The Ambivalent Shepherd

[Blue Sky]

Things look much improved this morning. Bugs happen. We had a perfect storm of bug factors this year. A retired exterminator told me once that over the counter products will fail eventually and I can’t argue. All the old standbys I have relied on lost effectiveness this summer. But the bait stations are empty so I’m encouraged. I will probably have an exterminator treat us before my mil moves in. Last year it was pantry moths so-

 

[fuzzi]

Through experience I can say the best roach killer is borax, the stuff next to laundry detergent. Buy a box, sprinkle it where roaches travel, like under the sink, behind the stove and refrigerator, in closets, but where children and pets can't access. Within a month you should notice a decline in bug sightings, might find a few critters on their backs, dying. Reapply every six months. It has worked in every apartment and house I have moved into, from Connecticut to South Carolina to North Carolina.

 

[Blue Sky]

Through experience I can say the best roach killer is borax, the stuff next to laundry detergent. Buy a box, sprinkle it where roaches travel, like under the sink, behind the stove and refrigerator, in closets, but where children and pets can't access. Within a month you should notice a decline in bug sightings, might find a few critters on their backs, dying. Reapply every six months. It has worked in every apartment and house I have moved into, from Connecticut to South Carolina to North Carolina.

The weather outside is frightful, HAVE SOME BORAX!!

 

[Blue Sky]

The weather is cooler and the windows can be open all day. Our last home didn’t have a front porch so I’m really enjoying this one. Moses has matured from a reluctant pup to a bold guardian who wide patrols every morning. He doesn’t stick like glue to the flock like Crockett did but we have had no losses. I’ll be glad to get Vala spayed and healed to join him. I have figured out a way (I hope) to give the LGDs nighttime access to the safe pen without the sheep gaining access to the dog’s sleep area where they can pester them, eat their bedding etc. Presently dogs are next door to sheep at night and it works. Moses never caught on to bedding down in the barn because a Gang of Four ewes absolutely bedeviled him as did the Racka if he was feeling rutty. So I will cut an appropriately sized hole in a stock panel and insert a big blue barrel open on each end. Stabilize the barrel, teach the dogs to crawl through it and presto, dogs can escape to a well earned rest in their pen or charge to the rescue if need be. Lambs might crawl through but the Racka with his horns can’t and the Gang probably can’t. Mound some sand, rocks, whatever to keep it dry and train with hot dogs.

 

[Blue Sky]

Open mouth, insert foot. As I hit post for above, a dog possibly two attacked the flock. Moses didn’t see it being busy barking in another direction. I tore through gates waving a crook and yelling. The offending dog a sheltie mix, about 30lbs was industriously gnawing on a flailing ewe. Leo appeared from out of nowhere and chest butted the sheltie sending it end over end. Then with no commands or precedent he drove the flock up the hill to the safe pen. I was evaluating the ewe and looking for the sheltie. Moses started searching too. He and Leo had brief eye contact and Moses went to the flock. Sheltie melted into the underbrush. Injured ewe went missing but she was bleeding out. Nothing to do for her and I had the flock to check for injuries and stress. Sometimes you have to choose. Flock ok and penned. Leo and I are in for hydration and a quick break. Then search for ewe. All quiet. Leo gets a steak.

“Mixed breed indeed. Imma LGD!”

 

[Alaskan]

Open mouth, insert foot. As I hit post for above, a dog possibly two attacked the flock. Moses didn’t see it being busy barking in another direction. I tore through gates waving a crook and yelling. The offending dog a sheltie mix, about 30lbs was industriously gnawing on a flailing ewe. Leo appeared from out of nowhere and chest butted the sheltie sending it end over end. Then with no commands or precedent he drove the flock up the hill to the safe pen. I was evaluating the ewe and looking for the sheltie. Moses started searching too. He and Leo had brief eye contact and Moses went to the flock. Sheltie melted into the underbrush. Injured ewe went missing but she was bleeding out. Nothing to do for her and I had the flock to check for injuries and stress. Sometimes you have to choose. Flock ok and penned. Leo and I are in for hydration and a quick break. Then search for ewe. All quiet. Leo gets a steak.

“Mixed breed indeed. Imma LGD!”

Both love and sad!

I really despise stray dogs that kill livestock.

 

[drstratton]

Open mouth, insert foot. As I hit post for above, a dog possibly two attacked the flock. Moses didn’t see it being busy barking in another direction. I tore through gates waving a crook and yelling. The offending dog a sheltie mix, about 30lbs was industriously gnawing on a flailing ewe. Leo appeared from out of nowhere and chest butted the sheltie sending it end over end. Then with no commands or precedent he drove the flock up the hill to the safe pen. I was evaluating the ewe and looking for the sheltie. Moses started searching too. He and Leo had brief eye contact and Moses went to the flock. Sheltie melted into the underbrush. Injured ewe went missing but she was bleeding out. Nothing to do for her and I had the flock to check for injuries and stress. Sometimes you have to choose. Flock ok and penned. Leo and I are in for hydration and a quick break. Then search for ewe. All quiet. Leo gets a steak.

“Mixed breed indeed. Imma LGD!”

What a good boy!

I'm so sorry that happened. Hope you find your ewe and by some chance she pulls through.

Both love and sad!

I really despise stray dogs that kill livestock.

I do too. I've lost so many chickens over the years from strays. We're finally put in a huge pen for them so they can safely free range. They've learned to watch for hawks.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

So sorry that happened - but YAY for Leo!

 

[Blue Sky]

Thank you all. I’m continuing to watch for stress especially with the Rackas as I don’t know how they take it. So far everyone is laying down chewing cud. I have not really beat the bushes for the ewe. Living/ savables first. The sheltie looked like a pet dog. People (myself too at one time) cannot believe how much damage a docile pet can do and how quickly. My poor ewe was really chewed up. She probably ignored the dog, took a couple of hits and went into shock. Somebody’s cuddle baby is coming home bloody. I’m disappointed in Moses for being late to the party. His elevator goes to the top but sometimes the door sticks. He’s still young though. My past LGDs were swift and terrible with domestic dogs. Except one time when they merely rolled the dog. Thank goodness because the owner was older, lonely and very attached. I’d have made it right somehow but I’m glad I didn’t need to. Sheltie may belong to my southern neighbor, his invalid wife more precisely. It’s worrisome because wherever sheltie is from it will be back. The rigors of shepherding.

 

[SageHill]

So sorry about the ewe - a damn sheltie -- geeze. If the sheltie made it home I hope it was covered in blood. The owners should SEE that. Take pics of the ewe when you find her, just documentation for the future if you need it (you probably already know that).