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Post by carolann on Mar 13, 2012 9:16:04 GMT
Thank you Maggy for popping in on my world. Well we turned out some of the older single lambs on Sunday and they have been outside since and on the lambing front its starting to pick up 9 on Sunday and 10 yesterday so its getting busy, today I have to go to Bury with the farms bookkeeping book which I did yesterday for the year end and then I have to go get some shopping as the cupboards look like Mother Hubbards  |
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Post by Tig on Mar 13, 2012 10:30:19 GMT
It must be a challenge when the lambing is full on trying to keep house as well! It's not like there is any order to it, they just appear when they're ready
x Tig
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Post by carolann on Mar 14, 2012 8:55:18 GMT
It can be quite a challenge rooting through the cupboards looking for something to have for tea but egg, chips and beans is a great stand by ;D then there is always the chip shop as well. We have been very lucky so far this season and have a young man who is helping OH so it takes a lot off me, he had some land and sheep but gave it up the back end of last year as there was too much hassle with walkers leaving gates open and letting their dogs chase the sheep around and cutting fences, he only lives down the road and he has been a god send, our young vet student will be here in a couple of weeks to help as well so she will get a lot more experience for vet collage. Last week a friend of our had to shoot one of his sheep with a total prolapse (what a mess) so he fetched the lamb up to us and we fostered her onto another ewe but she wont take to it so yesterday we had one with a dead lamb so she was fostered onto that ewe who wont now stand up so last night another had a dead lamb with the placenta stuck over the nose so now the lamb has been put on her hope its forth time lucky for her. Some more where turned outside yesterday and others where marked and rebbered and put into another shed ready to go out at the weekend weather permitting but we still have to fetch the last 180 or so down and put them inside where we dont have enough room yet for all of them so we shall be going through them today seeing which have started bagging up and they will be moved into the old wood shed. Planning has gone up for the new shed which will replace the old wood and lean to sheds so fingers crossed it gets passed then we should have enough room for all of them next year inside. OH has just come in and said he thinks the new mum has took to the lamb she is called lumbie after our friend. Right off to make breakfast so catch you all later and I will take the camera down when I go.
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Post by Tig on Mar 14, 2012 11:07:55 GMT
See if you can spot a lamb that has the characteristics of a mountain goat Carol, it could be an 'Auricula' (not that she's related to a goat, just her Himalayan antics doncha know ;D)
Hope the orphan lamb finds new Mum adopts it today
x Tig
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Post by Jasmine on Mar 14, 2012 16:59:41 GMT
What a constant job you have when the sheep get going Carol. Great to read your news though.
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 15, 2012 6:41:01 GMT
I enjoy reading your blog Carolann, you've got so much to do at this time of the year. It must be a constant worry, I don't know how you do it.
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Post by carolann on Mar 15, 2012 9:44:59 GMT
You just plod on regardless someone has to do it, late night last night I went down to the shed as OH was asleep on the chair all quiet when I went, got back in the house woke him up so he could sort his dad out and go to bed but he went down to the shed just incase  well 1 was showing signs so we put her in a pen and OH had a feel no head just feet 2 hours later we are still at it, he got the head then lost the feet and vis versa, ended up getting No1 son out of bed to give OH a lift as I couldnt hold the ewe any longer and the lamb was quite a big one but they got it out alive and mum was licking it when we left the shed, OH has been down there this morning and he said they both look OK so thats good, wonder what today will bring. |
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Post by Jasmine on Mar 15, 2012 15:44:35 GMT
An earlier night for you I hope Carol!
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Post by Missredhead on Mar 17, 2012 20:37:29 GMT
It must seem worthwhile when you have helped them and it turns out alright.....
How is 'Tig' doing Carolann?
