Best liner/ bedding for drop tray

[Lewis]

I've never seen sheep and cows kept together (intentionally )

 

 

I was once changing all the sheeps waters, and one of the farm dogs (border collie) was wondering around the barn past me, then out of the corner of my eye this dog tripled in size

 

I turned around and there was the cow! She'd managed to get out and went to visit the sheep We managed to round her up and get her back in her pen

[Old Speckled Hen]

Lots of the fields around here have cattle and sheep in the same field so best of luck.

[Egluntyne]

I've never seen sheep and cows kept together (intentionally )

They keep some in the same fields at Whirlow Hall Farm up near us.

[Chook n Boo Mum]

Is there some reason why they aren't usually mixed?

 

Sha x

[Lewis]

Is there some reason why they aren't usually mixed?

 

Sha x

I don't think there would be a reason, because if there was a disease spreading risk, that would still be there if they were both on the same farm by using the same wheelbarrows, tools buckets etc.

I's assume it would just be that the animals might not get on .

[Old Speckled Hen]

The only thing I can remember in the dim distant past is that donkeys shouldn't be grazed with horses as the former can be symptomless carriers of lungworm which can significantly affect the latter.

[Martin B]

I pulled in at a farm shop on the way back from Northampton yesterday. They had lots of sheep and about 5 cows with 2 calves in the same field.

 

Best of luck Lesley!

[Lesley]

The reason for keeping them in the same field is tha cows eat long grass but can't crop it short - sheep can't eat long grass easily and prefer the length left by cows, the sheep then graze it short.

 

Alos, the cows eat the sheep worm eggs which don't affect them - and sheep eat the cow worm eggs .......it all helps with worming.

 

We don't use wormers, we just move the sheep/cows every three weeks which breaks the cycle of worm eggs on the grass or soil - keeping cows and sheep together helps with the non-chemical worming.

 

Still waiting for last lamb

[chickencam]

That ewe needs a good curry

 

Seriously I hope she produces at a convenient time.

[Lesley]

She still doesn't look like producing - I just know she's going to upset tomorrow morning Curry sounds like a good option ......followed by castor oil We have a one acre field to check each time now as well - and she always stands behind another sheep .so we can't see her...

 

I've taken some photos of the calves out in the field - I'll post a couple tomorrow.

[Egluntyne]

Any news this morning?

[Lesley]

No.... nothing....I just had a nice quiet stroll around at 6.15

 

We'll check again at 8.00 when we feed the calves, sheep and pigs........and then she'll be on her own until we get back.

 

Shetlands are very good at lambing without any intervention - in fact, they positively dislike anyone to be near and she should be fine.

[Lewis]

Still no news

[Karen & co.]

I keep bobbing in here for an update

 

Karen x

[Lewis]

I keep bobbing in here for an update

 

Karen x

And me!

She's a good few days overdue

[Lesley]

I didn't want to bore you all - believe me! I was extremely bored with walking up and down all the time!

 

Yesterday we turned her over and had a good look. She does have some milk but her nether regions are not red, just pink, so if she is pregnant then she isn't due for a while yet. We checked on the date that the ram left and if he caudght up with her just before he left then she wouldn't be due until the end of the month anyway!

 

We're leaving her alone now - just observing when we are out there and feeding anyway. We had thought she was barren and any sheep farmer would have packed her off to the abattoir long ago. The first year, we didn't get the harness on the ram soon enough to be sure and the second year we sent the ram home early and still couldn't be sure.

 

She def. has a blue bottom ......and milk......

[Lewis]

We had thought she was barren and any sheep farmer would have packed her off to the abattoir long ago.

I HATE doing that.

 

At Lambing I was the one who had to go round and check all of the ewes and lambs and any with a bad bag or not sticking to the breed standard had to have a big red mark put on their heads due to be sent off and slaughtered. I know it has to be done but it just makes you feel guilty .

[Lesley]

It is sad isn't it? We have the two old ladies who should have gone a long time ago, the lovely Kerry Hill ewe who lost her lambs and should go off as mutton as she shouldn't be put to the ram again and this one who may be barren..........we justify keeping them by using them as lawn mowers!

 

We don't have machinery to help us much - an ancient tractor with a new topper - but using the sheep does save us some time......which is always helpful

 

Thanks for the link to your Blog Lewis - very interesting. We need to make a race using the hurdles ready for the shearer to come. He trims their feet for us as well.

Where you have the photo of the sheep on the ground.........it takes two to keep a Shetland down as they just get back up again It is the same when you sit them on their bottoms to look at their feet.......they just do one little wriggle and they're back on all 4 feet The shearer says the same .....and he shears sheep all day, every day, during the season. All the small traditional breeds do it They are not as heavy to turn over......but much more difficult to keep turned so the work is actually harder and takes more energy. We found that out once we bought the big Kerry Hills - turn them over and they are heavier.....but they just sit like puddings!

[Lewis]

Lawn mowers seounds like a good idea, afterall people keep non-laying hens

We had to get rid of Dolly the three legged one eyed sheep this year, she was unsold at at the market and the farm "adopted" her. Whenever she saw the sheepdog, because she only had one eye, she'd run off in to the rounded up sheep and scatter them all over the field!

 

Those races cost thousands of pounds! I was shocked but they are really useful and slot together in loads of different ways.

I know what you mean about them jumping back up, one of the first year vet students came on a placement and she kept getting kicked and cut when she was turning the sheep . We normally do their feet in a small pen, which is easier because they can't run away .

[Lesley]

Just when we'd almost given up!!!!!

 

An assisted birth - Carl was midwife, I was nurse............

a new little girl.....and, at last, my little black lamb. I always wanted a black lamb!

 

 

The little lamb was not coming out so we had a look and the head was half out but no little hoofs. All was sorted out in minutes and we intervened just in time as the lamb's tongue was sticking out and turning blue.

[Mrs Frugal]

Crumbs! Good job the able midwife and his assistant nurse were on hand to help. I'm so glad you got your little black lamb and that it's a girl!! Congratulations .

[Sheilaz]

Phew, well done! Thanks for posting such a lovely pic, and very good news!

[Ain't Nobody Here]

How gorgeous . Congratulations .

[ClaireG]

Congratulations. I'm so pleased you got your girl

[chickencam]

She's lovely