A. let them out of their pasture because the high temperatures and lack of rain has pretty much killed the grass in there. He blocked off a section in the back of the house behind the forsythia so they could eat the weeds and grass that has been growing mostly unchecked back there. Because there was a lot to eat there, he thought if he just blocked the major openings in the forsythia hedge and up the lane, they would stay put.
He should really know better by now.
The sheep did not want to stay where all that good grazing was. They forced their way through the forsythia hedge (some of them getting quite comically entangled for several minutes before breaking free) and made their way purposefully towards the flower bed to eat the MiL's day lilies.
A. herded them away from the day lilies and then ran to get in front of them to cover up the rose bush before they ate that. They made their way around the house, eating the forsythia hedge as they went. After a few minutes they were near the gate to the paddock by the house, so A. let them in there and shut the gate behind them, thinking they would eat the weeds in there and he could relax for a little while.
A few minutes later I saw a couple of the big Cotswolds climbing (with their front legs only--obviously, sheep can't really climb trees) the small pear tree in the paddock and eating the pears on the lower branches. Wretched things.
A call to the shepherd resulted in much cursing and the locking of the flock back into the pasture. The whole excursion lasted maybe 15 minutes and involved no less than four incidents of damaging grazing.
But that's what sheep do. They wander around and they eat. Anything. Usually the things you most want them to stay away from. Also, they shit everywhere they go. And sheep poop is fascinating to toddlers. They will pick it up. And it is gross.
Just something to keep in mind when you get all starry-eyed about a sheep flock.
6 comments:
Thanks for my morning laugh! I'm sure it wasn't funny to you, though. I was laughing until I got to the part of the sheep poop and toddlers' curiosity.
I'm quite fond of sheep, at a distance, through my camera lens.
I think being on poop-patrol is enough to keep me from wanting livestock around until our kids are a little older.
You should just recommend a good fence to keep them in to everyone who is thinking of getting sheep.
I really don't know what you would do with all the spare time you would have if you didn't have to wrangle sheep all the time. :)
Beth
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Not a good experience. At least they didn't have an unknown fencing problem when you were not at home because I think you would only have the house standing upon your return! I bet your husband really took notice once MIL's plants began disappearing!
This won't truly have success, I think this way.
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