What a beautiful day today!  We've fluctuated more than 50 degrees C in the last 2 weeks;  This Manitoba weather will keep you on your toes!  
This fall we decided to change the way we feed.  It seems like no matter how you feed sheep they manage to waste half of the feed, especially hay.  So, just prior to Christmas we purchased a TMR (Total Mixed Ration) vertical mixer.  We built a fence line feeder (pictured here) in the main feeder pen and we're trying to figure out what works best for frequency of feeding.  The sheep took a few days to get used to it, but now they come running when they hear the tractor go by.  There is virtually no competition for eating room so even the younger ewes can have their fill.  This feed mixer ensures that every bite the sheep takes is the perfect balance of nutrition.  Next summer will be a time for building pens to accommodate this new system.

Thanks for stopping by!  Today is a miserable day here in SW Mb.  The windchill is nearing the -50 mark and I'm feeling quite bad for the animals.  But they have shelters and lots of straw and the hair sheep seem to put on the right amount of wool to see them though the winter.  The chickens are another story.  We've got multiple heat lamps in their insulated chicken coop to see them through!  It's only January and I'm already sick of winter.  I guess being the coldest winter on record (so far) in over 100 years will do that to a person.  I'm counting our blessings though, and am very happy we're not lambing right now!  Our first lambing date is tentatively April 19th.  Here's hoping it warms up before then :).
In the pic you'll notice the thermometer at -32 and my hubby is a little speck by the wood pile filling the fire!  Thankful for that fire today!  (and my hubby, too!)