was on the tractor and Lee was on the wagon. It didn't seem to care about the big noisy tractor and baler.
When I was a young girl a bear moved through the area around the barn and frightened our horses. The horses ran to the neighbor's. They were quite surprised to find the horses in a field with their cows. I remember dad showing us the paw prints in the mud near the barn. They were huge.
Soon the bears will hibernate for the winter. They usually find their spot by the end of November.
A few years ago one tried to hibernate under a shed. We had to get the Game Commission to relocate it. That was the first time I was able to be really close to a live bear. When they are all curled up in sleep they do look like big stuffed toy animals.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/29/2023

If you asked the animals to identify the most scary critter on the farm today they would likely point toward me.
The temperatures were in the low teens with a wind chill. When I walked toward the barn all of the animals acted like I was a monster who was going to harm them. The ewes ran to the far corner of their pasture and huddle together while giving me wild eye rolls. The rams were okay since I was tossing hay in their feeder. Then one of them took a good look and they ran off to find a safe place to hide. The llamas and alpacas moved away from me and continuously snorted at me. I normally have the hood of my jacket pulled up if it is chilly. Today a hat was needed.
I think the face covering was the real reason they all freaked out. No one would approach me; not even for a treat. Once I was inside I was able to take a few layers off including the face covering. A few of the ewes cautiously came to the door to see what the monster was doing. As soon as they saw me looking normal they hurried inside timidly followed by the rest of the flock. Since I was out of sight of the rams they decided the hay was safe to eat. The llamas and alpacas settled down but they remained on alert.
Turbo was the only who didn't care how I was dressed. He greeted me with a whinny and came ambling up to me for a hug. He is quite the flirt.
Last year we had a few days when I was dressed the same as today. At that time no one acted like I was a monster. Not sure why they reacted like they did today.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/28/2023

Our temperatures dropped below freezing with wind chills. All of the water troughs and buckets had ice on top. We spent part of the day putting the heaters in them.
This fast drop in temperature is always a shock to us and the animals.
Turbo has been sleeping outside but tonight he went inside as soon as he finished his meal.
Girlfriend, who is an older ewe, needed some extra attention. She was huddled in a corner trying to stay warm. I brought her into the grain room where she ate a small dish of grain. We decided to keep her in a pen overnight where she has more protection from the cold. After I lead her into the pen she stood close to my legs. As I hugged and patted her she leaned in closer until her head was pushed against my legs. I know my attention to her lifted her spirits. What she doesn't know is how she also lifted mine.
Girlfriend has a very fine fleece with a lot of lanolin. My hands were well moisturized.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/27/2023

This bar gate is the favorite rubbing spot for the ewes and lambs. They rub against it as they walk into and out of the barn. As soon as one stops to rub others must also.
This little girl was into some serious rubbing tonight. She started with her head, moved on down her side to her rear, then followed with her other side. When she got back to her head she rubbed her nose before she ran outside. If she could have, I think she would have stood on her back legs with the top of her back against the gate to get a good rub there. As she was rubbing her head was swaying from side to side.
I have never seen any animal do such a thorough job.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/26/2023

Spotz and Lightening were enjoying a day in the sun. They were racing each other across their pen. At times it seemed as if they were playing tag.
This friendship between them has really bloomed. At first I wasn't sure if Spotz would accept a sheep as a companion.
At every meal they stand beside each other to eat. Lightening likes his hay placed on the ground or floor. He is still quite short so the hay racks are just a bit of an uncomfortable stretch for him. While he eats his hay Spotz lies down near him. At night they sleep close to each other.
They maybe the odd couple but they are now best friends.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/25/2023

While many were out shopping for a great deal today we were preparing for the beginning of rifle deer season. Lee and I do not hunt but we allow others to hunt on the farm.
Our first day is tomorrow and will continue for weeks.
As a means to protect the animals we installed some temporary fencing to keep the rams out of the lower pasture. They will still have access to their water source. The area they have to walk for water is lined with orange plastic fence. This is a visual for anyone who is in the woods and will alert them to the farm animals and buildings. For hunting season the rams will not be in their pastures because those are the closest ones to the woods. They will have pasture time with Turbo in his area around the barn.
The close to the woods ewe's pasture is also closed off. They still have the pasture close to the barn which is in a safety zone. As is the pasture for the alpacas and llamas.

