Of course, I worried all night and was up about 7:30 to go out and check on the new sheepies. They were all snug in their little sheep shack, snoozing in the deep hay and straw bed in there. I’m SOOO glad that I made that their home base, because all day today, they were using it as a safe spot and that is great!

It was rainy early, so I went back to the house and putzed a bit and then fell back asleep in my warm bed. Miss Julia came over later in the morning to see the babies and I got back up to go out with her and check on them. I wanted to let them out for a little tour of the middle yard and a wee bit of grass grazing.

We did a little observation and concluded that the two yearling ewes are pretty close, but they do have a few differences and that will help us remember their names. Both are brown faced, but Iris has a whiter nose and light colored legs. Ivy has dark legs and a dark brown face. So… since Ivy is mostly solid colored and Iris have pretty middles of light and white… the all brown face and legs ewe is Ivy and the other, with the light legs and white nose will be Iris!!! Yeah!!!

Now, they were not rushing over to us and wanting hugs and pats, but then again, they were not freaking out and running amok in the paddock, either. It was a good reception, I think. They did take a little nibble of sweet feed from my hand and the bucket, and that was good. Fergus, the little white whether is really the most tame of the bunch. He’s going to end up being a super nice boy, I think…

With Miss Julia’s help, I let them out to explore for the first time today. They were not totally sure what or where to go, but pretty quick they found a nice spot over by the little coop that they could graze on nice green grass and some leaves. We gave them a few minutes to nosh, but then slowly pushed them into a little walking tour of the whole yard. Just calm and slow, letting them check out the place and get accustomed to their new home. They walked all over, Iris and Ivy leading the lamb pack and checking out the whole place. Gave them a little time to graze here and there, but not wanting them to overdue the green grass thing. They were more accustomed to hay and sheep pellets for the most part.

Little Fergus got knocked over in a little rushed point and was like a little turtle on his back. Baaing and crying, he couldn’t get his feet back under him. So, I had to help him back up and then he got seperated from the others and started to panic a bit. Finally, I just picked him up and walked him back to where they were grazing. He was so happy to see them, his little tail wagging like nuts as he trotted back to them. He is just the cutest little thing.

At one point when they were in the paddock this afternoon, Cody finally decided to come over and welcome them all to HIS farm. (haha) They were just so funny, they stared at him for nearly a half hour as he wandered out front of their yard, grazing and occasionally coming over to stare that them. I’m pretty certain that they had not spent much time around ponies. Or chickens. All our free range flock had come over to watch them through the fence for quite a long time this morning. It was pretty funny to watch. The little lambs were totally enthralled with the hens and Angus even chased one brave girl around the paddock for a few gleeful moments. Of course, the hen was totally ruffled and indignant, but Angus seemed to enjoy it, his little tail was just so waggy.

They spent most of the afternoon in their little shack, setting near the doorway, watching the goings on and chewing their cud.  Fergus found that if he laid next to the rubber feed tub, it was the perfect height for him to rub his little horns on and play with thumping it up and down.

Did I mention that he’s adorable?

For their evening stroll and furlough, they spent a lot of time in front of the little coop, just watching the chickens.  Of course, the chickens spent a lot of time in the front of the little coop yard, watching the sheep.  A very mutual introduction, apparently.  I let Cody out when they were out and he was very interested in them.  Just walking around and herding them around the yard by his lazy little stroll behind him.  I want to be careful about leaving them out and him as well, since a pony can hurt sheep if he takes a gander to give them a good chase or kick at a little one.  Since he has taken a shine to grazing in the back pasture most of the day, I think it will be good to keep them separate unless someone is out to watch them.  But he was very helpful when I herded them back to their paddock…  you would have swore he knew what he was doing.  I let him push the little flock and I went out as a side walker, to keep them from bolting past the gate.  I think they were much more concerned about the GIANT sheep behind them, then the two legger to the side of them!  Haha…  Cody, of course, was just interested in the little bucket of feed I had to thank them for coming home nicely. Of course, I had to give my faithful sheep-pony a nibble for thanks in his herd driving assistance!

Cody is such a hoot…  he’s just so cool of a pony, I still can’t believe that he’s mine!  I love how he walks around the yard with me, like a big dog.  He’s like my big henchman, and everyone in the yard gives us wide berth… it’s the farm mom and her pony thug.  He can part a flock of chickens like the Pope in his popemobile… they just all quickly move to either side and he never looses his stride!  And it’s very funny when Jack is strolling right behind us, a little parade of bosses.

We got out our binoculars to set on the kitchen counter, so that we can keep an eye on the sheep shack from the house.  I was pleased to see them spend most of the day relaxing, watching, eating a little hay and drinking water, just hanging out and chilling.  Caught the babies playing a little bit, just a wee little jump and frolic and Fergus took to head butting Molly in the side a few times, just to be silly I suppose.  She just gave him this look like… “Gee whiz, little brother, knock it off….”  She was so busy standing between the big girl ewes and keeping a good watch over the whole yard, taking in all the sights and sounds.  I know it’s only a day, but right now it seems like the ewes are the serious ones and Angus and Fergus are the goofballs.  But I’m pretty certain that once they are a little older, they will become more male and protective in their nature.  Or, well, maybe not!  That’s the best part of this all, I haven’t a clue and will watching and learning as they grow up!

Can’t wait for tomorrow!  Hope we have another great day!