Promoting
Humane Behaviour Towards Animals By Providing Care,
Protection,
Treatment and Security
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A Day In The Life
Fleecehaven is predominately run by Emma and it is very much a full time labour of love, albeit on a voluntary basis. Typically the day begins at 7.00am when an initial check of the flock is made. During the summer months this usually involves a walk around the fields as, weather permitting, the sheep leave the sheds to graze as the sun rises. However, during the winter the majority of the sheep have a ‘lie-in’ and, once the storm blinds are lifted from their shed, can be found snoozing until mid-morning! Once all the sheep have been checked it is time to attend to those with special medical or dietary needs. It is then time to separate the sheep before feeding concentrated sheep food to those that need it. During the summer months it is only the older sheep who struggle to maintain condition that are fed, whilst during the winter the entire flock is given concentrate to help them maintain their bodyweight once the grass has lost its nutritional goodness. Those sheep that eat more slowly, or who are put off by the general hustle and bustle of feeding time, are fed separately whilst the majority are fed from a series of troughs around the perimeter of the yard.
Once fed the majority of the sheep usually head off into the fields for the day. This provides a good opportunity for the daily ritual of ‘poo picking’ to begin! This involves the removal of clumps of dung from the straw bedding and, during the winter months, in excess of 6 feed bags can be collected on a daily basis!!! The bags are then loaded into a trailer and removed to the dung heap, an ever increasing mound that has to be removed by mechanical digger once a year. Once cleared of dung the sheds have to be topped up with fresh straw, whilst the hay racks and water butts also need to be replenished. A similar routine is undertaken in the stables, where the older and sick sheep are housed. During the winter months this can be quite a difficult task as the day light hours are short and the sheep are reluctant to go outside if the weather is poor. Sometimes it is necessary to try and work around the sheep, as they can be quite stubborn and make it perfectly clear that their sleep will be interrupted by nothing, even if it is for their benefit!!
As the day progresses there are other jobs to attend to. The yard is swept and hosed on a daily basis to maximise standards of hygiene and there is usually a stable or two to be completely mucked out – no small task! There can also be a number of sheep who have become lame as a result of strip who need to be turned over to have their hooves cleaned, trimmed and sprayed with antibiotic. This can be quite a strenuous job, especially with some of the heavier sheep that weigh in excess of 100kilos. Twiggy (a toothless ewe) also has to be periodically fed throughout the day with syringed mixture of soaked ewe nuts, glucose, weetabix and milk powder. It isn’t hard to remember to do this as she will kick the doors and gates surrounding the yard when she wants feeding! In amongst the jobs there is also a large amount of ‘sheep tickling’ and ‘treat feeding’ to be done. Most of the sheep enjoy a McVities digestive biscuit or a weetabix and they all enjoy having their tummies tickled and their ears scratched.
As the afternoon draws on a small number of the sheep received a second feed of concentrated food and drugs are once again administered to those who need it. During the winter months heat lamps are switched on in the stables for the older and sick sheep and, as night falls, the flock returns home. If the weather is poor storm blinds are lowered down in front of the main shed and stable doors hurdled over or shut for the older sheep. It is often long after dark before the final chores of the day are completed and the sheep once again settle down for a night of warmth and comfort.
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