These cold days the sheep and donkeys are hungry. They get second cut hay twice a day. It’s high in nutrition and helps keep them warm. In the evening, I also give them a little grain in the which does the same.
Two days ago I began giving Kim and Lori grain in the morning. They caught on quick as I’ve learned the sheep do. When I mucked out the barn this morning Lori and Asher showed up looking for grain. When Asher saw he wasn’t getting any, he went back to the hay.
But Lori hung around.
The day before I was able to get her and Kim in the barn and give them grain. They both remembered.
I put some grain in a bucket for Lori, then Kim came looking too. Soon both sheep were in the barn eating grain while the other sheep were at the hay feeders.
I sometimes forget that Lori is an older sheep. She is Robin and Merricat’s mother. I don’t know her exact age, but Lori has to be at least seven years old. And Kim is nine or ten.
Yesterday I notice that Lori had a bare spot on her head about the size of a quarter, where her wool had fallen out.
By now I know that this is something that happens when sheep are stressed, and that Lori is prone to it. I’ve no doubt it’s due to the below zero weather.
So for the rest of the winter, because they are older, I’ll give both Kim and Lori a little grain in the mornings.
And on the really cold days, the rest of the sheep, and the donkeys will get some grain too.
Lori and Kim eating grain in the barn.
