Glad to hear he's now more help than hindrance! It's such a relief when you realise you have got there after all the hard work and training.
Chunky Monkey gang
- Thread starter chunky monkey
- Start date
Well done with Quin. I suppose he is still young - perhaps he'll be less eager in a year or two!
So much work and the weather all over the place. Suze was a hopeless mum, too young, she wanted to go clubbing. She used to have a bemused stare then would remember that she had a foal and wondered where she had left it
First loss. All went out fine yesterday. Went to bring in last night. The usual last lamber was down the field, plus one other. As me and quin walked down to get the pain in the butt the other started making her way up but was making a fair din. Then i note only one lamb. Once we got back up to the yard me noting which ewe but still only one lamb. So lamb hadnt made its way up with other mums and reunited. So i went off round the field in search. But light beat me, so i had to stop looking. Hardly a small lamb given it was the 2nd one to lamb. Everything looks healthy so no concerns that it might drop dead. So now im wondering if someones dog has been in and chased and sent the lamb into the brambles or through the fence. Im going down to feed in a minute and will turn mum and her single lamb out first to see if she gives any indication where it might be. Then I'll walk the field again. But i dont give much hope. Theres just too many places it could hide and Mr Fox will have sniffed it out over night most likely. Will look for crows being active.
So annoying as i felt lambing was doing ok. No matter how hard i try i always loose one or two.
So annoying as i felt lambing was doing ok. No matter how hard i try i always loose one or two.
That’s sad, but it is truly normal with sheep that there are losses isn’t it, definitely not your fault.
Well its not good news but my mind is at rest. Turned the ewe out and she walked all the way down the field with her other lamb calling out as she went. Stopped on the right side half way down the steam. So left it 10 minutes before i walked down she never left the point.
So a quick scoot around and i literally saw it in the stream under a bramble thicket. No idea how it got in there, as i had to pry the brambles apart to get into retrieve it. The stream isnt deep, covers my feet but with all the rain it it flowing fast so could have been washed down stream under the brambles i guess but the weight of the lamb it wouldnt gave travelled far. Saw a couple of scars on the tail but i think bramble scratches.
The ewe didnt go to where she was when i walked down last night, so leaving her out wouldnt have benefited but it was odd she clearly knew this morning exactly where to go.
I walked up and down the stream at least 3 times last night so walked past it.
So a quick scoot around and i literally saw it in the stream under a bramble thicket. No idea how it got in there, as i had to pry the brambles apart to get into retrieve it. The stream isnt deep, covers my feet but with all the rain it it flowing fast so could have been washed down stream under the brambles i guess but the weight of the lamb it wouldnt gave travelled far. Saw a couple of scars on the tail but i think bramble scratches.
The ewe didnt go to where she was when i walked down last night, so leaving her out wouldnt have benefited but it was odd she clearly knew this morning exactly where to go.
I walked up and down the stream at least 3 times last night so walked past it.
Flipin abcesses.
This ones a right stubben abcess. Actually right stubben mum to. Every night we have to walk to the very bottom of the field to get her and her two lambs. Usually after a few days going out with there new borns they learn to come up in the evenings as a flock. Not this madame. She still doesnt get it. Quins not strong enough to go get her on his own, she challenges him. So ive tried scaring her up, calling her, Quins nipped her i dont know how many times on the heels and ankles, gone in at the throat and still she doesnt get it. Her being lame is no excuse either. Because when it suits her she can run, lame or not. By the time we get her up she gets in the shed panting. I tell her everynight, if you stop being dumb and come up with the rest of the flock as they make ther way up, you wouldnt be puffing and panting. Its doing her no favours stressing out. One day she will learn.
Been soaking and spraying everyday and not getting any better yet. This morning the foots swelled and more heat so i think theres another abcess brewing.
Shes starting to loose weight. They naturally will as soon as they lamb as they put into milk. But as shes not standing shes not eating. Shes a first lamber but her udder looks tiny. So it will start to effect her lambs growth soon.
This ones a right stubben abcess. Actually right stubben mum to. Every night we have to walk to the very bottom of the field to get her and her two lambs. Usually after a few days going out with there new borns they learn to come up in the evenings as a flock. Not this madame. She still doesnt get it. Quins not strong enough to go get her on his own, she challenges him. So ive tried scaring her up, calling her, Quins nipped her i dont know how many times on the heels and ankles, gone in at the throat and still she doesnt get it. Her being lame is no excuse either. Because when it suits her she can run, lame or not. By the time we get her up she gets in the shed panting. I tell her everynight, if you stop being dumb and come up with the rest of the flock as they make ther way up, you wouldnt be puffing and panting. Its doing her no favours stressing out. One day she will learn.
Been soaking and spraying everyday and not getting any better yet. This morning the foots swelled and more heat so i think theres another abcess brewing.
