Replacement Ewes

With our ewes failing to reproduce this year, I didn't want to waste a year of increasing our flock so went out and bought some replacement ewes.  We don't own a trailer and I didn't want to spend the cost of renting one so built a livestock box for the back of our pickup instead.

Of all days to pick them up it was cold and wet and raining.  Thankfully though the farm wasn't too far.  I had been communicating with the woman of the house but it was actually her husband who greeted us.  He and their friendly pooch who wanted me to play fetch with anything she could find on the ground.  The sheep were penned in a paddock with a herd of goats and a ram.  Though the ram looked big and mean, he was actually quite friendly and didn't give us any trouble.  The farmer was also super friendly and went above and beyond trying to chase down the sheep we pointed out.  Actually it became quite comical after a while.  But eventually, he wrangled 6 ewes into our tiny livestock box.  I thought it would have plenty room but these ladies are huge!  

We had fun trying to squeeze them through the small door but once all inside off for home we went.  My makeshift livestock box held up

And we were able to keep an eye on the girls (who could also watch us) to see if any stressed or tried to break free.

The only casualty we had was on this one ewe and it happened before we left when the farmer tagged her ear and accidently missed and had to tag her twice.  There was a lot blood.

But the bleeding eventually stopped thanks in part I'm sure to the cold and rain.  In Ontario it is illegal for sheep to leave your farm without having their ears tagged.  When we arrived home we had the task of unloading the ewes and there was no strong and determined male farmer around to help.  I backed the truck as far into the barn as I could and then began unloading.

They didn't come out willingly.  Or at least the first four.  They were pulled, yanked, tugged until finally pushing through that small opening like a new born calf out of it's mamma's womb.  The last two ewes we decided to send Farm Girl in and push from behind.  However, the moment she entered their small space, they went flying for the door.  Needless of the fact they didn't fit.  The sight had us laughing all over again.  The biggest, fattest charged for the door came shooting through like a stuffed bullet and proceeded to somersault over the tailgate.  Oye!  The last ewe was much smaller and flew through and down to the stall in no time flat.  At last my ewes were all home, safe and sound.

I'm super pleased with them.  They are all HUGE, much bigger than my own flock and will make great breeders.  They all are already proven breeders and have just weaned lambs.  I am super excited for next years breeding season.