just getting into sheep and have some questions about things I've noticed.
1) my pasture has a couple small spots of shade...plenty for the few sheep I have but it is spotty in the afternoon. Great shade til noon. Today I noticed the sheep standing in the sun by the gate and panting like they were hot. I grabbed some feed and they followed me to a shady spot where I fed them. They'd eat in the shade and then walk back to the gate in the sun to stand and pant. They have plenty of fresh water by the gate. It's like they are tryin to get in the tiny strip of shade from the fence posts when they have available shade in other places. Surely if they were overly hot they'd stay in the available shade???? I did construct them a temporary shade area by the gate with a tarp to try to help for tomorrow afternoon.
2) noticed a couple of the sheep at times holding their head low like they were feeding but they weren't eating. they'd pick up and walk around at times but when standing still they'd drop their head unless somethin in particular caught their attention.
These two things could be just regular ol sheep stuff but both struck me as somewhat odd. Any advice is appreciated.
1) my pasture has a couple small spots of shade...plenty for the few sheep I have but it is spotty in the afternoon. Great shade til noon. Today I noticed the sheep standing in the sun by the gate and panting like they were hot. I grabbed some feed and they followed me to a shady spot where I fed them. They'd eat in the shade and then walk back to the gate in the sun to stand and pant. They have plenty of fresh water by the gate. It's like they are tryin to get in the tiny strip of shade from the fence posts when they have available shade in other places. Surely if they were overly hot they'd stay in the available shade???? I did construct them a temporary shade area by the gate with a tarp to try to help for tomorrow afternoon.
2) noticed a couple of the sheep at times holding their head low like they were feeding but they weren't eating. they'd pick up and walk around at times but when standing still they'd drop their head unless somethin in particular caught their attention.
These two things could be just regular ol sheep stuff but both struck me as somewhat odd. Any advice is appreciated.