Chunky Monkey gang
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Lambing no. 2. I knew mum was big. She looks a bit sucken in now with all them out.
Late night tonight. Got two in that are due tomorrow. Then looked at the two due Tuesday and decided they are more bagged. One is huge so maybe triplets. So not taken any chances. Made up some more pens. They are also in the shed.
Change of plans on my dinner as its so late now. Ive just put a pizza in. Yummy.
I need some sleep. Might set the alarm for 2am and do a middle of night check. Not so great.
Change of plans on my dinner as its so late now. Ive just put a pizza in. Yummy.
I need some sleep. Might set the alarm for 2am and do a middle of night check. Not so great.
Its a busy day here. 3rd lambing of the day in progress.
Fed at 7am. Checked at 11am all quiet. Went off to work for 3 hrs. Came back ewe lambed. Strapping great big single boy. Went off back to work. Just got home another has not long lambed with twins. I look and one that i got in yesterday, whos due tmw is in the early stages.
The one who looks like she has multiples restless and panting up so i will be checking her at 2am.
Fed at 7am. Checked at 11am all quiet. Went off to work for 3 hrs. Came back ewe lambed. Strapping great big single boy. Went off back to work. Just got home another has not long lambed with twins. I look and one that i got in yesterday, whos due tmw is in the early stages.
The one who looks like she has multiples restless and panting up so i will be checking her at 2am.
Its 1.30am and ive just got in. The 3rd lambing wasnt straight forward. She wasnt pushing so i stuck my hand in. Correct presentation so pulled it out. Hung about but not much happening. So went off for dinner. Went back at 11pm still as i left her. Hadnt clensed so i was suss. In i go to find a breach. Got that out. Im sitting for a while and decided there was alot of fluid still discharging which shouldnt have been. Should have been cleansing. So i decided to have another feel and sure enough there was a third lamb. One leg part tucked back, one pointing up above the head, caught in membrane so i pull that out. All alive and doing fine. I really didnt expect 3. Im abandoning the 2am check. I shall get up at 6am. I will be hanging tomorrow afternoon. As its my long work day tomorrow.
Everything was going smoothly till yesterday. The one who was massive and i had down to lamb Tuesday, finally lambed yesterday morning. She had been uncomfortable, shifting her weight from side to side, and panting up for a couple of days. Not laying down and when she did only for short periods. She popped them out on her own, only 2 to my surprise. Ate her breakfast.
11am Didnt seem to be progressing with cleasing, so i checked she hadnt got one still in her. Nothing. By the afternoon she had cleased. But she was still panting up, teeth grinding, contracting and now laid down. Not interacting fully with her lambs.
Evening never touched her food. Still showing signs of contracting. So at 2am when i did my next check i took her an antibiotic injection. Still contracting so i had another feel inside. She didnt want to get up so i made her, so she could feed her lambs. Shes laying with them but not fully interacting.
Not eaten this morning. I got her to her feet and watched the lambs feed. Shes uncomfortable on her back end, still weight shifting. Doesnt totally want the lambs to feed but does let them. Lambs seem to have full tummys as long as i get her up. Will keep the lambs with her to help enthuse her. Another injection tonight. But im worried i might lose her.
Ive got some sugatbeet left from the horses. So i might mix up a bit of that and take it to her warm. I might even do a salt and sugar drink and syringe some in to rehydrate her. Actually i might have a rehydration tablet in the cupboard come to think of it. Probably out of date but I'll have a look.
11am Didnt seem to be progressing with cleasing, so i checked she hadnt got one still in her. Nothing. By the afternoon she had cleased. But she was still panting up, teeth grinding, contracting and now laid down. Not interacting fully with her lambs.
Evening never touched her food. Still showing signs of contracting. So at 2am when i did my next check i took her an antibiotic injection. Still contracting so i had another feel inside. She didnt want to get up so i made her, so she could feed her lambs. Shes laying with them but not fully interacting.
Not eaten this morning. I got her to her feet and watched the lambs feed. Shes uncomfortable on her back end, still weight shifting. Doesnt totally want the lambs to feed but does let them. Lambs seem to have full tummys as long as i get her up. Will keep the lambs with her to help enthuse her. Another injection tonight. But im worried i might lose her.
Ive got some sugatbeet left from the horses. So i might mix up a bit of that and take it to her warm. I might even do a salt and sugar drink and syringe some in to rehydrate her. Actually i might have a rehydration tablet in the cupboard come to think of it. Probably out of date but I'll have a look.
Still doing 2am checks. Have black lines under my eyes. 2 should have lambed yesterday. Nothing. Im just watching and waiting.
