Sam was out maneuvered or out gunned

[BCSnob]

When my 4am alarm woke me up I could hear Sam barking non-stop in the field. He does this sometimes when he is unsure of what is "out there" in the dark while he is by his sheep.

When I headed out of the house, Sam darted out of the barnyard on high alert. I then noticed there were just a few sheep (some of the remaining lambs to go to market) in the barnyard. Where were the rest of the market lambs? I headed out into the dark on our Kubota RVT900 with all its flood lights on. Yep, not all the sheep were in the barnyard. Raced up the field to where I could see glowing eyes. The main flock was on the other side of the fence in the field where we put them and the missing market lambs were on the fence next to the main flock. I spot lighted the field where the main flock was; all clear. Checked up the hill from where these sheep were; all clear. Drove back towards the barnyard along the fence line and found a dead lamb (butt and belly ripped open).

Got Nell from the house to move market lambs into barnyard; locked them in. Moved main flock to outside barnyard. I removed the lamb carcass from the field. I then left for work.

Several living market lambs were also injured, not too badly. My wife treated them after the sun came up. Sam was also injured; a small cut on his back flank.

Time to get Sam some help. We started looking for a working bred Anatolian or Anatolian cross (preferably a female).

[Scottiemom]

How are things going with Wendy and Sam, Mark? Hadn't head anything for awhile. Hope they are working well together and keeping the threats at bay.

Dale

[RBak]

Hi Mark!

Yes, I know Bengston's but don't go there. My sheltie groomer lives on 159th just east of Gougar - in all the construction! I get over to Homer Glen and Lockport about once a month and yes, it sure has changed. I live in Crest Hill off Larkin and Rt 30, and I board my horse in Oswego at a nice facility on 25 acres on Plainfield rd. Lots of pasture, no housing developments in view, just a nice place. All of us boarders hope it stays that way for a while. Glad you had a safe trip both ways and enjoyed the holidays with your family. I enjoy reading about your border collies and the sheep and wish you well with all of them. If you get back here later in the year pm me and maybe we could meet for coffee.

Rita
Buttons, the princess sheltie
Nicky, the spoiled Tennessee Walker
Walt, the husband who puts up with all of us!

[BCSnob]

Rita,

My wife and I went along with family on one of their annual traditions; going to ZooLights at Lincoln Park Zoo. Impressive, but way too crowded for me and my wife. It's been decades since I've been to either zoo. The last time we were visiting my family at Christmas we went to the Museum of Science & Industry for the tree display.

BTW, I forgot how close you are to my family (IL171 & 151st St)
Do you know Bengtson's Farms in Homer Glenn? They sure have changed since I was a kid.

Mark

[BCSnob]

We had a close call that was our fault

Wendy has been working out great; she and Sam are now best buds. She has been watching us work the sheep with our Border Collies without any issues; until New Year's Day. The night before she and Sam were guarding a fence line next to the woods; there was something in the woods they didn't like. They were still there most of New Year's Day. I went out with Nell to gather the entire flock and shed off 4 of last years lambs for us to work. Wendy and Sam watch all of this without moving. My wife went out to work Tally on these 4 young sheep; being young they were skittish but Tally was being calm and controlled. As Tally followed the skittish group past Wendy and Sam; Wendy jumped up and attacked Tally. My wife and I both started running and yelling at Wendy immediately. Wendy had Tally pinned when my wife got there. My wife said that Wendy realized she did something wrong and likely realized this during the attack (because of our yelling). Tally had lots of slobber all over her neck but no wounds.

We figure that between Wendy & Sam being on alert in that part of the field, the skittish/running lambs, and not enough time for Wendy to have learned about us working sheep lead to this incidence. It was our fault; Wendy still needs more time adjusting to our Border Collies working sheep. We now have zero doubts that Wendy would kill a coyote or stray dog that was attacking our sheep.

[Go_Dogs]

I will be watching the PA farm show. I look forward to it every year. Sheep to shawl is my favorite!

[BCSnob]

Thanks Rita. Tomorrow will be a long day in the car.

[RBak]

Welcome back to Illinois, Mark. The snow on the ground here is supposed to melt on Christmas Day - we may reach 50 degrees and have rain! Wishing everyone on your farm a safe and Merry Christmas, and have a Merry Christmas while you are here in the good old Midwest!

Rita
Buttons, the princess sheltie
Nicky, the spoiled Tennessee Walker
Walt, the husband who puts up with all of us

[BCSnob]

Wendy has been loose since the beginning of the week. We have Sam on a drag because this time of year he is prone to roam well outside of the farm (looking for goodies left by hunters) and we do not want Wendy to follow Sam learning bad habits. Wendy has been very good, hanging around with the sheep and Sam. Last night the two of them were contently laying near each other in some taller grass in a location out of the wind. She still needs to be lead to the pass-through into the barn where the auto-feeders are located. She is willingly jumping but has not done this when called; she still needs to be lead. She still has a few weeks of doxy treatments for lyme.

We will be spending Christmas with my family near Chicago; the dogs will be staying home with a farm sitter (a friend who is a large & small animal Vet). She will bring her dogs bringing the total on the farm up to 14.

For those who are in the Mid-Atlantic region, our friend is bringing to the PA Farm Show (Harrisburg, PA) sheep herding arena trials; Jan 7 at 4-8pm in the Equine Arena and Jan 8 7-9pm in the Large Arena. We will be there running Grant & Lee.

[BCSnob]

That stuff even has too many calories for our Border Collies, but they are not loose outside 24/7.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Oh - I understand that some dogs have massive calorie needs - either to stay warm; and/or in sheer exercise.

But that stuff would make the average housepet explode....LOL!!!

[BCSnob]

Dog food direct carries it.
http://www.dogfooddirect.com/store/c/245-Inukshuk-Dog-Food.aspx

Amazon carries it.

I would prefer to buy it locally.

[Little_Kopit]

Deb and Ed M wrote:

BCSnob wrote:


If Inukshuk 32/32 Professional (707kcal/cup)

GOOD HEAVENS! That's like Rocket Fuel for dogs.....

Just go check out the daily temperatures in that part of Canada, Dec. to Apr.

Iqaluit, NU: http://www.eldoradocountyweather.com/canada/climate2/Iqaluit.html

Resolute Bay, NU https://www.google.ca/#q=average+daily+temperature+resolute

Alert, NU, the most far north: http://www.eldoradocountyweather.com/canada/climate2/Alert.html

Yellowknife, NWT: https://www.yr.no/place/Canada/Northwest_Territories/Yellowknife/statistics.html

I expect Mark would run into an interesting import situation.

😉
Meaning of inukshuk: https://www.google.ca/search?q=inukshuk&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gws_rd=cr&ei=LihbWJfCFayXjwT03bngCg

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

BCSnob wrote:


If Inukshuk 32/32 Professional (707kcal/cup)

GOOD HEAVENS! That's like Rocket Fuel for dogs.....

[BCSnob]

We do not feed the LDGs (livestock guardian dogs) daily from a bowl; they are taught to eat from an auto-feeder so that they are self sufficient when we are away on trips. Drippings could be provided as a treat. For us, a better treat would be raw lamb (such as riblets, heart, kidneys, liver) since we have these; we don't have drippings (because of what we cook) that often. Their new dog food has 25 percent fat.

If Inukshuk 32/32 Professional (707kcal/cup) were available locally I'd give it a try for winter feeding our LGDs.

[magnusfide]

We used to save the drippings from ham, bacon and beef to mix into the food of our outside dogs. It helped them stay warm by providing energy and that awesome fat layer. Is that a possibility?