Chunky Monkey gang

I took a bottle of milk with me to feed to the calf at 11pm. He was laid down. I put one finger in his mouth and the teat shoved down the side. He was sucking well. No way that he'd had anything since he was born. He drank the entire 400ml. That kick started his system he got up and headed for mum, but she wasnt having any of it. So i tied her up. Stood with her. Eventually i persuaded her to stand rather than fidgeting and kicking out, so the calf got a good feed. Mum started to get bored and fidget but the calf was still hungry so he swapped sides. So i had to get her to stand again to desensitise the other side. Eventually the calf was full and walked away and went and laid down.
 
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Oh no, not what you need! How is the little chap this morning? I hope mum has resigned herself to being a milk dispenser even if she isn’t all gooey for her baby?
 
Shes still kicking him off. He was trying when i got there this morning, i could hear the shed walls rattling as she was trying to avoid him. He got tired so went to lay down. I got her food but she was too fired up for that so i clipped her up. Id left a head collar on overnight. Didnt fancy chasing her round to put a halter on. Once she was tied i got the calf up and directed him under. Shes was kicking and dancing but we won the battle.
Im afraid everytime the leg came up in his face, she got a tap on the shoulder. She eventually realised that lifting the leg was hurting her. We swapped sides she started kicking again. The calf had his fill and went and laid down. I got on with feeding the sheep. She was mooing at it softly but her snorts and sniffing action tell me we have a way to go yet.

I am very much feeling sleep deprived currently. The last few weeks burning the candle both ends of the day have slowly been taking there toll. Last night i only got 4.5 hours sleep. Off to work once ive walked the lamb, walked the dog and fed the calf again. It just never ends.
 
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Looks like we are slowly bonding. I saw calf feed yesterday and there was still some leg lifting going on. But i was outside the pen and didnt tie her up. This morning he fed and was skipping around as best he could in a 14×14 pen. Mum stood watching and shes talking to him more.
If its not raining this evening when i go down and get the sheep in. I will let her and calf out into the yard for a wander and see how she interacts. Tomorrow is suppose to be nicer weather so i might turn her and little one out into a separate paddock to bond for a few days before i put them back with the main herd. She needs some grass as shes not eaten much hay or hard feed since shes been shut in.

Blocking up holes in my stable this morning as orphan lamb is creating such a mess in my kitchen. I put newspaper in the dog crate with miscanthus over the top. Hes stayed really dry but he is pawing the miscanthus and raking up the newspaper which is being flicked out half way across my kitchen floor. Quin is eating the miscanthus. So im going to put lambie into the stable up here in my yard. To far to go down to the sheep sheds with a bottle 3 times a day. Was fine for horses but not lamb proof.
 
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Been so busy i haven't updated.

Pleased to report that Fortune has now bonded with her calf and has been back with her friends for 10 days. I left the headcollar on her when i turned her out but i havent managed to get near her to remove it yet. There in the Billies paddock which is where our collection area is so i will be able to run her up into there tonight with a food bucket insentive and whip it off. She is still on my radar to be sold. I have far too many for the ground so why keep an anti social cow. TB testing will be june/july so as long as we pass i will advertise her with calf at foot.

Got another lambing due early next week. Jurys out on the other 3 lambing still, but they dont look promising. Im not bothered either way.

My orphan lamb has been put down in the sheep sheds. I managed to transition him onto an automatic drinker so he can now help himself to milk 24/7. The only draw back is its cold milk. I dont have one of those expensive warming machines that can supply at optimum temperature. At least he can get a drink when he likes. I was not happy that with the bottle feed system, because i cant be there to feed 3 or 4 times a day, i would have ended up only feeding him milk twice a day, which didnt sit well. Hes also got access to the field now so he can go out with the other sheep in the day. Although its a long walk back up to go and get his milk supply which is in the shed. So cant win either way but he can at least be a lamb and run round with the rest of them. Again didnt sit well wuth me leaving him in the shed on his own all day.

