Barb: I move the barn. Really!! I built the sheep barn out of 2 inch square tubing. I built fork extensions on an old 20 ton military forklift I have and I just move the barn, Blade it out with the loader/backhoe, and then set the barn back down...
Cecil in Okla ----- Original Message ----- From: "Barb Lee" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info> Sent: Monday, April 10, 2006 10:31 AM Subject: [blackbelly] Manure > > The pleasure I derive from the sheep tends to decline in inverse > proportion to the amount of manure and bedding I have to shovel. Even > with a small flock, the work is occasionally backbreaking. With > continued wet weather and no natural shelter, I have to give the sheep > access to the barn and they act like if they get a drop of water on them > they're going to die. They'd rather be hungry and pass manure in the > barn than be out grazing on green grass if a sprinkle happens to pass > overhead. And sprinkle it does, day after day after day... > > This is beginning to make me insane. -er. Yesterday I stripped the > sheep stalls in preparation for steam cleaning the barn today and left > it with no bedding on the rubber mat floor. This morning, good grief! > I can't believe the output of those little buggers! I shoveled out and > got half a muck bucket full, then sprinkled the floor with a fairly > even layer of "Sweet PDZ", a rather amazing product that is super > absorbent and locks up nitrogen so it doesn't create ammonia. It > doesn't burn feet and is very good for the soil. I can scrape that > much out daily, but my gosh, what are others doing to manage the barn > chores??? I've literally become a chambermaid to these animals! > > Last year I found that any bedding and manure left in their stall > created the most horrific fly problem I've ever experienced. Swarms of > little ankle-biting flies. I'll throw the sheep out permanently when > the weather allows, but this is getting ridiculous. How does everyone > else cope with the barn cleaning chores??? > > Barb L. > > > _______________________________________________ > This message is from the blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info _______________________________________________ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
