Do you ever take on a "simple" homestead project only to discover that it takes more hands and more hours than you thought it would?

Operation Ram Removal happened today.

To get this done, sheep had to be brought to the barn. Check.

We let them overnight there to get comfortable.

Then ewes separated from rams. That was a trick, but between Knighthawk, Tactical and me, there were enough hands and bodies to open and close doors and separate everyone.

Stormy the bottle lamb is great. She does goes where I want her to because she is not at all scared of me.

Then we brought the girls back up the hill to the paddock. Yes. That hill.

Myles had a hurt leg and we had to assess that for infection or injury. Carprofin should do the trick. Not worth an xray as they are going to say, give him carprofin and don't walk him. Glad he was not cut and that his pads were clear of thorns...

Then we hooked up the livestock trailer and backed it up tpnthe barn door and created a "ram chute."

I don't know if you know this but sheep don't like new things. Despite having hung out with the livestock trailer on and off their whole life, the trailer backed up to the barn, they were suspicious.

We didn't have another overnight to spare so we caught them one by one and carried them in. One of them rammed Tactical's knee on accident while trying to run between his legs. I originally thought T got a "money" shot if you know what I mean.

Now here is the nice thing about St Croix rams. They have a mane. A mane is a handle. That is how I nabbed the one that got a knee shot in. He is a beauty.

We then hauled the rams 1/10 of a mile to my house. Set them up with a "ram chute" from the trailer to the paddock and opened the door.

...and nothing. They peered out suspiciously. The trailer that had been so scary was now familiar and the nice, grassy paddock was frightening.

Tactical hopped in the trailer and pushed them out. They nibbled on the Pasture, wandered to the other side (where I was posted to keep them from testing the fence). They didn't test anything.

Because new things are not what sheep like.

They found this little ledge by this tree in the underbrush and proceeded to spend the afternoon peering suspiciously around.

Hope they wake up feeling more comfortable.

Or maybe I don't. They could end up.on my roof if they get out...

So that was the whole day. Doing a "simple" thing. On the homestead. #homesteadstr #lftn #srf