It was a beautiful day to be outside. The air was on the chilly side but the sun was bright and gave us some warming rays.
At the bottom of the hill the creek was twinkling in the sun. It is still running full from the rain we had earlier in the week.
A few sparrows greeted us with some cheerful chirps when we returned to the barn.
This was a perfect way to spend Black Friday.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/23/2023

Happy Thanksgiving from everyone at Appalachian Hills Farm !

We hope your day is filled with good food, friends, family, and love.

11/23/2023

Happy Birthday, Harper!
Harper is now one.

When Harper became a member of our family he was a cuddly puppy. Ted immediately adopted him. Onyx and Diamond weren't impressed with this noisy fur ball. As the months progressed Onyx and Harper created a friendship that involved hours of tag. This summer Harper started to understand the herding instinct his breed is famous for. His favorite inside the house "victim" has been Onyx. He did try herding Diamond but that didn't go as planned. Diamond gently reminded Harper that the big cat in the house is the boss and you may not herd the boss.
Onyx has been very patient with Harper's constant attention.
When Amethyst arrived Harper was delighted to have a new friend. Until recently he has not herded her. Tonight he decided she should not leave the kitchen. Amethyst did a very slow motion walk with Harper mirroring her every move. It was impressive watching how gentle he was with her. I did intervene so Amethyst could go on her merry way.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/22/2023

Today was a very rainy day. I am not sure what the total for the day was but there was enough to cause runoff through one of the pastures. No one was outside for most of the day. Turbo came out of his barn when it was time for his meal. Of course his stone is outside so he was drenched by the time he was finished.
Today I saw a mouse. The mouse population really dwindled during the summer. I think the combination of the Fluffy family and the arrival of Amethyst in the barn took a toll on the mice. It is kind of odd that I want the mice to thrive but protecting the barn swallow babies from Fluffy and family is important. I did think the mice population would grow once Amethyst became a house cat. I will have to wait to see if that happens.
Garby, a grain room wether, followed me around while I was filling feed pans. I thought he wanted my attention but he wanted to chew on the ties of my rain jacket. That sure was a hit to my ego.
I will recover but the one tie is a bit shredded.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/21/2023

For a few years Turbo looked like a Wooly Mammoth when his winter coat grew in. This year his coat is more in line with normal horses. In the past I never questioned his appearance; thinking it was just a Turbo thing. In my research for Cushings disease I found out that in some horses, long hair growth is one of the indicators of the disease.
It is possible that Turbo has been dealing with this undiagnosed disease for a few years. His only noticeable symptom at that time was his excessive hair growth. It is possible that his hair will still grow longer but in the past years he was wooly looking by this time of the year. Next month he will have a blood test to measure and compare his levels to the initial test.

Turbo refuses to eat his meals if they are not served on his stone. He was disgusted with the nice trough feeder we bought. The grain sat for hours without him eating. When I dumped it out onto the stone he quickly ate it. He is like a toddler who only wants a certain plate.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/20/2023

Can you tell they are half brothers? Sir Prize, on the left, and Lester share the same dad, Hopeful, a gray ram. Sir Prize's mom is fawn colored Cami, and Lester's is Nan who has a cream colored fleece. They inherited their dad's horn set.
Born four years ago they have beautiful wide set horns. These horns make great handles when we have to catch them. They do sometimes forget how wide their horns are. On occasion we have been accidentally bumped when they walk past. Having horns this wide does make it interesting when they are getting hay from the rack. It also keeps others from crowding them when they eat. Fortunately both are friendly although we respect the fact that they are rams who could hurt us. When we walk amongst the rams we do a sideways kind of walk so we can keep our eyes on the rams. This way we can deflect any aggression. During this time of the year the rams are in full ram mode so we have to be extra diligent when we are with them.
Sir Prize and Lester were eyeballing the ewes when I took this picture from the safety of the other side of the gate.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/19/2023

