All Sheep Moved Off

The sheep have finished their grazing duties for the season and we moved them off today. They were remarkably well behaved so most may well be back next year. Thanks for all your checking efforts. 

Have a good Christmas and New Year.

Jack

Wednesday 16 December 2020

 After Mike’s ‘round robin’ last Friday that the Broughton Down sheep will be moved off for the winter over today and tomorrow, I was very pleased to find them still grazing peacefully on the mid-slopes as I approached this morning. Couldn’t get a definitive number - counted 60 four times; 58 twice, and 61 once.  

The same one was limping again but walked to where I’d left some pellets and seemed in good fettle apart from his lameness.

Another has almost completely shed his fleece. Surely that shouldn’t happen at this time of year, so I’m glad he’ll be going somewhere warmer soon.

Otherwise, all seemed well.

Trough full but no water comes through when ballcock depressed. Plenty of pellets still.

Checked the fallen sapling on the east boundary of the central compartment again.  It hasn’t damaged the fence.  Shifted its weight off the barbed wire onto a post but couldn’t lift it off entirely as it’s entangled in adjacent shrubs.

 All well with the sheep today. Full count, and I still couldn't spot one any with pronounced limp although I tried. Water full, plenty of food. 

Saturday 12th December

 59 sheep counted, one a slight limp and a number decorated with brambles - not easy to take off. Water in trough good level.   Pippa & Tim Evans

Friday 11th December

 Morning all,

59 sheep sitting comfortably and happily on the hill today. One very slight limp to the same one as last but seems a lot stronger now.  Trough is full and bucket just replenished by Mike. 

As discussed there is a tree down on the eastern edge of the reserve which has gone over a fence. I spotted it last week but thought it must have been an old fall. 

Wednesday 9 December

All 59 looking well this morning. None had an obvious limp today thankfully.

Trough full, though again, no more water comes through when ballcock is depressed. Plenty of nuts left.

I counted 59 sheep this morning, and again I could not see any with pronounced limp. They were a bit more subdued today (i.e. they mugged me less robustly) and they were on the higher slopes when I arrived, I assume cold air was pooling below. A couple had bramble attached but would not let me get close enough to remove it. I broke the ice in the trough (is this the right thing to do?). 

Monday 7th December

 All sheep accounted for and looking well. Trough full.

Very foggy day with frosted vegetation everywhere you look. Great scene.

Sunday 6th December

 Most of the 59 sheep were sitting on the lower slopes enjoying the sunshine after yesterday's heavy showers. All seemed well. Trough OK and a couple of handfuls of nuts left in the pot. Pippa & Tim Evans 

Friday 4th December

 59 sheep on the hill. They seem a bit on edge today for some reason, didn’t lie down and a few took a while to come over despite my best efforts with the pellet treats. I didn’t spot the one with the limp on its hind leg but the same one with a front left leg limp was doing a lot better than last week. 

Trough was full but the bucket is getting low on pellets, only about one more count before it’s empty.

Wednesday 2 December

 All 59 sheep on the middle slope this morning. One, now with a pronounced limp on that left hind leg, stayed behind all the others and was reluctant to walk on it, even to reach some sugarbeet pellets. 

Ballcock not working although trough still full. Enough pellets in the tub for a few more visits.

Tuesday 30th Nov

 I counted a full complement of 59 sheep this morning, although my counting skills need practice (I also counted more and less on different occasions). They all came to the feed, and I could not see any limping (even the one that tried to mug me and I accidentally trod on its foot). Trough full, plenty of nuts. 

Guy