The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: jameslindsay on April 30, 2010, 01:11:55 pm
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My friend the Animal Welfare Officer just phoned and asked if I would rescue 2 orphan lambs. Help!!!!!!!!!!!
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Good on you! Got the ear plugs ready I hope!
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I know very little about them but they must be a bit older as they are almost off the bottle she said. If I didn't take them they didn't have a future apparantly and they know I am the soft touch.
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It's hard to say 'NO' - especially when you think of their little faces :-[
BUT (playing devil's advocate here ;)) what would you do with them James ? Do you have room for them ? Do you really want a couple of fully grown sheep next year ? Do you have the heart to raise and slaughter them ? (would be a great addition to your menu, but I suspect you're sitting there shaking your head saying NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO) I certainly don't know a lot about keeping sheep but I'm sure they're more involved than pigs or goats (or maybe it's just flystrike that puts me off - maggoty bottoms ? No thanks :P)
Maybe time to toughen up before you end up with all the waifs and strays in the county ???
Good luck x
(btw - I probably couldn't say no either ;))
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No they will remain as pets as you predicted. The thing that made the decision easier is the fact that the woman who asked us to take them will keep us right and ofcourse there are so many experts in here that gladly share their advice and experiences. I do have enough room for them luckily but there will be no more bigger animals now.
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You are like me, James, cannot say no to a needy animal!! The thing is with bottle reared lambs, they grow up to think they should be with humans, not animals, and follow you everywhere, and to be honest can be a bit of a pain wanting attention all the time. But if they are nearly off the bottle, thats something.
Go on, I know you want to take them ......or have you done, already? Are they male or female, do you know?
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You just can't say NO, can you, James? ::) It's only 4 acres you know - not 44! ;) ;D ;D
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4 acres? Oh, James can keep lots and lots of animals on that much land :D
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He already has 12 goats, 3 dogs, 5 geese, and goodness knows how many ducks and hens! ;) They are starting to call him the Pied Piper! ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Ah well, two orphan lambs would fit in nicely following on behind that lot and the pied piper!!
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So long as the rats don't follow him too ::) ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
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Well they arrived over an hour ago. One is male and 2 weeks old and the other a wee girl aged 3 weeks. No names as yet and will try and get some pics soon.
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So.............. are you going to have him castrated? or has he already been 'done' ;) ;D ;D
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So.............. are you going to have him castrated? or has he already been 'done' ;) ;D ;D
His bits are due to fall off any day now...
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Introducing Timmy and Priscilla, she is the black faced one.
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Congratulations on your new additions James....They look gorgeous.
I can't say no either :)
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Thanks Julie, if only they could stay that size forever.
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Did I ever tell you you're crazy? Mind you faced with a choice like that I'd have done the same. They look cute and I look forward to meeting them in a few weeks time.
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Ha ha I hope so. :)
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And oh Timmy is now Ringo.
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You better get milking your goats - they do need a couple of litres of milk a day, and goats milk is the best! But they should be ok for company with your goats, what breed are they?
You should be vaccinating them once they are 4 - 5 weeks old, in case they didn't get much colostrum. Probably next time you lambivac your goats?
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I am feeding them Sheperdess milk. Priscilla is a Black Face and Ringo a Texel.
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I see you made the right decision, James....!!
They are lovely aren't they? Are they with the goats, or have you got them separate, so you can feed them?
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If they are only 2 and 3 weeks old, they will need milk for a bit longer!
I'm glad you were able to take them on James.
Beth
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They are in the small paddock with the Pygmys just now but during the day the pygmys are out in the big fields and the lambs are locked up with them over night. The pair of them have already been chasing the chooks and making their stand. They are beautiful wee things I have to say and are very friendly and loving. Once they have settled in I shall let them out to the bigger field so they can get what little grass there is.
I have no regrets taking them now.
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Sounds like they are settling in ......I fed our orphan lambs for ages out of a bottle - in fact they were almost fully grown. But they did enjoy their milk. Of course they were eating feed as well. Dare not put lambs in with my pygmys - one of the castated billies is a right bossyboots.
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They have settled in well and are feeding with no problems. I let them out in to the bigger field when I can be with them and they have a super time. I take the 2 young goslings at the same time so I have my hands full. The wee girl has green gunk at the corner of her eyes from time to time is there anything I should be doing?
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They look really great James - very healthy looking, I'm not sure about the gunk but I would clean with soft wet cloth, I have 4 at the moment the first 2 the black ones (stinky and Little Un) are doing great and zooming around and used to the goat and have learned not to go to near the young kid 'Bandit' or they get chased by the mum, the 2 younger ones - white ones (Coffee and Cream - Coffee has a cough but is still hanging in there, hoping she's going to pull through), they see me and dash up and follow me every where, I guess it's won't be that long till I get bowled over!
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Here they are
(http://)
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Thanks, that's what I have been doing. Good luck with your lot. :) I could sit all day and just watch these youngsters skip, jump, play and generally have a brilliant time. Then, just like babies they tire themselves out and then it's off to bed for a while. The Pygmy's have been very good with them and when they are in the big field with me they meet the ponies, ducks and geese and so far all has been harmonious.
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Thanks for the picture, they are gorgeous.
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Yesterday hubby and I were up at the goats in the sun having a great laugh watching the 2 border collies lie in the sun, the goats playing mad chasing games, a couple of group of call ducks trying to find the best way into the goat shed to lay eggs and the lambs playing chase around the goat shed, all happily getting on with their own priorities - it's great when things get on - we have a german shepherd and she is fantastic but she's a 'person' dog and hates all other animal pretty much although the new cat we found as a kitten that grew up in the house has no fear of Sasha but apart from the cat we have to take sasha to a separate paddock to play but we have a system so all's well really.
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I have been advised that the gunk will be "fairy dust" and not to worry. They have spent almost all of their time indoors and now they are out in the open and enjoying fresh air and all that goes with that. So, I was advised by the vet to wash with warm water, just as Bruckley said so thanks. :)