This is Cocoa. She turns 16 this month which is ancient in sheep years. Cocoa has a special place in our hearts as she happens to be one of our first-ever sheep which makes her our flock matriarch. After a decade of lambing (including sets of triplets and quadruplets) she is still going strong, except for her teeth. Years of grass-grazing and ha -munching have worn her incisors (the front teeth) crookedlly, some of them right down to the nub givng her the gap-toothed smile of a jack-o-lantern.Last fall Andy performed some dentistry on her, to even out her bite. It helped some with grazing. Her grinding molars in the way back of her mouth seem to be operating well. I can't see them, but I can tell by the way she crunches and munches on grain.
This winters's proven hard on her - she's had trouble pulling hay from the manger. When she grabs a mouthful from the feeder, you can hear the blades of grass slide through her gums. When we noticed a delcine in her condition we started supplementing her with high protein alfalfa cubes from the feed store. They are compressed alfalfa hay in nugget form. We dump a handful into a pan, soak them in hot water to soften them up, like a bowl of shredded wheat cereal. Cocoa can't wait for us to place the bowl on the floor inside her pen. She stands on her hind legs, with her forelegs perched on the rungs of the blue panel.
Who doesn't like a hot breakfast on a cold morning?
Later this week we begin shearing, starting with our rams and wethers. They'll be kept indoors after their haircuts, until they've grown a bit of fleece. Hopefully by then, the season will take a turn for the warmer. I'll post some pics to share with you.
Cocoa and our other "grannies" will wait until milder days in April for their spring haircuts.
Happy Monday to all.
Cocoa's so lucky to have you. Give her a hug from her blog fans.
Posted by: Allison K | March 18, 2013 at 10:37 PM
16 years old is amazing! A testament to years of great care! You might also try soaking beet pulp and giving it to her. This has been a staple for everything from old horses to old goats around our place. I often rinse it once or twice to remover excess iron.
Posted by: Kristen Whittle | March 18, 2013 at 11:15 PM
Wow, what a grand dame of the barn Cocoa is! Love the feeding accommodations you've made for her- warm , wet mushy alfalfa greenies must be heaven in her mouth and belly.
Posted by: Manise | March 19, 2013 at 08:27 AM
This is the loveliest story, she is such a special girl and you both are for loving her and taking such good care of her.
Thanks you made my day,
Meredith
Posted by: Meredith | March 19, 2013 at 02:34 PM
You go, Cocoa. Io raises her hoof to her mama.
We lost Molly, our venerable Southdown, last week. She lived to be 17 years and 13 days exactly, and was in good weight and health apart from arthritis right up to the night before she died. Fortunately she was not in pain for long, and Doc Schmitt arrived 60 seconds after she died in my arms. It all happened very fast, and for that I am grateful.
Ally, Molly's daughter who is 14 years and 4 days today, is handling it reasonably well. She's got Io and Cupid to comfort her.
Posted by: Diane H K | March 19, 2013 at 03:18 PM
What a heartwarming story. I'm looking forward to this year's farm visits to see the flock in person.
Posted by: Joan | March 20, 2013 at 01:46 PM