Its blowing a gale here. We have glorious sunshine. I felt cold. So ive only just turned everyone out. Ive seen walkers in shorts and skimpy vest tops. Are they mad or is it something wrong with me.???
Lamb tally is 15 lambs from 7 lambings. 12 girls and 3 boys. Over 200% lambing rate. 3 left to lamb.
Ewe that wasnt doing well is a bit better today. Actually came and ate her breakfast. Shes gone out in the field today to get some grass. Note shes limping so could be from a touch of mastitis or just needing a good foot trim. Im giving her a few more days as shes still tramatised. I might attempt her back ones then.
Will be getting friends help in, in a couple of weeks to foot trim all the sheep once everyone's lambed and ewes back ends have settled from disengaging to lamb.
Its blowing a gale here. We have glorious sunshine. I felt cold. So ive only just turned everyone out. Ive seen walkers in shorts and skimpy vest tops. Are they mad or is it something wrong with me.???
Lamb tally is 15 lambs from 7 lambings. 12 girls and 3 boys. Over 200% lambing rate. 3 left to lamb.
Ewe that wasnt doing well is a bit better today. Actually came and ate her breakfast. Shes gone out in the field today to get some grass. Note shes limping so could be from a touch of mastitis or just needing a good foot trim. Im giving her a few more days as shes still tramatised. I might attempt her back ones then.
Will be getting friends help in, in a couple of weeks to foot trim all the sheep once everyone's lambed and ewes back ends have settled from disengaging to lamb.
Set the alarm for 2am. Turned it off went back to sleep. Whoops!! Woke at 2.45pm. Went to do check. Nothing happening.
Went down just after 8am. One lamb out and one head and neck hanging out no legs. Manipulated that back and got a leg free and lamb out. Lambs all fine. 2 more females.
Fed and turned out all the other ewes and lambs. Go off to do cows, breakfast and shower as im off to work. Call in on my way to do another check, other ewe has started lambing. Both were due Friday and decided to lamb Sunday within hours of each other. That was another head and no leg. That one was a bit easier to manipulate as neck wasnt out. Pulled that out and waited around to see if she has anymore. Which she did. 2 males this time.
Tally is now 16 female/5 male. (Had it wrong yesterday as i said 13 females).
One more to lamb but not for about 9 days. So no more middle of night checks. Hurray.
I might moan about getting out of bed in the middle of the night but actually havent minded the middle of the night checks so much this year. As its been dry, stupidly warm and we have a moon this week. Also great to hear the owls hooting. The one was sitting up on the telegraph pole just above the sheep sheds.
Went down just after 8am. One lamb out and one head and neck hanging out no legs. Manipulated that back and got a leg free and lamb out. Lambs all fine. 2 more females.
Fed and turned out all the other ewes and lambs. Go off to do cows, breakfast and shower as im off to work. Call in on my way to do another check, other ewe has started lambing. Both were due Friday and decided to lamb Sunday within hours of each other. That was another head and no leg. That one was a bit easier to manipulate as neck wasnt out. Pulled that out and waited around to see if she has anymore. Which she did. 2 males this time.
Tally is now 16 female/5 male. (Had it wrong yesterday as i said 13 females).
One more to lamb but not for about 9 days. So no more middle of night checks. Hurray.
I might moan about getting out of bed in the middle of the night but actually havent minded the middle of the night checks so much this year. As its been dry, stupidly warm and we have a moon this week. Also great to hear the owls hooting. The one was sitting up on the telegraph pole just above the sheep sheds.
Well it wasnt a hack. But i can say i sat on a horse today for the first time in nearly a year. I only sat on for a total of about 2 minutes so nothing really to speak of. She wasnt exactly the most chilled to stand as shes an eventer. So paced about which unnerved me. At 16hh+ she was also a bit big for me for a first sit on a horse in a while. I was actually shaking when i got off. I think it was more nerves from knowing i wasnt actually dressed correctly (naughty), to deal with her pacing about. I was happy to have only a brief sit on, i felt out of sorts mainly because she paced. I was also on a concrete slope, so my safety brain was kicking in. But it felt good and i cant believe emotional. I did well up as i got off.
Aw, I'm so with you there and it feeling emotional. That's how I felt the first time I sat on Zi after a couple of years off! Likewise he was too big at over 17hh but it was just the act of sitting on board and it made me feel so many emotions (all good!) and really highlighted how I missed actually being on board. I hope this is the start of you dipping your toes back into ridden horse life? xx
Well my day has now been spoiled and brought back to reality. Ive had a phonecall from one of my neighbours to say that my neighbours dogs were in the field worrying the sheep. This is the nasty neighbours whos dogs got in before and causes so my stress that i lost the ram lamb. I cant recall if it was last autumn or the autumn before. I will check back on my thread here later. Im out at work so wont be back till late to check for injuries. I got my neighbour to go and give the ewes some food and do a head count of ewes and lambs. All where present. If they hadnt been i would have been rushing home. So annoying as ive still got one to lamb so risk of aborting Everyone went out today. 4 lambs are only 48 hours old. Really not fair. I will be going to the nasty neighbours on my way home. Ive asked my other neighbour that witnessed it, that if he sees the dogs in there again i want a photo of the dogs as proof so i can go to the police with proof. These neighbours are so nasty they will deny all unless the police go with proof.
