The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Pedwardine on February 03, 2013, 09:35:23 pm
-
Hi all, this is a last minute plea for this lovely lad. Pedwardine Ferdinand is a pedigree registered ram lamb who is 9 months old. He's genotyped. It's my fault I've become so attached to him. He's a very huggy boy who used to climb onto my lap as a baby (Not bottle fed just sweet natured). I've been trying to find a home for him but no-one has come forward. Our last six ram lambs are going to the abattoir early on Tuesday morning and Ferdie will be a seventh in the trailer as we can't justify keeping any more intact boys. I'm happy to sell him for the same price as we'd get for a whole lamb which is £120 (normally our registered rams sell at around £450) Is there anyone who could give him a chance of a fulfilling life with the potential of some rumpy pumpy down the line? I've been much better at trying to distance myself this year but this little bugger is squeezing my heart somewhat. Sorry for the short notice. I thought I could be brave but I'm going to cry a stupid amount over this one, like a migraine inducing amount!! I haven't a pic on the computer but I could send one from my mobile to yours if you PM me.
Sad arse aren't I ::)
-
Why not try placing an ad on Preloved livestock for him? Hope you find him a good home - he sounds like a lovely chap. :fc:
-
Always a bit dubious about Preloved since I sold some stock to some people who I know aren't taking good care of them. I know I shouldn't paste everyone with the same stick but it's made me cautious.
-
Is there a breed society website? Has it a classified page?
-
Unfortunately, though the breed society will send people close enough to my locality my contact details IF they get in touch with them they have no facility for me to post on their site. Looks like my boy will have to go elsewhere tomorrow morning :(
-
Ferdie was duly trailered over to the crew yard last night for delivery to the abattoir this morning. I sat on the ramp to have a goodbye cuddle with him asking OH to just 'give me a minute'. OH said "He's not going. We can't let him go". Did I argue? No, I did not. So, so relieved. We may turn him into a teaser unless someone wants him in the near future. ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ALOT
-
So OH is actually softer than you :excited: :excited: :excited:
-
That's the best news I have heard today - fantastic. Well done Ferdinand! :excited:
-
Awwwww........bless him. I actually had a tear in my eye as I was reading through the post. :innocent: . I'm sure come the Spring/Summer someone will suddenly come along and he'll be exactly what they're looking for. :thumbsup:
-
That's the trouble with Gotlands! They are way too friendly ... so glad for Ferdinand (and you) ;D :hug:
-
Re: the six that went to the abattoir, the guy signing them in said "I can't be doing with hand feds, I bet they've all got names" as they trotted into the pen after me and went to say 'hello' to the sheep next door. He said it kindly enough and always seems bemused at our deliveries. I can't express how relieved I am that they were the last (until next winter). I couldn't have coped this morning if Ferdie had gone too. They're all so lovely, it always breaks my heart a little bit. We can look forward to lambing now without such heavy hearts.
-
I purposefully do not have much contact with my ram/whether lambs as I know they will be going and it is bad enough, without them being friendly and trusting. However, there always seems to be one whether that does become very friendly and will be the first up to the gate for attention. I had one last year (Smog) and another this year. Smog stayed to keep the ram company and this years friendly whether is also staying, with the excuse being that the two others might fight without a third around! :innocent: ::) I can harden my heart when I really need to, but it is always so difficult. :'(
-
I think your reasoning for keeping him is very sensible and valid :innocent:
-
I can't tell you how pleased I am to read you kept him. Had shown my OH your opening post but we'd both agreed he's probably too big for our girls. Really pleased you kept him. :excited:
-
I was almost scared to read the update - glad he's got a reprieve and hope he gets a working home come autumn :fc:
-
So pleased it turned out this way - I was so sad when nobody replied saying they wanted Ferdinand. But all's well now - he's staying at home!!
-
Oh just keep him. If I had some Gotlands I would have taken him. There is nothing wrong with getting close to your Wethers, they may be destined for an early end but make life nice for them. I know all my sheep, well there are only fifteen, they mostly have names and all are recognisable, They follow me around the field, eat out of my hand and sit around me on a nice day. Love them all, unfortunately for them they make terrific hogget. I remember them all but they are not woolly pets.
-
OMG Amanda ....having just seen your post, I was dreading reading your post to say the poor lad had gone with the others :) You know I am a soft touch with my animals, and I really felt for you, having to put yourself through this. So pleased he has survived......er .....could he come and live at my animal sanctuary.......I could have additional ladies to keep him company .......then I will end up with lots of Gotlands to hug, and be just like you. Will speak soon ....so behind with jobs, and still fencing to finish off - not enough hours in the day!!!
-
Bless you Mairi. That would've been ideal as far as we're concerned. Ferdie is unfortunately related to all but our oldest Gotland ladies. We thought we'd make him into a teaser or sell him to cross with another breed. I don't think anyone remotely close to where we are has unrelated Gotland ewes he could serve. I will try and find a 'productive' home before we choose to give him the snip as he'd make a stunning sire.
-
Glad you have managed to keep Ferdinand, he sounds a special boy :) Would love to have him here for fleece and to cross breed with but we have our flock MV accredited which gets very restrictive when you want to buy new stock :( . I am sure you will find someone to have him for breeding later in the year :)
-
Ferdie is unfortunately related to all but our oldest Gotland ladies. We thought we'd make him into a teaser or sell him to cross with another breed. I don't think anyone remotely close to where we are has unrelated Gotland ewes he could serve. I will try and find a 'productive' home before we choose to give him the snip as he'd make a stunning sire.
Unless he is very closely related to your ewes I wouldn't have thought that you cannot use him anymore on your stock. If you want to improve your flock and he has for example a really good fleece using him on half-sisters or back to his grand-dam should not be aproblem and may give you a really good offspring. I would be very happy to have that opportunity, alas not enough land to keep several males ...
-
Remember this lovely fella? Well....subject to bloodline compatibility, which is looking good, we may have found a home for him with some young Gotland ladies in the Lake District.
Thought you might like to see what a handsome chap he's turned into.
-
He is lovely :thumbsup:
-
That's excellent news :thumbsup:
-
Great news for the special lad
-
Very handsome! :)
-
That's good news for the handsome lad - but I am sure you will be sad to see him go.
-
Oh I will be. His 'hopefully' new mum and dad are visiting him next Weds whilst they're nearby in Norfolk. All looking good for my baby :fc:
-
Ferdie has just left for his new home in Penrith :thumbsup: . Sad to say goodbye but it's a great home.
-
Really pleased for both of you :thumbsup:
-
Ah, that's good news - I am sure he will like Penrith - I will look out for him, as we go up there sometimes :D