A few weeks ago, The sheep were fenced into an area between our garden sections. There are about 7 lambs that simply do not respect our four-strand electric fencing in part because of their full wool coats (insulating against shocks). Thus, we were constantly having several lambs out and eating grass by the old grain elevator, eating weeds in the squash and corn, luckily leaving the crops themselves alone. Not a huge deal but a nuisance. Jason was working on a small wier in the creek to allow us to pump water for the garden even during the dryest parts of summer. Up to his elbows in creek muck, literally, HannaMae came down and informed him that there were sheep out of the fence. Jason told her he would have to handle it in a few minutes. "I'll take care of it" she said and marched off. A few minutes later, Jason started thinking about what HannaMae had said and went to see what she and Alethea were up to.
HannaMae was directing Alethea to walk this way and that and was using her as a blockade to collect and drive the lambs back inside the fence.
They did it all by themselves, a nearly 4 year old and nearly 2 year old. no help or direction from Papa, on their own initiative, smartly and safely.
Little shepherdesses with a knack for the art.
