The word is out--the shepherd is opening the gate!
Wait? We have to wait while you do a head count?!! But we are starving and the flies are eating us alive!
Sheep get pretty excited about eating. New grass is a big thrill. Just going into a new pasture is enough to cause mob scenes. It doesn't matter if they are hungry or not, they just love the excitement of new scenery, a whole new buffet to sample! Their philosphy seems to be, that the first one through the gate will get all the good stuff. No matter that there is several acres of good stuff. They take this so far as to literally have four or five sheep try and squeeze through the gate opening at once. Since it's set up for one to two sheep at the most, this can get ugly. I have actually seen three sheep wedged firmly, all three still trying their best to be the first through.
I try my best to funnel the sheep in so there isn't a pile up, but it doesn't always work. With the bigger gates, it isn't an issue, but it can still be tricky getting out of the way!
Last one through is SUCH a loser!
The word is out--the shepherd is opening the gate!
Wait? We have to wait while you do a head count?!! But we are starving and the flies are eating us alive!
I try my best to funnel the sheep in so there isn't a pile up, but it doesn't always work. With the bigger gates, it isn't an issue, but it can still be tricky getting out of the way!
Last one through is SUCH a loser!
4 comments:
You do have a good-sized flock, don't you! What a blessing to have so much good grazing this year.
I happened to be reading through various blogs and came upon yours (I am a "newbie" to Shetlands:). I had to leave you a message because this morning I felt like the loser as my sheep totally pushed me out of the way & I was the last one through the gate...I always tell them that if they knock me over & trample me, they have just takin out the grain woman! Thanks for sharing your sheep and humor...Kristi
Thought I'd track your blog down and have a read. You have some lovely looking sheep and a couple of nice looking dogs too :)
My sheep do the same things with the pushing to go out but to also come back in as well lol.
I had one girl a wee bit on the sick side - giving her meds and herbs, etc. Then she would stop eating or bang herself on the panel between her and the other ewes. Today I turned her out with the others figuring "What the h--l, she's been with them for months and they've shared everything"...she went out and started eating like a little piggy. I did notice that it was definitely a buffet with her - a little grass, a little dandelion, a little herbs, some tree leaves.
And they lie! They will eat and have the nerve to tell you they are starving and they need more, the Little Devils they can be! LOL!
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