Well the good news is today it only rained for a short bit in the morning and we only had one lamb born. The storm didn't destroy anything and although the ewe needed an assist which seems to be the norm this year and she had the largest new born lamb I ever seen. Oh and the largest new born lamb the Vet said he has ever seen too. At least I managed to get a few other things done as well.
I got six swarm traps placed and baited today and then swung by the hardware store to buy the last few items I needed to finish the creep feeder gate.
We have had a few creep feeders over the years and the big sheep always end up destroying them. I guess for those who are unaware of what a creep feeder is an explanation is in order. A creep feeder is basically just a cage that allows the babies to get in and eat but the big sheep can't. With our dismal record of the big sheep being unable to control themselves with food that close and the fact that I still had a stall with no gate due to the ram destroying it two years ago and since we have more little lambs running around than ever before we decided to just turn the stall into a "No Moms Allowed" zone and make a creep feeder gate.
I had an old cattle panel that was bent and cut a section out of it for the gate. Then ground off the sharp edges and used the center support boards to cover them some as well. The fence staples and the panel section keep the joints tight on the wooden support beans so I didn't need to put in any angled support which let me keep the weight down to an acceptable level. The gate shouldn't sag since the panel is ridged. At least that's my theory.
The lambs all wanted to help me install the gate but then decided the package the hinges came in was more interesting until I laid my cordless drill down anyway.
Here's the new gate installed. The moms are not happy but the lambs are over joyed. They now have a special stall all to themselves were they can eat the special lamb pellets, play and socialize without some big meany-head mom coming over and giving them a head butt.
Keep Prepping Everyone!!!!
We used to have a cat that loved little lambs and would lay in the creep with them at night. The lambs would come up and sniff and sniff him. Later they would all lay down under the heat lamp and sleep. I miss the lambs with their kinky curly baby wool and lanolin smell.
ReplyDeleteTewshooz - Right about now if you were close enough I would hand you a lamb and say "Here ya go!!!" you could take it home, feed it, whatever you wanted to do with it. I got lambs coming out of my damned ears right now :)
DeletePP,
ReplyDeleteGreat job on your gate! It works, I see several mom's not to happy :)
Sandy - The moms were saying "Come out" the lambs were saying "NO!!"
DeleteIt was a riot :)
I've been wanting to make creep feeders for both the kids and the chickens, but those darned goats are SOOOOO destructive that I'd have to build it (well, Paul, that is) out of steel pipes or whatnot. They are so insalnely crazed when it comes to grain it's amazing what they'll do (i.e. destroy) to get to it.
ReplyDeleteCarolyn - Well I think this set up will work for us because using the gate I can then put the lamb feed way in the back of the stall in the long feeder and I doubt the grown ups will even be able to detect that it is there. This set up should be almost indestructible too I put a staple on almost every joint of that panel piece into the wood. I am sure the ram could tear it up if he really put his head into it but I don't think any of the ewes or whethers will have enough testosterone to try it.
DeleteWe are in the testing phase now anyway :)
What a neat idea! I sure hope it works for you!
ReplyDeleteHG - As of today I think I can say it is a success. One of the few successful projects I can boast about this Spring so far.
DeleteAwwww...my boys want a lamb...I actually would like a pygmy goat. So we might compromise one day.
ReplyDeleteAnyways I like the gate you did. Babies look really happy
JuGM - Well I am biased towards lambs of course but only because I don't like the taste of goats at all. I love lamb. I think the shearing thing is kinda a big turnoff for many potential sheep owners though.
DeleteWell done Preppy. Very serviceable.
ReplyDeleteTB - Thank you!!!
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