The floor in the hay mow of our barn has an inch to two inch gap between the boards. Many of the other old barns in the valley also had hay mow floors like this.
Years ago I was curious as to why the floors had those gaps. This is what I was told.

Most of these barns are over a hundred years old. They are in a rural area that was even less populated at the time they were built.
When the farmers brought in the hay there was always the possibility of it being a bit green. Green hay will create a heat buildup that can cause a fire. By leaving gaps between the boards air was able to flow around the hay with the hope it would help it dry and keep it cool. Many barns also had basic to sophisticated ventilation windows built within the walls. These were louver type or fancy stone grids. The stone grid ones were found in the stone barns that are more common in eastern Pennsylvania. All wooden barns also had slight gaps between the boards on the walls. This also helped with ventilation. All of this was a common sense design to prevent the hay from becoming hot.
Back in the day hay was not baled. Instead it was gathered loose onto a wagon then piled inside the barn. Using a hay fork many famers would turn the hay a couple of times a week by moving it from one side of the mow to the other. This also helped prevent any heat buildup. When baling hay became the norm it was too difficult to restack the hay bales so the gaps between the floor boards were very useful in air circulation. Some farmers would leave a space between stacks of hay so the air would flow around the bales as it rose up from the gaps.
The fire department if there was one close by was likely a horse drawn water wagon. By the time they would arrive their job was to keep the fire from spreading. Farmers knew that a barn fire meant a total loss of the building. So any means of prevention was used such as the floor gaps. Even today with modern fire fighting equipment a barn fire usually results in a total loss.

This is based on what I was told. I am not sure if this is why the floor has gaps but it does make sense.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/18/2023

After weeks of little to no rain we finally received showers. Lots of showers.
The brush and forest fire possiblities were very high with the dry leaf ground coverage. I always worry that the suburban transplants won't realize that their little fun bonfires or leaf burning piles can rapidly spread into the woods and fields. Many of them don't understand that fields of dry cornstalks or dry grass will burn out of control.

Turbo stood in the rain all day. By evening the only parts on him that were dry were his stomach and the equivalent of his armpits( leg pits). Usually he is dry under his thick mane but it was quite damp there also. The ewes, llamas and alpacas stayed inside and were nice and dry.
The rams and wethers spent the day going in and out of the barn. They were all very wet.
Little Guy went from a fluffy wether to a curly one. He made a fast dash into the shelter of the barn when the rain went from a shower to a downpour.

One of the most ridiculous comments heard from a transplant was that there was frost on the ground in the mornings so it was too cold for a brush or field fire. With this rain we can relax.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/17/2023

Taking a mouthful of hay then walking around while chewing has become the norm in the flock of ewes and wethers. This only happens at this particular hay rack. When we place the hay in the other racks they stand with their faces buried in the hay and eat. The few times we place the hay outside on the ground they also bury their faces and never walk away. It is amusing to watch them walk around happily munching. Sometimes another sheep will try to grab some of the hay out of the other one's mouth.
This is Doc one of the former grain room crew and a lap lamb. He almost had a friend try to join him but he quickly turned away. His deflection allowed him to finish his mouthful.
Doc was born this light shade of brown.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/16/2023