Still cant book a sheep training session for Quin. The booking times went up this morning and were gone within 2 minutes. Werent days i could do anyway. So it looks like im very much going to be going it alone on my own with zero help and advise.
Ive been cat sitting for a week, with another week to go so hes been doing some intensive car training. Each time hed been to the vets he sicked up so i knew he wasnt a fan of the car. So first few days were dreadful he was sicking up, sweating, shaking, drooling, which caused a loose of confidence with me. I was the most evil person. He would not come to me in the house for a fuss even. Weve been going for walks in the parks nearby to where i have to go. So hes got to see more dogs, people and bikes, but i darent let him off the lead as he wouldnt come back to me. Hes very unsettled with it though as he wont wee or poop when hes out. So i have to come back and then take him round the garden to do his business.
 
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Had a nice day out today at a social gathering catching up with friends who have working and driving horses. There was probably 20 of us. We couldnt have asked for better weather but ive had too much sun. Definately caught the sun. Took Quin along too. He was really good. There was a few snaps with other dogs, but once they sorted the greetings all was fine.
Quins little eyes did light up when horses started being walked about, a couple of barks. He thought he could work them, well chase. We followed behind the various horses being long reined. Once he realised he was on the lead and was not allowed off he just walked behind chilled.
It has been alot for him, dogs, horses, crowd of people and he did take himself off for some quiet time when he was overwhelmed. Hes been laid out quiet this evening, think he tired, bless him.
 
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Puppy training classes booked and ive now managed to book a couple of sheepdog training lessons too. So we will be go from next week.
My round pen i set up in the field is too small, sheep wont even go in it currently, plus there are too many so im going to borrow some heras panels to make it larger.

Quin does not respect fencing or me. He sneaked unde the hi tensile wire and out with the cows. Bottom strand is the earth mind. Would he leave them, nope. When he did he refused to come to me and buggered off across the field to find the next fun thing the sheep. Fortunately the rams stamped there feet so he thought better of them, then looked at the ewes running across to me and off he went. Im just praying he didnt get under the fence to them. I managed to retrieve him at the fence.

He refused to come back to me last week in the park when he found himself in the middle of 3 owners with 3 different dogs. Sod mum, which shall i play with next.
So we seriously have to work on recall. Its fine as long as there are no other dogs, sheep or cows, he will come back to me.

My sheep ear tags turned up this morning all printed. Allflex and Royal Mail have performed an amazing service, as i literally only ordered them yesterday morning. Really 1st class service. So this weekends job is ear piercing. Farmers really are jack of all trades.
 
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Busy weekend, assistant came early yesterday morning at 7.30 to help me. Lambs are now sporting some new bling.
Just got that finished and my other help arrived to help me with foot trimming, worming, and fly treatment. Unfortunately i was short on fly treatment (hadnt had time to check what i had left in the shed and had to jump on the help whilst it was available) so we couldnt finish the job and i had to run to the shop to get more yesterday afternoon but the only person able to sell the vet meds had gone home. I was so annoyed as its an hours round trip to buy it.
Then last night im out feeding my sheep in the other field and thought thats an odd dirty mark on the ewes neck. Wondering what she'd rolled in. Touched her coat it was soaking wet. I knew straight away she'd got fly strike. The smell was rank too. Pulled gently at the wool and the maggots were crawling out the skin. Took the empty fly treatment bottle out this morning and poured on the dreggs over the maggot area from the empty bottle i used up yesterday. Hoping there was enough in there to start killing the maggots.
So i had to run back up to the shop this morning to go get more. I really dont know how i missed it, as i see the sheep close up everyday, but thats the trouble with sheep those pesky flies they get right into the wool. Very often the damage is being done under the wool before you see the visable signs on the outer coat.
So treated all the lambs with fly prevention and weve moved most of the ewes with lambs at foot down to my neighbours field.
Further to go and check the sheep but the physical work routine has now just stopped. Hurray
So now im onto the summer routine.
 
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Fly strike is so gross! Poor sheep, but like you say it can be so hard to catch it before it’s already rank, least she’s sorted now 👍🏻
 
Yep hopeful i got before too much skin got eaten. Been and checked her this evening and please to report that all maggots are dead. Hard to believe that just a few drops worked magic. Just shows its very potent stuff.
Regardless she the full application applied this evening. I treated 10 of the 12 that were in the field with her. The other 2 i couldnt get near. They have already moulted so hopefully they will be fine.

Just need to do the rams. They moved fields this evening so they might venture up to the sheds tomorrow so they will get done then.
 
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Really upset this morning but at least i have closure.

