...hypothetically may lose her sheep but I can assure all they aint coming home if you leave them alone and the only tail wagging would be to the local stud. In this case Denzil!
Denzil has indeed arrived, yesterday to be precise. After much sheep wrestling last week to separate the Double D's from the others I felt they stood to be the proverbial lambs to the slaughter when Denzil strode out of the trailer about twice the size of them and letting all his wares hang out about him! He may be a pure bred Polled Dorset but he's got no class. In saying that, neither have my girls who within a minute of seeing him, raced over tails wagging furiously then kneeling down sticking all their wares up in the air. Honestly, I felt ashamed! I mean, what kind of sheep am I raising here? Anyway, needless to say Denzil's going about his business efficiently and effectively 24 hours into a 6 week stay! He's already started eyeing up the young girls in the next field so fingers crossed the fencing is strong enough should he fancy a bit of the other...Hiltz bless her, not a clue what's going on. Walking the field, all alone, bleating away, no sense of hormones about the girl. Ah well, maybe she's a late a developer - a real Sandy...maybe not...
Sheep are happy, pigs are happy now that I'm feeding them correctly and not half starving them as I was doing! Never was any good at weights and measures! They are growing really well and I was feeling pretty confident around them till Sunday's Countryfile where I was informed they bite when stressed! Not that I plan on deliberately stressing my pigs but market day will come and I've got to get them tagged by then! Don't fancy a pig bite so better get them tagged sooner rather than later methinks!
The ducks on the other hand are heading for the table if their not careful! Talk about frustrating! Dirty, smelly things who require a fair amount of upkeep for so far, zilch eggs and a drake who's more Boy George than George Clooney. Their latest game is all about escape (been talking to Hiltz clearly) As they don't 'do' torchlight on late evenings when I'm taxiing DD to various clubs and activities I'll pop over the gate mid afternoon and herd them into their pen area where their house and water and food are. This is roofed and netted with a lockable door mainly to stop Crows etc bringing disease in (DVE-gate from a few months back) but also as an additional deterrent to Mr Fox. However, the bl**dy things have only gone and worked out that using their bills as a razor will cut through the netting thus creating an escape hole. Only some can get out, others can't so I've twice arrived last week at duck land hoping to simply clap my hands and watch them pop into their house, only to find them highly stressed at being separated, running round the pond like lunatics, hungry and no clue who or what I am as torchlight seems to completely blind them! Ducks? I'm thinking chickens are much easier...
As with every place of work health and safety rules ok but when it's your own place it's so easy to be negligent. Last week I hoiked 4 20kg bags of feed out of the car, over the gate then up and into feed containers. I've been moving straw bales and lifting wheelbarrows and carry across acres full water buckets. For those who know my frame, it's not really 'sturdy country lass' more 'city chic' and my back protested in a big way. It's a silly, uncool topic that's dull and we all know it takes a 'special' type of person to be the H&S Officer at work but I tell you, it is important - when it comes to potentially not being able to wear my heels it's a serious matter! Fashion before Falling, Issa before injury and all that. Not that I have many alternatives, as I continually say in my ramblings, it's yet another learning curve on a personal level - know your limitations and don't fool yourself!
Mx
Weather: Met office tells me it's foggy, dry and 12 degrees. I can tell you all it's 10 degrees, clear and raining.
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