[Brucklay]

Please - hoping to find some / 4-6 orphan ewe lambs - I've put the word outaround where I live but still no luck and really desperate not the miss the boat - we should have got some last year but put it off so we had time to get the place sorted after self-build but am now regratting it. I am willing to travel (within reason) - thank you

[pikilily]

Hi Brucley

Tell us more about your set up, experience with animals, facilities etc. That way we know what/who we are recommending for our sheep contacts. As a relative novice I know it helped to almost have a resume of my animal husbandry experiences when i was on the look out for my first orphan lambs. Shepherds are a tough lot but they do have consciences!!

My sheep-guru down here (just north of dundee) was just saying the other day that they are getting so much better at fostering that often, even with a large flock, they hardly ever need to find homes for the orphans.

Dont let that put you off!! They are out there.....

Will keep you in mind if I hear of any.
Emma T

[Brucklay]

Hi Emma - thanks for your reply. We have four and a half acres split into 3 - one is occupied by my 7 pygmy goats and two nutty border collies (either the border collies think they are goat's or the goats think they are border collies as all get on very well together - the goats follow the dogs around). The top two areas have been grass for 2 years - first year hay (the farmer cut etc and took away - leaving us a couple of bales for the goats) and the second her cut for silage. So over time I was hoping to have a wee flock of sheep on it. I have a wee budget from the sale of 2 kids and I have more on the way. I'm pretty good (but no expert) on looking after the goats - the feet the worming/mites/feet etc and a lot of the stuff I get for the goats is actually licenced for sheep. I have a holding number and flock number for goats and flock number for sheep in preparation. Some time ago I helped out with lambing at a neighbouring farm in Glenshee and bottle fed the orphans so I have a tiny bit of experience there. Not sure what else ......thanks

[pikilily]

LOL... thats more like it!  Now I have a 'story' to sell to my contacts. They get a picture of a good home and hopefully you get your lambs faster!!  I'll put the word out - I have quite a few friends up your way, i stay just north of Dundee so there is another catchment area here.

Some farmers may want a wee bit of money for the lambs.....also wanted to ask would you be interested if some young stock was on offer ie last years lambs, for example?

Cheers Emma T

[Brucklay]

Hi Emma - I would be interested in young stock if I couldn't get any lambs. I had a 'master plan' you know the sort of 'dream' of the perfect wee herd of Jacob's but I have to be realistic on expenditure and build up. We will of course look after any sheep or lambs we get and give them the best care we can. I have a pen ready for lambs - set up and waiting - suppose I'm just getting impatient seeing lambs in the fields!! Thanks

[pikilily]

Hi Claire,

Ive had time to call around most of my pals in your area. The word is, sadly, that most people have had a pretty bad lambing year...with losses - both mums and a lot of lambs, so many of the farmers have got hardly any orphans because they have managed to foster them all.

i will keep an ear out down here. Your website looks fab, by the way....lovely set up!!
Cheers Emma T

[ukag0972]

Hi Brucklay
Are you anywhere near to the place with the Kune Kune pigs?, just curious!!

[Brucklay]

Hi Emma - thanks for asking around, very kind of you. If you hear of anything .....

Yes we are near some kune kune pigs about a mile away

PS The set up looks better in the pic's than in real life - the driving rain plays havoc with the wood stain - planning on re cladding the whole building in something that doesn't need stained like larch - plenty for the goats to nibble on!

[ukag0972]

I bought my wee boar from him, and my gilt from a woman close by!
Small world!

[charlie]

hi why not get yourself 6 ewes.
And then get alone of a tup in november and have your own lambs next year.

[mbt441]

HI, Its a shame youre not anywhere near sunny West Yorks. We start lambing on Tuesday and among our few hundred ewes we have some triplets, one with quads and one expecting five whatever the name is for that is so will have quite a few spare lambs by the time we are finished.