Thursday, December 22, 2011

Sheep

I've been studying a little bit about sheep lately, and thought you might be interested in a few things that I have learned.

Did you know that sheep need the most care of all livestock?
Dogs, cows, and horses can exist in the wild. Not sheep.
They are easily killed by enemies or starve.

Sheep are very timid and fearful. They panic easily.
In fact, they are considered to be quite dumb. You cannot train a sheep.
One afternoon a shepherd came upon two coyotes that had stealthily crept into the midst of a flock. They had killed a lamb and were eating it. The other sheep just stood around watching. They didn't know the danger.

Sheep constantly need fresh water, fresh pasture and eat constantly.
They are defenseless, easily disturbed and prone to mob psychology. If one starts to run, the entire flock will follow, even if it's over the edge of a cliff.
Their only self defense is to run, and yet are not swift in flight.
Sheep have no sense of direction and have a well deserved reputation for straying and getting lost.

They do not see well (usually up to about 14 feet) and have poor depth perception.
Sheep are creatures of habit, are very stubborn and not easily moved from their spot. They will insist on their own way, even eating poisonous plants or drinking dirty water.
Sheep are slow to learn.
Shepherds will tell stories of how sheep fail to learn painful lessons. For example, a sheep may get caught in a barbed wire trying to break through a fence. And the next day will try it again... and again... and again.
Where am I going with this?
More about sheep tomorrow.

5 comments:

Janet said...

Aha, I knew all that since I come from such a great sheep rearing country. Sheep are stupid, they're certainly not bred for their brains. Now I wonder what you're up to.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

LOL, are you going to raise sheep - I bet not - hmm, you want some wool?
:)
Karen

Needled Mom said...

Who knew????? Those are amazing stories.

Nanette Merrill said...

Really fun to read. Sheep are important to the world. And so biblical this time of year.

LiahonaGirl said...

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned everyone to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. Isaiah 53:6
It's no wonder that we need a Good Shepherd.