ubereglu Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Sad news about the lambs, I just hope the Ewe pulls through. Bring on the piccies of the pigs! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Oh Lesley what a rollercaster! I do hope the ewe pulls through - keep us posted, and im so sorry the lambs didnt make it so very upsetting. Glad to hear you have piggies again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicola H Posted April 5, 2009 Share Posted April 5, 2009 Such sad news Lesley...I do hope that the ewe is OK. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moochoo Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 So sorry to hear about your lambs but at least you managed to save the ewe. It's a shame you missed out on your course too, what's going to happen with the hens you ordered from Alison? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 We're hoping to be able to pop down later in the week to collect the hens and may have time for a chat with Alison. We can't make the Sheffield course as we should be into lambing 'proper' then, we were offered the chance to change dates as soon as the Sheffield course was listed, but couldn't accept because of that. The ewe isolated herself yesterday. The Vet had said that in an ideal world you would keep her separate but sheep don't like being on their own so let her out. We opened the gates so that they could move down to the field and refurbished barn where we will be lambing but she stayed behind in the field shelter. We thought then that she might not make it but she had a good rest and later in the evening she wandered down to the (now closed) gate to the next field. We set up a series of hurdles so that she could go a bit further and we could, hopefully, close a hurdle behind her and then let her into the next paddock. She had access to the field shelter if she wanted. This morning she was by the hurdles and when Carl opened them into the next paddock she just trotted down to join the others Fingers crossed that she stays well. We now need to get her into the next paddock with the two old ladies who aren't pregnant but are acting as an introduction to sheep for the calves! The sheep are wary of the calves and we have to move their feed trough by just 12" a day.....nearer to the calves We only had 6 pregnant ewes and just one poorly one is so time-consuming! I suppose if you are farmers than it's part and parcel of farming but if you have to work as well (at another job) then it really is tiring. We wouldn't have it any other way though Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 It sounds like she's coming through the other side as it were, not a nice thing for you to have to contend with though. Glad today is looking a bit better than the weekend. Hope everything goes well with the other ewes....and the new calves....and the piglies...phew I'm exhausted just thinking about it all!! Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Oh poor lambies, and poor you What a rotten bit of luck. Fingers crossed that she feels better soon and your other pregnant ewes deliver safely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 She's grieving - and the noise they make is heartbreaking - likes cows when their calves are taken away She's walking up and down the paddock looking and making her noise. Piglets are fine - I think Photobucket is still not resizing so they may be a bit big - I'll just post two photos...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Oh they are so cute - you can't eat them! Love the little blazes on their heads - particularly the perfect little diamond. No, you can't eat them - we won't let you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 6, 2009 Author Share Posted April 6, 2009 I know - we find it very difficult But, if we didn't, the rare breeds would die out These are Berkshires who wouldn't make the grade for showing or breeding Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mostin Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Oh your poor sheep , I hope she gets over the loss of the lambs soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 All in favour of the rare breeds Lesley, I understand - plus they taste better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted April 6, 2009 Share Posted April 6, 2009 Would you be able to get her to adopt one of a set of triplets maybe, or are they all too far off lambing & she'll be passed it by then? I know the normal way to get that to happen is by skinning the lost lamb & covering the new one in the skin, but does it happen without this extreme method occasionally? Poor love, and poor you having to be with her & helpless. Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheGirlsMum Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Natures hard, but the piggies will help. Berkshires are lovely Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aunty e Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Maybe she will enjoy seeing the other lambs when they're born? I suppose you've already looked into orphaned lambs in the area? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 7, 2009 Share Posted April 7, 2009 Poor sheep Those piggies are sooo cute! Wish I hadn't looked now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 8, 2009 Author Share Posted April 8, 2009 It is difficult to get a ewe to accept anothers lamb - we could have tried a cade lamb, probably from the lady we collected the piggies from, but it would have needed contant vigilance to ensure she didn't reject the lamb. We weren't in a position to be able to do that Both times I contacted the Vet emergency number the ladies answering (two different ones!) faltered at the address We live on the same main road as the Berkshire breeder and both times I'd waited until 8am to phone the vet and both times, she'd phoned at 7am The second time I said "don't tell me, the Vet is at Christine's, XXX Farm?" - which confused her even more If we have triplets from ours (unlikely) then we could try to foster one onto her if she is still looking for her lambs. I've made Carl agree to work from home from tomorrow until all 5 of the sheep have lambed - the last one is due on May 4/5 Lauren and Jake went in to feed the piglets yesterday - it's lovely when they are still so small and pose no threat. We don't go in with them when they are big as they are in such a rush to get to their feed that you run the risk of being mown down Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 8, 2009 Share Posted April 8, 2009 Lauren and Jake went in to feed the piglets yesterday - it's lovely when they are still so small and pose no threat. We don't go in with them when they are big as they are in such a rush to get to their feed that you run the risk of being mown down And believe me, I know all about that! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted April 9, 2009 Share Posted April 9, 2009 Hi Lesley, just catching up with your thread and wondering if you ever fancy a boring week! Sad news about the lambs but as you say that's sheep for you, hope the ewe is recovering. Your new additions look lovely, good to see you haven't gone for demon calves this time!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 9, 2009 Author Share Posted April 9, 2009 I don't know abou that Trish - these are a bit Tiggerish We've had the halters on for 30 seconds - we'll build on that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 Glad I popped in for a read Lesley . Sad news re. the ewe and twins, never gets any easier, but glad Carl will be there 24/7 for the rest of lambing. New Angus calves are cute (taste exceptional too) - I remember bucket and teet method for Jersey calves - they can't half suck Piggies are lovely - look like a bundle of characters though. All the best to you, Carl and the family for Easter. xox Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 10, 2009 Author Share Posted April 10, 2009 ....and to you and yours, Sarah. Didn't I say last November when we had the ram here that the weather would be vile in April? - the last two years we haven't lambed until May......had a brilliant April and May was vile........ Now we're lambing in April......and it's raining....again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ms Marple Posted April 10, 2009 Share Posted April 10, 2009 What a truamatic week you have had Lesley! So sorry to hear about the lost lambs - the poor mother Thoses piggies are adorable AND you've given them names!!! We buy our pork free-range froma local farmer who asks me to choose from the field - BUT I can't.It has to arrive butchered and not looking like it ever had hair if I am going to eat it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 11, 2009 Share Posted April 11, 2009 Is there a 'lamb count' yet Lesley? I do hope that they are all crossing their legs until we get home Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 11, 2009 Author Share Posted April 11, 2009 The first one to reach 147 days is not due until Weds/Thurs but we know we need to be on standby from today.......then they are all spread out and could be any day up until May 5th 'ish......... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