Shes starting to loose weight. They naturally will as soon as they lamb as they put into milk. But as shes not standing shes not eating. Shes a first lamber but her udder looks tiny. So it will start to effect her lambs growth soon.
Well ive had the most productive bank holiday weekend. Feeling much more positive about everything now. Onto summer routine earlier than i thought.
Ewes had a pedicure yesterday.
Lambs all tagged today.
Ewes wormed.
Applied fly protection to ewes and lambs.
Move all i could for now down to my neighbours.
Taken out all the lambing pens and put back in storage till next year.
2 in theory left to lamb. Although i think it will only be as i dont think one is in lamb. So there still at home together with the last 2 that lambed. They were a bit young to move so theyll all go to neighbours once all have lambed. 2 to lamb need there pedicure together with the rams but that will be in a few weeks.
Horses got a good groom and walk yesterday. Going out in a minute to walk them today.
Even went out on the bike for and hour with Quin yesterday.
To knackered to bike today but we will go down tonight to check on the ewes with there lambs and Quin will be able to practice on them. Given how much grass theyve gone onto i think it will be good to move them as some sheep will have bloat.
Can now look at taking down all my electric fence paddocks tomorrow or during the week so we can chain harrow the fields. Then i can put it all back up and the cows and horses can move fields.
Its amazing how sometimes everything just all comes together at once. This last couple of weeks ive been over stressed, but right now a huge weight has lifted.
Ewes had a pedicure yesterday.
Lambs all tagged today.
Ewes wormed.
Applied fly protection to ewes and lambs.
Move all i could for now down to my neighbours.
Taken out all the lambing pens and put back in storage till next year.
2 in theory left to lamb. Although i think it will only be as i dont think one is in lamb. So there still at home together with the last 2 that lambed. They were a bit young to move so theyll all go to neighbours once all have lambed. 2 to lamb need there pedicure together with the rams but that will be in a few weeks.
Horses got a good groom and walk yesterday. Going out in a minute to walk them today.
Even went out on the bike for and hour with Quin yesterday.
To knackered to bike today but we will go down tonight to check on the ewes with there lambs and Quin will be able to practice on them. Given how much grass theyve gone onto i think it will be good to move them as some sheep will have bloat.
Can now look at taking down all my electric fence paddocks tomorrow or during the week so we can chain harrow the fields. Then i can put it all back up and the cows and horses can move fields.
Its amazing how sometimes everything just all comes together at once. This last couple of weeks ive been over stressed, but right now a huge weight has lifted.
The weekend just gets better. I have taken out all the fence paddocks this morning. The fields are being chain harrowed right now. Its just started raining so that should help too.
My app says ive done 17,900 steps and its not even 2pm. Im absolutely knackered. I expect DOMs will set in later.
Off course it will take another 17,000 steps to put all the fencing back up.
My app says ive done 17,900 steps and its not even 2pm. Im absolutely knackered. I expect DOMs will set in later.
Off course it will take another 17,000 steps to put all the fencing back up.
Well done you! I love the feeling of accomplishment after a weekend like that, an extra large dinner is well deserved.
No chance of dinner yet. Stuck down in the sheep shed waiting for a massive thunderstorm to pass. Ive got to walk back home and in the 5 minutes it will take i will be soaked. So im hiding in the shed.
Its got even better still. 3rd day in a row taking Billy out. We long reined for the first time in probably 3 years. We made it all the way down the road, up a short stretch of main road, turned off and up to the lime kilns. Back down to the car park and back up the road. Not one call out. Granted a bit forward and panicked a couple of times when the lines went down his back legs. But generally stopped when asked and backed up. I even got him circling round me in both directions where the road widen. Now this might sound a bit easy and everyday for those that long rein regular. But this is Billy we are talking about. Two weeks ago such an idiot i really didnt want to even walk him out anymore in hand he felt so dangerous. So massive accomplishment to even risk long reining.
Oh and i think the last ewe has lambed this afternoon. Just discovered it in time and got her in the shed before the storm.
Its got even better still. 3rd day in a row taking Billy out. We long reined for the first time in probably 3 years. We made it all the way down the road, up a short stretch of main road, turned off and up to the lime kilns. Back down to the car park and back up the road. Not one call out. Granted a bit forward and panicked a couple of times when the lines went down his back legs. But generally stopped when asked and backed up. I even got him circling round me in both directions where the road widen. Now this might sound a bit easy and everyday for those that long rein regular. But this is Billy we are talking about. Two weeks ago such an idiot i really didnt want to even walk him out anymore in hand he felt so dangerous. So massive accomplishment to even risk long reining.
Oh and i think the last ewe has lambed this afternoon. Just discovered it in time and got her in the shed before the storm.
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