Sheep don't understand the concept of shade

[mystang89]

My sheep are making in the common sense department (much like my children). I have plenty of well shaded areas in my pasture with lots of dirt and grass around. For some reason, even after I have constantly walked them to the shade and say there with them, after about 5 minutes they walk back to the barn entrance which is in the sun and then sit, baking in the sun. There is even water near the shade!
Why? Had anyone else had this happen? What can I do to get them to stay in the shade during the hot part of the day? It gets to around 90s now, full sun.

 

[secuono]

Lol, mine are also slow like that. But after keeping the barn locked for a week or two, they figure to lay under trees. They don't like change, lol.

 

[Simpleterrier]

Yep animals are funny and us humans can be dumb. They will move if they get to hot if they don't it will just naturally cull your flock. I've seen about every kind of animal stand out in the full sun on a hot day and have looked at them and thought why not stand in the shade but I haven't tried to move them and haven't lost any yet. So I just let them be I ain't gonna sweat trying to make them do something they don't want to.

 

[mystang89]

This is starter herd of 3 so losing any of them would be catastrophic for me since just these 3 cost me over 3000$ lol.

I think I will get a movable electric fence and put it in the shade along with water for while and how that reaclimates them to a new spot

 

[Mike CHS]

I have to ask what kind of sheep do you have?

They should look for change if they get too hot. We just built some shelters but they were used to another area and didn't check them out till I closed their original area.

 

[mystang89]

Awassi

 

[Mike CHS]

I had to look them up as I have never seen any. They are beautiful animals.

 

[luvmypets]

I find that trying to force them into the shade will cause more drama. They will figure it out dont worry! When we first let our animals into the pasture they all congregated in a small half acre when they had a huge field. After a while they all figured it out.

 

[Baymule]

Oh, you have to post pictures!!! My sheep have lots of shade and they lay up under the trees in the heat.

 

[Simpleterrier]

I had to look them up also. Are you going to milk them?