Okay, sheep are not dumb...

[LisaNY]

I have two sheep - both ewes. Fiona is my noisy one. She gets going at about 3:30, because they get fed at 4:00. (They LOVE their grain) She has the loudest, most annoying "BAA!!".

Today, she started her usual noisy reminder that it was definitely about time for dinner. It was only 3:30, so I told her to shut up and learn some patience.
Her "Baa-ing" sounded different to me this time - one right after the other, and urgent. I went to the window, and she was looking down at me, and then back at the barn. I didn't see Nellie, my other ewe. I went up to check, and sure enough, there was Nellie, on her back. She's an older girl, so she sometimes loses her balance. She must've toppled over on the incline next to the barn, poor dear. I tipped her back up, and she was fine, thanks to Fiona.

So, no, sheep are not dumb after all. They're actually pretty smart. :001_smile:

[Magnolia]

Awe, what a great story. Fiona knew just what to do. You have amazing pets. :)

[Jackie in NE]

What a coincidence! My daughter also has a ewe named Nellie (as in "Nervous Nellie"). She also has Biddy, Betty, Silly, Molly, Fatso, Freckles, and 2 others that I can't remember right now. She is quite the entrepreneur.....

She would disagree with you, though. She thinks sheep are very dumb, and always in need of a shepherd. And she LOVES being their shepherd. We often apply the behaviors of her sheep to God's word. As in, "And they, like sheep, were led astray." And, "The sheep know the voice of the shepherd".

Your sheep sure needed you today. I'm glad you were there to shepherd them :) .

Jackie

[percytruffle]

Fiona and Nellie, how precious! I love the names. Living with sheep must be a special experience. They are probably smarter than our cat Percy. He is long on the looks and short on the brains.;) I think if his brother Truffle had toppled over and was in need of help he'd desert him at the first sound of food being poured into his bowl.

[LisaNY]

Fiona and Nellie, how precious! I love the names. Living with sheep must be a special experience. They are probably smarter than our cat Percy. He is long on the looks and short on the brains.;) I think if his brother Truffle had toppled over and was in need of help he'd desert him at the first sound of food being poured into his bowl.

LOL!

[LisaNY]

What a coincidence! My daughter also has a ewe named Nellie (as in "Nervous Nellie"). She also has Biddy, Betty, Silly, Molly, Fatso, Freckles, and 2 others that I can't remember right now. She is quite the entrepreneur.....

She would disagree with you, though. She thinks sheep are very dumb, and always in need of a shepherd. And she LOVES being their shepherd. We often apply the behaviors of her sheep to God's word. As in, "And they, like sheep, were led astray." And, "The sheep know the voice of the shepherd".

Your sheep sure needed you today. I'm glad you were there to shepherd them :) .

Jackie

Wow - good for her!

After owning sheep for several years, I've come to think differently about sheep being "dumb". I think they are serious creatures of habit/flock-minded, and are designed to follow certain paths and routines. (This is what makes them such great farm animals.) Deviating from those routines elicits the response that most mistake for dumb, when it is really just plain confusion due to deviation from their regular "program". They are simply wired/designed for routine. That's just my amateur theory. ;)

[Phyllis in Canada]

That's so funny! It reminds me of the Veggie Tale video with the sheep that tip over all the time--I never thought it could actually happen!

[Nan in Mass]

I don't think any animals are dumb in their own environment. I love your story.

[Michelle in MO]

you have the "jumping sheep" picture on your avatar! That's really cool.

No sheep here, but we may get some quail eggs this spring for my youngest. :)

[percytruffle]

you have the "jumping sheep" picture on your avatar! That's really cool.



Yes, no offense to anyone else, but I vote Lisa's avatar as "Best on the Boards!" It amuses me greatly!! I get this silly little happy feeling just watching that sheep hop.

:thumbup:

[LisaNY]

Yes, no offense to anyone else, but I vote Lisa's avatar as "Best on the Boards!" It amuses me greatly!! I get this silly little happy feeling just watching that sheep hop.

:thumbup:

LOL! I'm glad my jumping sheep makes you happy, Lisa! :D

I don't remember *where* I found that avatar. Someone from the boards asked me, but I couldn't find the link. Sheep avatars are few and far between. I know - I've looked at a lot of sites.

Actually, Fiona is my bouncy sheep. We call it "boinging". When she's really happy, she runs and "boings" around. It's hilarious. My older dd used to play with her by running up the hill in back of the barn, and then down again. Fiona would run up with her and then bounce all the way down the hill. Nellie would stand at the bottom at butt Fiona as she bounced past, I guess to try and keep the little "whipper-snapper" in line. It was great fun to watch. :D