The Poultry Keeper

debcat · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 9:38 pm Post subject:

dread to think how much sleep I've lost Confused

all girls is good if you want to build a flock up Rolling Eyes

I now have 26 sheep Embarassed

2 of those are for Suz freezer and 3 are for my freezer
the other 21 are all girls, I am going to have to sell some this year, not got enough grazing for that many
every other year i've been able to keep all the girls

edited to add
PS that doesn't include the OH's - he's still got 2 to go

NannyP · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:07 pm Post subject:

I'm hoping to buy a lamb from our neighbour for the freezer...I think that is what we've discussed Laughing

Also, will buy our wood for next winter from him.
I hope you're catching up on your sleep now Very Happy

Edited to add: Note to self, must buy a freezer Rolling Eyes

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2348 Location: South Cumbria

I get a salt marsh lamb from my neighbour it is delicous Mmmmmmmmmmmm

debcat · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:17 pm Post subject:

I have to buy a new freezer before winter

I'm trying to catch up on my sleep, will be easier when they don't need as many bottles Confused

fairislefaerie · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 542

No lambs today, so spent it running arround trying to catch the ram lambs & get do the ringing of the *ahemhems*

Freezer lambs, october we take down our hill lambs, keep the very best of the ewes as the following years fresh breeding stock for the croft, if we need to replace any girls up on the hill, then any ewe lambs left go back up, and any ewes who just dont make the grade for breeding & all the boys get to become sunday dinners.

Angela

debcat · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:28 pm Post subject:

ringing day is tomorrow Very Happy

for some reason I like that job Rolling Eyes

fairislefaerie · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 542

I dont think i will ever like it ! poor wee lads. At least today none of them seemed to bother the slightest.

Angela

debcat · Posted: Wed Apr 25, 2007 10:52 pm Post subject:

I just think of my ex Rolling Eyes

fairislefaerie · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 542

oooo nasty lol

Angela

CP · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 2:26 am Post subject:

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6895 Location: isle of lewis

i think of my boss Wink

fairislefaerie · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 542

lol.

2 more ewes looking like today is D day for them, and we have another cade, rescued from the Hill, he was a triplet but mom seems to have dumped him & had taken to butting him away all the time. So fingers crossed we got to him quick enough, he's had a good feed & some kick start & am trying to find a freshly lambed ewe to pinch some colestrum from.

Angela

debcat · Posted: Thu Apr 26, 2007 1:07 pm Post subject:

when you get some colostrum milk more than you need and freeze the rest, ice cube trays are brilliant for freezing it
then you have a ready supply for whenever you need it Very Happy

fairislefaerie · Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Posts: 542

another single ewe today from a gimmer who seems to have really taken to me. I walked up to her in the field, sat next to her, took her lamb on my lap & we chatted about what a pretty wee girl she was for a while. Then she stood really well while i gave her a wee help getting the wee lass to feed.

Poor ewe, i think she was a bit shell shocked & just didnt know what on earth was going on when this wee thing she'd just expelled stood up & tried to go for a feed.

The caddy we got last night has pulled through the night brilliantly, 2 shots of kickstart & me up feeding it milk every 2hrs seems to have done the trick !

Angela

debcat · Posted: Fri Apr 27, 2007 9:33 pm Post subject:

try filling your pockets with sheep cubes then going to see the sheep Laughing

works wonders, they soon learn to take them out of your hand Rolling Eyes