Got back from work just before dark. Called at neighbours on the way up as there gates were open. Nobody home. Will try again tomorrow. But it did allow me to see that the bit they told me is securely fenced for the dogs to go in when they let them out into the garden was wide open. So dogs could walk straight out.
Then went straight to get sheep so i could check them. Cant see any injuries currently, but one or two didnt eat there tea. Decided that as they had been stressed not to use Quin to help get them in tonight. So i had to round them up. Most were cooperate but some decided to go into the wrong pens.
Then went straight to get sheep so i could check them. Cant see any injuries currently, but one or two didnt eat there tea. Decided that as they had been stressed not to use Quin to help get them in tonight. So i had to round them up. Most were cooperate but some decided to go into the wrong pens.
When you see a lamb only 2 weeks old limb you worry. One of the triplets. A little investigation you find this.
A little scratch with your nail at the flakey skin and a gentle squeeze and you get this.
A bit of a firm squeeze and you get this and plenty more besides.
Fortunately it didnt smell and thankfully i didnt get a face full. There really was alot for a tiny baby foot though. I foot dipped him and blue sprayed it. So it should heal ok now the gunk is out. I reckon hes either been bitten by a snake or stung.
A little scratch with your nail at the flakey skin and a gentle squeeze and you get this.
A bit of a firm squeeze and you get this and plenty more besides.
Fortunately it didnt smell and thankfully i didnt get a face full. There really was alot for a tiny baby foot though. I foot dipped him and blue sprayed it. So it should heal ok now the gunk is out. I reckon hes either been bitten by a snake or stung.
Well after last weeks discussions it would seem that the hospital and social care dont agree on what the best plan of action is for mum. One saying best in care home, the other saying her needs can be met at home and mum has demonstrated she can manage her own needs. So now we are back to square one and she may be coming home after all. Ive had a feeling that they were playing silly things and were wanting me and my brother to make the decision. But as theyve deemed mum has capacity it really should be her decision but they arent fully involving mum and her wishes.
What a whirlwind.
What a whirlwind.
A small victory i feel.
My tack up area had become a bit of a dumping ground over the winter
Id got a collection of bagged up rubbish, cardboard boxes that was waiting for a bonfire accumilating. So last weekend i needed stuff to burn the afterbirths i collected up from lambing. So that rubbish all went.
Then i was left still with all the buckets and containers that i used to put all the horses feeds in and have at the field gate. I just dumped everything back in October.
So today, I only went along to check on wormers and fly protection for the sheep as i need to go to Mole for supplies. Whilst i was in the tack room i decided to get all the buckets out to join the rest outside, then filled with water.
Whilst im doing that, the sheep food delivery turned up.
Then i decided to get a brush and start washing the buckets out. So now they are all done, can dry and can go away for storage. Its a small accomplishment but i just couldnt bring myself to do it. Yet its now done without me thinking about it to much.
I still need to wash the rugs, reproof and put them away in the wardrobe but its not warm enough yet. Least thats my excuse. I know im going to find it hard to do. I want to be able to reuse them in future and have everything ready to go should i suddenly find myself with a horse.
My tack up area had become a bit of a dumping ground over the winter
Id got a collection of bagged up rubbish, cardboard boxes that was waiting for a bonfire accumilating. So last weekend i needed stuff to burn the afterbirths i collected up from lambing. So that rubbish all went.
Then i was left still with all the buckets and containers that i used to put all the horses feeds in and have at the field gate. I just dumped everything back in October.
So today, I only went along to check on wormers and fly protection for the sheep as i need to go to Mole for supplies. Whilst i was in the tack room i decided to get all the buckets out to join the rest outside, then filled with water.
Whilst im doing that, the sheep food delivery turned up.
Then i decided to get a brush and start washing the buckets out. So now they are all done, can dry and can go away for storage. Its a small accomplishment but i just couldnt bring myself to do it. Yet its now done without me thinking about it to much.
I still need to wash the rugs, reproof and put them away in the wardrobe but its not warm enough yet. Least thats my excuse. I know im going to find it hard to do. I want to be able to reuse them in future and have everything ready to go should i suddenly find myself with a horse.
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