Sheep
Lucy's lambs
Wednesday 6 April, 2011
Well, Lucy lambed at 2am this morning - twins, a ewe and a tup lamb, both white, both fine. The tup is bigger; he was born first. The ewe lamb had a leg back, so I lambed her but I think she would have managed anyway; she's a big ewe and it's a small lamb.
Anyway, she loves her lambs, she has plenty milk and both lambs have had a good feed. I'm off to bed now for an hour.
Sheepy makeover
Tuesday 5 April, 2011
We trimmed Nellie, Niamh and Novas eyes this morning - one of the drawbacks with Ryelands is that the copious wool on their faces starts to obscure their vision.
Luna also had a makeover - eyes trimmed, feet trimmed, bum dagged, fluke drench then out with Pickle to the field for the first time. They were warmly welcomed by Lyra, Jinx and Juno - Lyra didn't even batter Pickle. She must be mellowing with motherhood.
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Luna's lamb
Saturday 2 April, 2011
Next year, I'm going to forget about the diary and just let Nature take its course.
Dan and I went out for a Chinese meal tonight - came back and Luna was lambing. Two feet and a head, but she was making a terrible fuss and nothing seemed to be moving. I had a moment of panic, phoned the vet and sent John (who's been dying to see a lamb born) for the car. I thought I'll have one more try, put on a bit of pressure and out she popped. John says to send someone else for the car next time.
Dates wrong
Saturday 2 April, 2011
I had Luna in the diary as due on 28th March - nothing so far, so i can only assume that I've got the dates wrong. She scanned in lamb, so I think she may not have held to the first service and we haven't noticed the second one. Seventeen days from 28th March is 14th April, so maybe she'll go then.
Lucy is due tomorrow, Mothers' Day. Unless I've got that one wrong too.
Hanging on
Thursday 31 March, 2011
It's miserable here this morning - heavy rain and windy. I've kept the ewes in, both lambed and unlambed ones. They seem quite content with hay and water.
Luna's hanging on. I'm starting to think I might have got the dates wrong, or she's been tupped twice and I haven't noticed the second time.
We gave the three lambed ewes a flukicide yesterday and tailed Juno's lambs before they went out. It was lovely to see them enjoying the sun, but when I went out at 4pm, they were at the gate asking to come in. Lyra's wee boy fell asleep in her feed trug - twice. I moved him first time to clean his bum, but he must have got straight back in.
Lamb update
Tuesday 29 March, 2011
As of now, 1pm, Luna is hanging on.
Jinx and Lyra have been out with their lambs. Very exciting - what's all this green stuff, Mum? As I was coming in for lunch, I looked over the gate and Jinx's lamb was flat out, sound asleep. Lyra's lamb was tailed this morning, Jinx's yesterday - we don't castrate our tup lambs.
Juno's two, Pixie and Poppy, are doing great. Their eyes are fine now and they were tearing about the pen this morning. They are pretty grubby - being born on to a bed of sand does nothing for the coiffure, but they'll clean off in the first rain shower.
Sore eyes
Monday 28 March, 2011
Juno's two lambs are showing a condition called entropion. This is where the eyelid folds inwards so that the eyelashes rub on the eye. It's very uncomfortable for the lamb and I think it would probably go blind, if left untreated.
It was a problem when I worked on a farm 30 years ago - I believe it is hereditary. If it's not bad, it's quite easy to treat. You basically just squeeze the eyelids into the correct position and hopefully, they stay there. Sometimes it needs done a few times a day for a few days. The vet can also treat it if it is bad.
Juno's lambs
Monday 28 March, 2011
Went out at 2am - nothing, went out at 6am, Juno has two white ewe lambs. Bang on time. She's had twins the last two years but always lost one, so I'm really glad all is well this time. Also glad they're ewe lambs, as we'll be keeping them for breeding and hopefully they'll have twins themselves.
She's got plenty milk and both lambs were up. They will be Poppy and Pixie - it's a Ryeland "P" year.
Dead lamb
Sunday 27 March, 2011
Just when you think things are going smoothly, Mother Nature sends something to trip you up.
Went out to check Lyra at lunchtime. She had a drink but wouldn't eat; watched her for a bit and thought she was straining. Phoned the vet right away and he came out. Turns out the single she had was actually a twin. Of course the second lamb was dead - it was an awful presentation, coming back first, not even "normal" breach. I couldn't feel it in the womb or the birth canal.
Lyra's lamb
Sunday 27 March, 2011
It's 5.20am and we've just lambed Lyra - single tup lamb with one leg back. Once the second leg was in place, he was out quickly, although she was quite tight. He's up and sucking furiously; she's plenty milk and seems to like him well enough.
Off to bed now for an hour's less sleep - must remember to change the clocks.
Juno is due today, Sunday, and looks like she's got a bellyful of lambs. She's had twins the last two years but always lost one. I'm determined that, if she has two this year, both will survive. Bought a lamb energiser thing from Harbro yesterday.
