[Penninehillbilly]

Unfortunately we can't dictate to others how they enjoy themselves, human kids etc love the big bangs. Though im sure some try to be considerate if they realise the problem, not everyone thinks of these things.
If you are friendly with the farmer could you at least find out what time they are setting them off?  Ask them if they could get the loud ones over quickly?
I agree about staying with them,  door shut and radio on, + cover windows?
If OH is doing anything noisy I stay and talk to the goats, they come to me for reassurance, apart from one who makes herself small in a corner :-(.

[the two Bs]

Sorry - perhaps I put that very badly as my farmer friend is good to his sheep and, I believe a good farmer. He may indeed have plans to move his sheep away from the display and I certainly don't want to do him down.  However, in my defence, I do know for sure that he thinks I'm soft about my sheep, which is why I wasn't proposing to broach the subject with him.  As the display will be a fair way from my property  (though still in the middle of his land), I think he'll  probably think I am making a fuss about nothing. Trouble is, rockets travel quite a way before going bang and my location is well within scaring distance for them.

I must say I hadn't really thought seriously about enlisting his help and he might be happy for the loud ones to go off close together to get them over. I will talk to him about it - thank you MF for pulling me up re the farmer and PHB for the idea to let them off close together.  I will also ask what he is doing about his sheep in case he has any ideas. 

[Womble]

A quick thought - Ordinarily I would be tempted to say you're being a bit too soft, but have they been running with a tup? Stress in early pregnancy can apparently cause problems with egg implantation etc, so if fireworks are going to stress them out, I would definitely be taking whatever steps I could to manage or reduce that, and would not feel at all silly for doing so. HTH!

[harmony]

A quick thought - Ordinarily I would be tempted to say you're being a bit too soft, but have they been running with a tup? Stress in early pregnancy can apparently cause problems with egg implantation etc, so if fireworks are going to stress them out, I would definitely be taking whatever steps I could to manage or reduce that, and would not feel at all silly for doing so. HTH!

Round here they turn the majority of tups out on the 5th. Brings a whole new meaning to "Going with a bang".


I

[Womble]

......which of course results in lambs when?  April 1st!


Who says sheep don't have a sense of humour? 

[SallyintNorth]

I don't know what sort - and size - of sheep you have, but the idea of sticking tampons into a sheep's ear canal sounds like a recipe for disaster to me.  Perforated eardrums might make them less sensitive to fireworks in the future, of course...   

[the two Bs]

Good point Womble, thanks, will discuss with farmer.

Sally, be reassured, my sheep have more sense than to let me. And one is nearly twice my size, so except in major arguments, it tends to win.

However, for information, the vet explained that the ear canal turns a right angle in dogs and sheep and therefore you aren't getting near the ear drum itself as tampon doesn't go round the corner. Bet you always wanted to know that?

[SallyintNorth]

Well, you learn something every day on here!   

[the two Bs]

Thank you all for your wise advice.

Just thought I'd let you know that Mother  Nature intervened!  She kindly provided a steady 40 mph wind - gusting to 60 - which both headed the fireworks away from said sheep and provided better background noise than Classic FM ever could. That'll teach me to ask for help!

The rockets sounded like a fairly distant backfiring car in all the racket and although there there was a little bit of angst, it was easily compensated for by their favourite treat,  a handful of lamb creep feed and a bit of hay..... All's well that ends well, eh? 

[Louise Gaunt]

I'm glad things went well this year. You have had lots of ideas you can store away to use in future in case Mother Nature decides against intervention next year!

[Penninehillbilly]

Glad all went well.
I left the light on in the barn, sneaked in a couple of times and they seemed settled, despite a lot of cracks and booms from various directions, and a big pub display about half mile down the valley.

[harmony]

Glad it went well. Here is was windy except for the evening!! The holiday cottage across the field from us had fireworks. Dogs barked but otherwise all pigs, ponies and sheep were fine. When I checked round they were either fast asleep, half asleep or eating their hay. 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

We had the dog indoors on bonfire night as it really distressed her. The new heifers, pregnant might I add, were very spooked, as the neighbours next door had a huge bonfire and very loud fireworks, I was surprised they did as they are fellow farmers. I have been watching them in case of early births (IE abortions) they seem very well. one of them is due to calve in december, really hoping for a heifer! I do enjoy the colours of the fireworks. For mum bonfire night is a horrible reminder of a tradgedy in her earlier life, so I have to try and cheer her up in the week leading up to and bonfire night I hear they designed a sort of harness for dogs to wear which helps them during fireworks.