Becky found our old sheep BS dead this morning. It was no surprise, but we are still sad about it. She was at least thirteen years old....we got her from my cousin when Mike was a young dog to be a training sheep along with several other sheep. Over the years we sold most of them.
Up until today our remaining flock consisted of just old BS and her daughter Freckles, both so old we have to keep them in with the pony in the winter. Last week BS stopped wanting to get up, but she kept eating and drinking and seemed pretty cheerful, and yesterday she was working on getting on her feet. We figured she had turned the corner for the better.
Sadly it was not to be.
Here are some BS stories.
Sheepish
Wool
Weird
Shearing
About Me
- threecollie
- Embracing agricultural diversity, one species at a time. All rights reserved
Those are some very powerful moments that she gave you to hold onto. Sorry for your loss as she seems to have been quite the smile maker there. Bless her little soul!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your loss - You have wonderful memories of all the years she was with you. She had a good life and gave you a daughter to love on now that she's gone.
ReplyDeleteIf you ever decide you need more training sheep, just say the word. I remember my way to your neck of the woods :)
Dang it!
ReplyDeleteI am so sorry for your loss, you seem to have loved her very much.
ReplyDeleteI'm so sorry that BS passed away.
ReplyDeleteDitto dang it. Sorry for the loss of a good animal.
ReplyDeleteSorry, 3C. It's always tough to lose critters.
ReplyDeleteSteve, it is amazing how much fun with have had with those two old sheep. I never had sheep before we got the border collies and always thought of them as sort of stupid and lacking in personality. Not at all true. We will miss the old girl
ReplyDeleteRellen, Thanks! that is so kind of you! I had thought to get a couple of lambs before the old girls were gone so they would learn from them that this is home and not have to be fenced. However, I read about sheep in Oregon giving catarrhal fever to cattle at a fair. I don't know enough about this disease yet to feel comfortable with new sheep. do you know if it is a threat here on the east coast or if it is just a west coast thing?
Jeffro, exactly. We have been amazed for about the past four years that the old girls have kept on going, but still....
mml, thanks, funny to get so fond of a sheep, but she was a very funny sheep
Dani, thanks for the kind words
FC, she was old and I guess it was time, but we will still miss her
akagaga, thanks, you always second guess yourself, even if, as in this case, it is a really old one.
threecollie,
ReplyDeleteWanted to clarify that the "Rellen" post was from me....I posted from my son's computer....you probably wondered who that person was :)
To answer your question about MCF; I know little about it.
I do know that most sheep carry the Ovine herpes 2 form of this virus and that it is the major cause of this virus worldwide. That being said, I also know that MCF is a problem in this country mainly affecting bison and deer that are farm raised and zoo animals. I have never read or heard of a single case on the east coast or any case involving sheep and cattle other than the oregon issue. I will certainly be talking to my vet about it as I turn my calves out with my sheep in the spring.
Debi
We have one old girl that's 13. We kept her away from the ram this year. She had healthy twins last year. She still seems to be doing ok but is a little slower than everyone else. She was one of two original flock ewes.
ReplyDeleteDeb, thank you so much for taking time to answer my sheep question. I don't begin to know enough about them to be a shepherd, that is for sure....although we are very fond of our sheep.
ReplyDeleteWe speculated indeed about whether we knew rellen or not...but I said to Liz, "I'll bet that's Deb!" And she said, "I'll bet you're right,". Glad to know we guessed right. And thanks again for the answer. I have been meaning to ask our vet, but in the flurry of activity at herd health I keep forgetting. Stay warm!
WR, that is so cool! Our old ladies have had a few lambs some time ago, but we haven't kept a ram in a long time. Lambs are so neat! We never really knew exactly how old these ladies were/are because they were mature sheep when we got them....
I'm sorry about BS. I know how it is...sigh.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry for your loss as well. Our critters do hold a special place in our hearts.
ReplyDeleteWe're sorry to hear it. We remembered those stories about her.
ReplyDeleteTeri, I know you understand if anybody does. Take care
ReplyDeleteThe Wife, even though I never met Duke, I was so sorry to read that you lost him....
Cubby, it was not unexpected, as old as the sheep are but.....
I am sorry for your loss of an old friend, but in a way, she'll live on through your wonderful stories. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteTCSL, thank you so much for your kind words! Surprisingly Freckles seems quite content and actually comes outdoors more than she was before. Thanks for visiting and for taking time to comment!
ReplyDelete