Occasionally some of the hay bounces off of the top of the rack when we drop it from upstairs and lands on the floor. One of us hurrys down to collect the hay and toss it back into the rack. If left on the floor the sheep will eat it but they will also walk through it thus spreading it everywhere. Of course once they walk on it they act as if it is inedible.
Tonight a pile of hay went onto the floor. But the time I got there to gather it Almond was protecting it. He wouldn't let anyone near it. That also included me. He didn't butt me but he continued to walk between me and the hay. We circled that pile four times before I was able to gather it and toss it into the rack. I think he was laughing at me as I tried to out maneuver him.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/15/2023

I had a scare tonight when I was in the barn. The lights at the other side of the barn were on but the area I was in didn't have the lights turned on. As I approached the post where I turn on the lights I saw this massive spider. This was the biggest spider I had ever seen in real life. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I had goose bumps form on my arms. I quickly took a picture because I wanted to show Lee this big spider. I grabbed a shovel to hit it. Then I decided to go back upstairs to grab a flashlight so I could see it better before I swung the shovel. Boy am I glad I did. The light revealed a piece of knotted twine tossed on the wall. Note to self, don't forget to carry a flashlight even if I can navigate through the barn in the dark. Next time it might actually be a big spider.
A small part of my brain said it was too cold for a spider but I also know they can regulate their body to handle the cold so another small part of my brain identified that twine as a spider.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/14/2023

The first two pictures are the normal sizes of treats. Turbo gets the inch sized ones and the sheep, llamas, and alpacas get the smaller ones.
They fit in my pockets.
Recently the bags have had quite a lot of oversized ones. One bag was mostly filled with the huge ones. A couple were five inches long. Fortunately they are easy to break into smaller pieces.
We call these larger ones "overachievers".
When we open a new bag we are now looking to see how long the "overachievers" are.
Some days it doesn't take much to amuse us.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/13/2023

This little guy is Copper. He and Aqua are the only two white lambs born this year.
Earlier this week I noticed he was showing signs of bottle jaw which is a swelling under the lower jaw. This is an indication of the barber pole worm parasite. A good dose of dewormer remedied his issue.
Copper was born in June. Before he left the nursery he was given a dewormer, a dose of selenium, and a tetanus shot. The soil in this area is low in selenium which is an essential mineral for muscle growth and general health. The tetanus shot helps protect them in case they have a cut or fly strike. The dewormer should last for about six months. Once the first heavy frost happens the danger of stomach parasites diminishes. There are some howevers.
For Copper to have this issue he had to come in contact with the parasite earlier. This parasite has been floating around inside him for awhile. This means that the dewormer was not effective on him. That nasty parasite had a immunity to the dewormer. This occasionally happens randomly to some lambs and sheep in a flock. Deworming more frequently only enhances any parasite's possible immunity. One of the ways to lessen parasitic activity is to deworm with different dewormers. We use three different ones as well as using pasture rotation and some natural methods to prevent parasites. One of the after effects of stomach parasites is anemia. This causes the animal to become weak.
Copper's nose and inner eyelids are pale which is an indication of anemia. He has been spending a few days in a private suite. He is getting second cut hay and fortified grain to help build up his overall health.
Copper likes being hugged and having his ears patted.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/12/2023

During WWII my dad joined the Navy. He was assigned to a bomb disposal unit in the South Pacific, mainly on the Marshall Islands.
He didn't talk much about that time of his life and I didn't ask many questions. To me it was just something awesome that my dad did.
As an adult I wonder about how this young man mentally and emotionally went from a farmer to a sailor. As he walked the sandy beaches and sat in the shade of palm trees did he yearn for the mountains and valleys of his home. Did he miss seeing the leaves burst open in the spring, the deep shade of the summer woods, the colorful leaves of fall, and the first snowflakes of winter? One thing is certain he never lost his love of farming. When he returned from the war he came home to farm. Before he married my mother he farmed on his mother's farm. My parents first home was a rented house on a farm where he helped that farmer. They then rented another farm which is the one I lived on for my first three years. The farm I farm was bought not long after my third birthday. Dad's day job was a carpenter to help finance the farm and family expenses.
Veterans Day always has a special meaning to me because of my dad's service to our country.
Dad passed away in nineteen eighty nine. I wish I could tell him how proud of am for his time spent in the Navy.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/11/2023

