Today was one of those days where it's one thing after another. It started out with Dizzy having a lovely bay filly with a blanket. I was out the door before Terry so I checked on her first and then since all was well there I headed up to the sheep shed.
Up at the sheep shed we had another set of triplets. Only problem is, one must have been rolled in something from another ewe or lamb or it's mother thinks it's defective or too much for her to handle. My take on it, poor thing just got the scent of another lamb/ewe on it and now she thinks it's not hers. I probably didn't bed the pen deep enough and when she dug down to make a nest, she had the lamb on the dirt that was scented by another ewe already. She's giving it the barrel roll each time it tries to come up and nurse. The other problem that creates is that if it's nursing on one side then she moves off also and the lamb on the other side doesn't get to drink either. I had tried using some placenta from her to put more scent on the lamb but that didn't seem to change her mind. I've been up to the shed and held her 4 times today so it could nurse but that's a real hassle. Well, not as much of a hassle as making and feeding bottles right now I guess.The neighbor kids were over hoping that Tiny Tim from the quad set was going to end up a bottle lamb but he's 7 days old today and still doing well. I offer him a bottle twice each day but he's not usually interested so he's getting what he wants from mom at this point I guess. All 4 are strong and active so I guess I'm lucky with those so far. If by tomorrow night the little #111 ram lamb is still an outcast and it's learned to drink even better from the bottle, I'm sending it home with the neighbor girls. They'll be moving to Texas soon and they'd like to have a lamb just one more time before they go. This is only the 4th bottle lamb I've ever had. Last year a ewe that had triplets (first year ewe) rejected all 3. She's no longer with us, and then this year just this one lamb from this last set of triplets. Guess I'm pretty lucky he's learning to drink from the bottle pretty quick too.
Then the 4 older Boer nanny goats from Terry's brother showed up. Some friends dropped them off for us after they made a trip to buy some does and a couple bucks from him to start their herd. Oh my, are they a PITA!! They aren't used to being out on a pasture and they want to be up by the buildings. I tried to have Tag and Kip put them back out and into the valley around the creek & that was a venture of it own right. We got the goats so they'd eat the stuff down in the woods and try to help us make some paths through there. They don't move for dogs much and they know they have big horns and they're not afraid to use them. Poor Tag is sporting a cut on his eye, not bad but still. He is used to being able to bite a sheep on the nose when it gives him a hard time. That isn't happening with these goats. They need a lunge whip and a human to back it up to make them move off the gate even.
Scared the pants nearly off me when Tag went after one on my command and the darn thing retaliated and slammed him hard in the face with her horns. Neither he nor I are used to horns and I don't have a word for him to only bite from behind. I think I'll just use my lunge whip and grain to move them around. I'm not willing to try and train up the dogs to figure out those horns and that personality. I've only had a couple rams with horns and they were a long time ago and I decided horns weren't my dogs or my strong suit.
Terry had to go out and put additional hot wire up all around the pasture in order to keep them out there. They don't mind crawling under or jumping over something if it's the right height for them. So a short hot wire, and a tall one too were added today. Terry should be exhausted after all he had to do today. I know I am!
I'm headed for a hot shower, then a cup of cappuccino, and some courses to review. Right after I eat something! Later all!
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