Manger working for sheep

How quickly the fate of things can change.

A manger was installed, hay bought, and here are Meeny, Miney, and Moe feasting on the mixed greens--timothy and alfalfa.

One day they were just one loud bellow away from the cattle truck, and the next day they are back in the good graces of the shepherd.

Actually, we've been through two bales and here you see them munching on the third.

The learning--presentation of the food. I've tried hay previous years, by spreading it on top of the straw on the floor, or just scattered in the pasture. Finally, put it up in the air and they're hooked. What can that say about humans and our eating habits?

Reprieve on the lambs

In case you've been afraid that Meeny, Miney, and Moe might lose their citizenship papers at 34 West Eby Road, you can relax for the moment. They may act a little illogical at times, but I'm no longer into the illegal thing about them.

Steps were taken, and things are better.

Background: they are getting larger, needing more food and the pasture is getting drier as August heat keeps pounding and rains are few.

It was decided to add hay to their menu. It hadn't worked before. In past years I had the experience of piles of hay in their pen going untouched, being confused with straw. This year, in desperation, I thought of putting the hay up in a manger--one of those things you see horses eating out of at about eye level. It seems to work. Joel reported he saw all three eating ouf of it at once.

The bad news is that they have been banned from the orchard pasture. Saturday I had taken them on their daily excursion. While I was guarding the low section of the fence over which they escaped in the past, they found another spot, pulled it down with their neck, and quickly jumped over into Glick's alfafa. That's a factor of Meeny and Miney being taller and older. I was nonplused, frustrated, plain mad, and shoo-ed Moe across too, thinking it would be easier to keep them together for the round-up and rescue.

With a little help from Dorcas, we soon had them back.

Meeny, Miney, and Moe at the crossroads

As innocent as our scruffy-kneed small bovines may look, they have been pushing the limits recently and pushing the buttons of us living at 34 W. Eby. Not to cast aspersions on them--but they have been baa-ing at inappropiate times and much too frequently and loudly. We have provided them with fresh water, lots of molassus-tinged grain, ocassional excursions to the orchard pasture extension. Gratitude and shutting up never seems to be a result of this care. Therefore we had to take some decisive measures. No more trips to the orchard until they stop jumping the fence into the Glick's alfafa field. No more extra helpings of grain until they stop baa-ing after being fed. And, we've added, just yesterday, a little manger, custom-made at the back of their shed. Benuel and Junior Smoker, two Monterey boys, brought them a fresh bale of hay. So far Dorcas and Joel have claimed some success at getting them to transfer their voracious appetites from sweetened grain to hay--but so far it requires human time of standing there and soliciting the eating of hay. I hate to say this, but the thought of the Beiler cattle truck has popped into my head more than once. But we are taking all possible measures for forestall this eventuality. I am frustrated because I am by nature very forgiving of the friendly beasts of the field. But the happiness of people (family and neighbors) comes first, after all. So, for all of you who have petted Meeny, Miney, and Moe and who helped name them, I just wanted to update you. We will take no drastic actions without consulting with you. You did name them. Incidentally, their ceremonial names are: Casper, Melchior, and Balshazar.