It is often difficult to know what is best for any any animal. It would be helpful if they could speak to tell me what they want or need.
Amethyst was the queen of the barn. She had plentiful mice to catch, equipment to climb on, and other animals to visit. She also had to worry about the raccoons in the barn; owls and predators outside.
When we made the decision to bring her into the house we were unsure if she would adapt. Not only has she adapted but she acts as if she has always been here.
Being an observer to her change from a cautious barn cat to a playful house cat has been the affirmation we needed for making the right decision.
Lee has learned to keep all of his pens and pencils contained otherwise Amethyst grabs them to toss around and chase as they roll. Today she grab a pencil from Lee's hand.
She is still learning eating etiquette. Her method is to gobble her meal then push Onyx away from his. I place her dish on the other side of the room away from him but she still tries to eat his after she has finished hers. When she tries to steal Diamond's food he gives her a look that causes her to back off.
This morning we woke up with her snuggled between us.
I worried that she would yearn for her barn life but it appears she prefers being a house cat.
I think her joyful contented non verbal response to being inside the house is her way of letting me know I made the right decision.

Hope you have a perfect weekend.

Thanks for stopping by.

11/10/2023

Princess was a pure black lamb when she was born two years ago in April. Not long after she turned one a few white hairs grew on the tip of her left ear.
She was one of the grain room crew. Her best buddies are Wilbur and Walnut. When she was a tiny lamb our favorite farm boy gave her this name. He said she made him think of his black cat, Princess.
When I sheared her in May of this year she was still all black with the white hairs on her ear.
During the summer she developed pale gray highlights to her fleece. Her face, chest, legs, back, butt, and tail remain black. According to the Shetland markings and fleece color guide she is an Iset which is when white or pale gray fibers combine with the original color of fleece. As Princess ages this lighter fiber could increase. If this happens her color classification would change.
Princess has a passion for the peppermint treats. If she is standing near the grain room door I invite her in for a small helping of grain.

Thanks for stopping by.

Address

Latrobe, PA
15650

Telephone

(724) 423-8107

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Appalachian Hills Farm posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Videos

Taking a mouthful of hay then walking around while chewing has become the norm in the flock of ewes and wethers. This only happens at this particular hay rack. When we place the hay in the other racks they stand with their faces buried in the hay and eat. The few times we place the hay outside on the ground they also bury their faces and never walk away. It is amusing to watch them walk around happily munching. Sometimes another sheep will try to grab some of the hay out of the other one's mouth. This is Doc one of the former grain room crew and a lap lamb. He almost had a friend try to join him but he quickly turned away. His deflection allowed him to finish his mouthful. Doc was born this light shade of brown. Thanks for stopping by.

I often describe the sheep as grain vacuums. When we put grain out they act as if they have not had anything to eat all day when in reality they have been in the pasture eating grass. This is Sophie a yearling ewe who was one of last year's grain room lambs. Occasionally she shows up at the door to beg for some grain. Tonight was one of those occasions. Since I wanted to sweep the grain room I put her in a pen with her own dish. She finished her small scoop of grain in less than two minutes. I was afraid she was going to choke but she finished without any issues and begged for more. I gave her a treat instead of more grain. Thanks for stopping by.

This may sound like just noise but it is the wonderful sound of rain. We, as well as all of the animals were sheltering in the barn as the rain passed. A couple of the lambs were wet since they lagged behind as the flock ran for the barn. They made sure their wet wool rubbed against our dry legs. The floor is in one of the hay mows. There are gaps between the boards for air flow around and through the bales of hay. The gaps measure between two to three inches between the boards. The gaps between the siding also aid in air flow. This concept originated in the early days of farming. The fear of barn fires from slightly damp hay was and is the worry of every farmer. This was especially true during the early days of few or no fire departments. Building a barn or hay storage area that allowed air flow helped dry the hay. Farmers do wait until the cut hay is dry before they bale but there is always the possiblity of one or more small spots of dampness. When packed in a bale the damp hay creates heat that can cause a fire. Another way to combat dampness in hay is to toss handfuls of salt on top of the bales of hay. This area of the barn will soon have a stack of second cut hay for the animals winter meals. Thanks for stopping by.