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Post by carolann on Mar 19, 2012 10:26:03 GMT
I'm not going to call one Tig as she has lost her MoJo and is always full of a cold (well she is just now again) dont want to tempt things. Been at it it since 6.30am this morning and so far we had had to lamb 6, 1 which was very difficult so OH gave mum a booster jab and 30 mins ago she was up on her feet thankfully, I had to keep rubbing baby to get her to clear her throat and chest as she was so week but she is up on her feet as well now. Another lost her lamb but a sheep in the nursery pen has died leaving a beautiful lamb so its now on that mother who lost hers so fingers crossed she takes to it if not then she will be in the crate till she does. Its all go today and we have not even fed any yet so I better get off here and get cracking, catch you all later. |
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Post by Tig on Mar 19, 2012 11:03:53 GMT
If I get in line, will your OH give me a booster jab Carol? It sounds just what I need - sad to hear you've lost a 'mum', but I suppose it goes with the job. It's all swings and roundabouts by the sound of it
x Tig
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Post by carolann on Mar 19, 2012 16:02:24 GMT
Yep just get in line with the rest of them ;D I want to get off the roundabout or could someone stop it for a while. Just been down the shed to check on one who's leg I splintered on Friday afternoon he was born in the big shed with all the sheep in and he most have got stood on, its def not broken so I wrapped it in one of the horse bandages which give support but stretch's as well and he is doing very well. It looks like the one with the foster lamb has taken to it they where both laid down together so thats another job well done. Nearly time for their evening feed so I will just have a quick look around the board and then I'm off again.
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 19, 2012 17:45:34 GMT
Never a dull moment Carol.  |
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Post by Dutchy on Mar 19, 2012 20:10:08 GMT
Never dull now something tells me Caroll would love some dull for the time being.
And for Tig not to be in the way when the sheep need their treatment ;D
I dropped in to see how the wooly bunch are and in all it sounds as if things are as they should be.
Death being part of it.
You do well Carolann, I could not do it. Such hard work is not something I 'll ever manage.
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Post by Barbara on Mar 20, 2012 7:41:59 GMT
Is the light at the end of the tunnel yet Carolann, when you went to Bury did you stock up on black puddings. I hope all the orphans and mums pair up OK. |
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Post by carolann on Mar 20, 2012 8:45:10 GMT
No light yet Barbara we are only about a 1/4 way through and no I only went to the accountants which is on the outskirts. So far so good with the orphans and new mums which means I have none in the foster pen so dont have to bottle feed any, but there is time yet, had to go and feed a little one last night as the teets on the ewe are so big it cant get them in its mouth yet ;D but the little fella is keen so it wont be long and mum is very attentive. Only 2 first thing this morning.
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Post by carolann on Mar 23, 2012 8:27:45 GMT
Things have slowed down again with the lambing not sure why but the most we have had this week is 6 in one day at this rate we will still be at it in June, still lots of things need to be done like bedding down and marking what is ready go go up onto the moors, OH took the first lot up there on Tuesday so they wont be home again till clipping time in June. I have my first lamb in the orphan pen he is called Lee after the young lad who fetched him he was born at the slaughter house where he works where they have a few sheep outside in a field but mum had no milk so he kindly fetched him up here I will take a pic of him later, I also have 2 others on the bottle as they cant stand up yet not sure why but they have a good set of lungs on them both and mum is not much help she is what we call a sooner sheep would sooner lie down than anything else, she gets up to feed then lies down again, right off to get the milk ready for them all so catch you all later. |
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 23, 2012 8:40:57 GMT
Well done Carolann - bet you could sleep standing up at times...shame we are not nearer you to help... we don't charge either, just need somewhere to lay down and good food !!
RF
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Post by carolann on Mar 23, 2012 9:05:10 GMT
Thank you RF we have room for anyone to lie down but the food is a little hit and miss some days ;D. Just been down to feed the lambs and one of the twins which cant stand up is dead think mum laid on him during the night even though I put both of the out of her way, well you cant win them all everyone else is OK though.
