Walking out to latch the door on the hen house tonight -  the bull frogs were sure singing loud.  I like that our two dogs travel the path with me, as the dark is not my most favorite of time.  My trusty flashlight in hand and I am on my way to close up the hens for the night.  Of course they are all packed against the door that I need to get in to and I very carefully have to move them out of the way to reach the small door latch.  They get a little grumpy when I have to wake them up and move them out of the way.

We are all moving a bit slow this evening.  A very long work weekend around our place. 

Today we gathered the ewes and lambs for hoof trimming and annual vaccinations.  My brother Eric with the help of David and Johnnie walk the ewes up to the ally way, where they enter an awaiting tilt table.  Son Matt and Husband Keith  are designated hoof trimmers today.  Brother in Law Henry is dosing the wormer, which will help them gain better weight with the fresh grass.  Michelle is keeping track of ear tag numbers and what we do with each animal.  They are all due for their annual vaccine which consists of an over eating vaccine and tetanus. That is my job. 

Several new lambs have been missed on their identification so we try to gather them as well, matching the lamb with their mother and putting a tag with a number in their ear.  There is quite a bit of tracking that we do with each animal so we know how the lamb is growing and how the ewe is with her milk supply.  The amount of vegetation available is essential as well as the weather.  If the animal is healthy, they are able to graze the hillside and nourish them selves and their lamb(s).  Our day today was helping making sure they have the health to continue at their best.