When Thumbelina had a fly strike last summer she was very sick for a long time. Everyday I had to clean her wounds, apply medicine, and give her an antibiotic shot. Not only was she in a lot of pain but I am sure she suffered from shock. As she fought to become healthy she lost weight. It was a scary time for both her and myself. I knew she was getting better when she tried to run away from me to prevent me from catching her for her medical treatments. After her wounds closed up she would not allow me near her. I tried to sneak up on her while she was eating but she knew and would run. The looks she gave me were pure anger. I worried that she would never trust me or allow me to ever catch her again. This past fall she started coming around when I was feeding treats to some of her sheep family. Soon she took one. Since that day she runs to me not just for a treat but for a chin scratch. Tonight I offered her some grain. I think I can say her anger at me is a thing of the past. As she gently nibbled the grain her fuzzy lips tickled my hand. Thanks for stopping by.

The little owl gifted us with it's presence more than once this week. Yesterday I startled it from it's roost near the bottom of the stairs and it flew to sit above the window. This perch put it a bit below the light which was brighter than it liked. It sat there while we walked back and forth doing our chores without acting upset. I took it's calm behavior as a sign that it was comfortable enough with me to move closer. I was about a foot away from it when I took this video. Not once did the owl become scared. This was an amazing moment and I am very grateful. Yes, I was a bit tense because I didn't want to scare it. As soon as I finished I moved away, thanked it, then turned off the barn lights so it could continue it's hunt for mice. Hope you have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

The annual reading of one of my favorite poems. Comet was rather attentive. He especially liked the part where his name was mentioned. Aside from a few noisy sheep the rest of our farm family stood and listened. What you can't see off camera was the ones who crowded close to me. Smokey, one of our yearling rams, stood with his chin resting on my knee. Angel, an alpaca, had her chin resting on my head. Cube had his nose pressed against the door at my back. This gave new meaning to the phrase " Peace on Earth". Thanks for stopping by.

Bread ambled into the barn as I was filling the grain buckets. He looked at me then he went to the side of their area to settle in for a rest. He must have eaten a stomach full of grass and hay because he started to chew his cud not long after he came in. Sheep are ruminants which means they have a four chambered stomach. They will fill up but not digest the food. Once they are resting they will regurgitate a mouthful of the stomach content to be chewed before it is sent back into the stomach. Cows are also ruminants but horses aren't. Ruminants will only chew their cud when they are resting. When I was young I was fascinated by this action. I loved putting my hand on the necks of the cows and sheep to feel the food coming back up and into their mouths. I tried to figure out how they could do that and was disappointed that I couldn't. It is a fascinating process. Thanks for stopping by.

I had a small goose bump moment today while I was feeding. From across the barn I could hear a strange noise coming from the grain room. The grain room crew was in there eating away at their meal but this noise was not happy munching. I feared someone was choking so I hurried toward the room. As I got closer to the room it was apparent that the noise wasn't choking but I couldn't identify what it was. I also knew it wasn't the sound a raccoon, opposum, or stray cat would make. I wasn't expecting what I found. This is Annie thoroughly enjoying ripping up a box. She did eat some of it however she dropped most of it onto the floor. To clarify, there was plenty of grain in the feeder and there is a tub of a salt/ mineral mix in her part of the barn so she wasn't hungry or craving salt. I am not sure what motivated her to attack this box. I do know we had some good entertainment. Thanks for stopping by.