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Post by Dutchy on Mar 23, 2012 9:15:51 GMT
RF can cook real well so maybe she can help with the food instead of the lambs ;D
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Post by carolann on Mar 24, 2012 8:57:35 GMT
Well I spoke too soon again there where 14 yesterday and first thing this morning there are 5 sets of twins and 1 single so far and now i'm just going to get the milk ready for the ones I am helping so catch you all later. |
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Post by Barbara on Mar 24, 2012 9:37:35 GMT
A busy day ahead Carol, I hope you all remember to eat , I could run up the hill with a cottage pie if you like.
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Post by carolann on Mar 24, 2012 19:52:43 GMT
Thank you sweetie that would be very nice ;D daughter usually does the cooking when we get too busy then there is the chippy just down the road. About 4pm a dog got in with the sheep and lambs and OH was busy up on the moors spreading muck and I was down here screaming in my two way radio for him to come back quick nobody told me they had changed channels so nobody heard me, the owners where shouting for their dog and I was down in the yard screaming and swearing at them to get the dam thing or it would be shot and they would be taking it back home in a bag stupid irrisponsible dog owners dont take a blind bit of notice of signs saying to please keep their dogs on leads during the lambing season, then the next hour was spent sorting and pairing back mums and lambs they where everywhere and all mixed up poor things good job it didnt get in with the tups or it would have been killed they dont take prisoners the boys, we had a mexican stand off on friday when we where moving them with our own dog luckly he knows when to get out of the way of them.
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Post by Missredhead on Mar 24, 2012 19:57:22 GMT
I am amazed by what you do Carolann..I know I have said it before but I couldnt even begin to do a fraction ofwht you do..
I saw some little lambs with their mummies yesterday and they all had numbers on them..big enough to see from the road too
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Post by Ladygardener on Mar 25, 2012 9:28:53 GMT
Gosh what an exciting time it all is for you Caroann. I'm sure you fall into bed exhausted every night.
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Post by Rosefriend on Mar 25, 2012 9:51:32 GMT
I am sure she does as well LG - thanks for keeping us up to date Carolann - I bet there are times you would rather just turn over in bed...
RF
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Post by Tig on Mar 25, 2012 15:15:44 GMT
Shame it didn't get in with the tups Carol, it wouldn't have been so keen to start harassing sheep again that's for sure!
Hope the lambs keep coming out alive, and the mums take to them, less work for you and more profit in the long run
x Tig
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Post by carolann on Mar 27, 2012 19:28:06 GMT
So far today there have been 12 which have lambed 1 had a dead lamb but a mother who we took up onto the moor yesterday has died so the lamb got a new mother right quick, right I have to go down the shed as another 2 are starting to lamb so I'll catch you either later or tomorrow.
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Post by carolann on Mar 28, 2012 8:59:57 GMT
We ended up with a record for this year with 16 lambing in one day, this morning it was panic stations a set of twins had some how got out of their pen  OH found the little lad so the hunt was on for the little girl 20mins later we found her at the back of the incubator curled up asleep the trouble is they are both so tiny they are getting through the gates on the front of their pens we call them micro lambs as they are so small and mum has no milk so I'm feeding them 6 times a day and its feeding time now so I'll take the camera and get a shot of them for you. |
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Post by carolann on Mar 28, 2012 11:01:45 GMT
Here are Dora and Foggy as I have called them after 2 great explorers dora is at the top she is a little larger than her brother  this is foggy and a normal sized lamb  |
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well 1 was showing signs so we put her in a pen and OH had a feel no head just feet 2 hours later we are still at it, he got the head then lost the feet and vis versa, ended up getting No1 son out of bed to give OH a lift as I couldnt hold the ewe any longer and the lamb was quite a big one but they got it out alive and mum was licking it when we left the shed, OH has been down there this morning and he said they both look OK so thats good, wonder what today will bring.
OH found the little lad so the hunt was on for the little girl 20mins later we found her at the back of the incubator curled up asleep the trouble is they are both so tiny they are getting through the gates on the front of their pens we call them micro lambs as they are so small and mum has no milk so I'm feeding them 6 times a day and its feeding time now so I'll take the camera and get a shot of them for you.