Wednesday 6 January 2010

Sheepish Improvisation...

It's still icy here. Really icy. It's too icy to walk to the spot where I normally feed the sheep, in fact, after picking and slipping my way up with the feed and using the bale of hay I was carrying like a zimmer frame, I resorted to sliding back down on a feedbag the other day because it is so treacherous... and I can't slide up there!

I've been a bit worried at Rosie and Tolly speed skating down the slope to greet me too! They couldn't stop and crashed into the gate a couple of days ago.

So I've moved the feeding area so that I can stomp across the snowy field instead of up the icy track; but this means that there are no feed racks set up. I found some spare feed bowls that were easy to carry up to them...

And was wondering how to build a new hay rack when I spotted this...

It's a cross country jump!


And the perfect height for filling with hay for Shetlands.

It actually works better than the real hay rack!

Robina says: "It's about time she came up with something useful. It's a tough life being a sheep up here!"


9 comments:

Molly said...

Hey what a brilliant idea. I bet the Shetlands love their new cafe

Claire MW said...

Excellent idea! Well done!

I do wish somebody had been there to take a pic of you tobogganing on the feed bag though! Tee hee!

Rob-bear said...

You're not at all sheepish about trying something new. Improvised sheep feeder, and sleigh. Next, you'll come up with sure-footed wellies for the dogs (no more gate crashing!).

Looks darned cold up there. Feels like home (except that we don't have any sheep).

Sharrie said...

We have a layer of snow, then ice, and then more snow. The ewes do not like the ice and stick real close to their shed. I agree that the ice makes things much more difficult than they have to be. I am sure I could find a hill to sled on like you did. Good idea!

DJ Kirkby said...

What a great idea. Not sure what a cross country jump is but it can't be as practical as the purpose you've put it to.

Jenny Holden said...

Glad you like the new rack folks.

Rob-Bear - Rosie and Tolly are two of the sheep! It's not often I've seen sheep loose their footing!
It is ruddy cold here, but I know it's the norm for you.

DJK - Thanks for visiting. I ought to have explained that it's a horse jump, albeit a small practice one. But no one in their right mind would even be hacking out on this ice, let alone jumping, so it was sitting doing nothing!

Nancy K. said...

What a wise shepherdess you are, Jenny! Stay safe and warm during these bitter cold months. I'm so glad that you've got Chris and the dogs to snuggle in with on cold, snowy evenings!

Happy New Year!

Poppy said...

Brilliant idea and usage!
Just came across your blog from Being a smallholder and thought I would say Hi

Poppy said...

Think I just saw you on TV!!!
Very interesting and well done