Teresa & Mike CHS - Our journal

[Bruce]

Yeah that Mike is one heck of a guy isn't he?

 

[Mike CHS]

It didn't take too much arm twisting and I was really surprised how low the bidding went.

None of the lots of 5 birds went over $20 a bird and ours went for $19. You sure can't feed them to that age for $20 so we plan on this being our source for replacement birds instead of raising our own. We'll incubate to sell chicks but that's all.

 

[Baymule]

Really nice hens. I like your breakfast, it looks delicious!

 

[Mike CHS]

Modifying a shelter in rock gets interesting. I spent a couple of hours yesterday and about the same today digging and setting three 4x4 posts. Our shop is built on slab rock and fortunately where I'm wanting to add walls, it is the thin slabs that you can break with a rock bar (although not fast). It took close to an hour of pounding stone to get the hole deep enough and there is enough stone around each hole that the posts aren't going to shift.

I got the one side done and framed for a wire panel and half of the front side. Hopefully tomorrow I can get the other side done as well as a 12' section on the front. The 12' gate in the picture will be taken off and a 6' gate installed there to let the sheep into the chute. Once completed the sheep will be kicked out of their favorite bedding area except during lambing seasons.

 

[Mike CHS]

I probably ought to post this in the sheep thread since it seems to me like a good idea. After I got some framing done in the shelter I saw 2 and sometimes 4 sheep at a time scratching their backs on the framing I put up for the outside fence. I was curious if anyone has put something like that out in pastures. They were in heaven and I have only seen them arch like that when I use a curry brush on them. The only one I could get a picture of is to the left and she is standing over the lower 2x4 and arching her back and rubbing back and forth under the middle 2x4. There was 3 at a time doing the arching back scratch and by the time I went and got the camera they were all finished. he one in the picture only raises her head like that when she is enjoying being scratched.

I think I will put some of posts and scratching lumber out in the pasture but I don't spoil my sheep. If nothing else it may help some of those that refuse to ever be rained on to finally finish shedding.

 

[CntryBoy777]

Our goats use the boards I have around the fence and a 2x4 that I screwed to their house, and the sides of the deck. The 2x4 was a support to hold a plastic tub up, that I used as a hay box.....they tore up the box and I never took the 2x4 down, but after seeing them rub on it....I decided to leave it up..... ....they rub on the lounger and the overturned table too. If I turn them over, they will flip them to get them back in the preferred position....so, I leave them as they wish. They will scratch their bellies on the support bars across the legs of the lounger...........I don't think you'll go wrong with it or a stretch of fence between a couple of posts.

 

[Baymule]

I like that idea! When we had the pigs, there was a fallen branch in their pasture and they rubbed the bark smooth in one place. I was going to cut it up and drag it to the burn pile, but left it there of their scratching pleasure. I've watched the sheep rub on various things, never thought to make them a scratching post!

 

[Bruce]

Seems to me Mike that the problem is you and Teresa don't spend enough time scratching your sheep

D1's cat has trained my wife. He gets up on the bathroom counter for his 100 rubs from head to tail ... morning and night.

 

[Mike CHS]

Bruce - it didn't take me long to figure out I didn't want them so friendly that I could scratch or pet them very much. Ringo gets more than his share but that's about it.

 

[Mike CHS]

I quit working a little while ago but got the other 3 4x4 posts set and secured and the framing done on the long side of the stall. I still have to add the framing 2x's on the shorter 12' side and then hang sheep and goat panels tomorrow if I can motivate myself to go to town and get them this afternoon.