Sheep Mom's AdventuresRaising Shetland Sheep off the grid

I wish we could be the model ranch, having enough hay for the whole year, sheep with NO vegetation matter stuck in their wool, lush, green pastures that can be irrigated etc…….

But we aren’t, only in my dreams.

Our hay we got last October lasted until late June.  The hay we get locally hadn’t been cut yet.  The animals had eaten down  the pasture. Outside the pasture was VERY green and tall grass which is UNUSUAL for this time of the year, thanks to all that rain.  Unfortunately, all that tall grass and brush turns brown and dries out creating a HUGE  fire hazard.  So…. we turned the animals loose, out of the pasture, to free range and hopefully eat down the grass.  That IS one of the many reasons we have them.

Moms and lambs gorging

They LOVE it.

We turn them out in the morning.  They graze during the day, and come back in on their own to ruminate with glazed over eyes, thoroughly content.

Unfortunately, this year, the grass is so green and abundant that they aren’t even putting a dent in it. Marshall is going to have to get out the weed whacker and whack out a fire break around the house and barn.

The hay we get from “down below” the mountain is just about ready so we’ll be jailing the animals soon.

Free ranging with Forest Mountain as a backdrop. The animals say, "Can it get any better than this?"

In the meantime,  they are running around munching with fat bellies, and looking VERY happy.

Until next time…