Went down to do evening feed for the sheep still at home with there lambs and my orphan lamb, Tiddle monster was nowhere to be found. He went out yesterday morning after breakfast and was down grazing with a ewe and her two lambs.
Hed clearly been back up during the day for his milk. He has a teat set up which he can help himself to milk. That was all drunk.
Couldnt find him last night. But this morning i saw crows flying so i went to look and sure enough there he was in the grass at the very bottom of the field. Mystery what he has died of though.
Ive got another lamb who is not feeding off mum and she has very little milk. Ive tried bottle feeding the lamb but we are not getting enough in. Hes clearly got something else wrong. So hes fading away slowly. I dont expect him to make it past the weekend.
Right now im feeling very deflated and wondering why i do it.
 
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Forgot to post. Quin had his first sheepdog training session on Tuesday. He did ok. Almost blew it in the first few minutes in the round pen. He lunged at the sheep. Trainer quickly reprimanded that behaviour. He was wearing a muzzle as a precaution as I warned them he had attempted a few nips on my cows, sheep, horses and me. He only tried a slight lunge in after that. They got him going round the sheep nicely.
The one comment was border line too much eye. Which Im convinced is being made worse in the house because he is watching the cat all the time. So we are going to make real efforts to distract him from it now.

We also did our first puppy socialisation and training class last night. He was well behaved and didnt disgrace himself. But we have lots of homework. Thats a 6 week course Ive booked him on. Its local and evenings so very doable.

The sheepdog trainer said that he is ready for weekly training sessions. We have another booked for next week, but after that im not sure when we will be able to go. Its an hours journey there and they mainly do weekdays, but Im working. This weeks and next are only because I had work cancellations. Im hoping to borrow the heras fencing to add to my hurdles in the field to make up a big enough round pen. So hopefully after next weeks session I will have the confidence to attempt the round pen training at home. Will see how he behaves next week but I might invest in a muzzle as well just for my peice of mind.
 
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Feeling even more deflated tonight. Scratchy is not right. Saturday night he seemed a little unsettled. Getting on mums lap, getting off. Getting back up. Then worked overtime bringing 3 mice in the house to play with.
He came in the bathroom yesterday while i was in there, to use the cat litter tray. I noticed he got out but it wasnt wet.
Tonight he came for a walk with me and Quin. I observed he went 4 times while we were out, i went to look where he went but the ground was dry. When we got back to the house he went in the bathroom again. So i went to look and no urine but there was blood.
Will have to ring the vets tomorrow.
 
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vibes coming his way, cats are really prone to kidney/uterine problems, you’ve done well to notice it - I’m not sure I would have if my cat was trying to go but not.
 
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Hes at the vets. There going to take blood and urine sample.
Not sure hes going to be there favourite little pussy cat. He had the vet and scaled the consulting room furniture to get up on the top of the wall cupboard. Vet had to go and get his big gloves and an assistant with a large towel.
It could just be cystitis caused by stress. In which case the likely cause might be the dog. Although the relationship is bareable between them. If he disliked the dog that much he is unlikely to come walking with us or want to be on the same room. Why now after 2 months. I can believe it could be that.
I mentioned that he is drinking more and that of course puts a different light on things. So we will wait and see if anything shows up.
 
Oh yikes, angry cats are the worst! It could just be coincidental on the timing. Hopefully it’s just a big standard infection that’s easily dealt with 🤞
 
Was going to post last night then got interupted. Vet rang at 3pm yesterday. They were still trying to get a wee sample.
Went to collect Scratchy at 6.00 last night, vet came out saying they were still trying to get one. So they had just put up anti inflams for her. They went out the back to box her up for me to take home then came back saying she put up a fight trying to go in the box and had just wee'd on the surgery floor. They did there best to suck up a sample quickly. Not ideal as you dont know how much bacteria was on the floor but they were just going to analyse it. They came back out and said there was some bacteria so it is likely she has an infection so they prescribed some antibiotics too.
I thought she'd be very stressed so feed her as soon as i got home so i could get the meds in. Opened the window thinking she'd take umbrage and go off all night. Nope. Complete opposite. Got on my lap and snuggled up for a bit, then on mums. Slept on my bed for most of the night. Dont think she went out till this morning and that was only briefly.
Has been frequenting the litter tray but very little wee and still passing blood.
 
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