I am not going to dwell on my dark mood for much longer....there was a reason for it, and all will be made clear at some stage fairly soon....all I can say at the moment is that I have appreciated your words of support and I have now got things into some sort of perspective.(Friends can e mail me if you want to know!)I was incredibly busy last night and looked after a spinal injury patient, so I sort of enjoyed flexing my specialist knowledge muscles as it were.
Today I have driven up to Denbigh (to pay the rent on the field),visited my brother and sorted the break light on the Berlingo before the car's MOT on Thursday, in between jobs, I was amused to watch an odd three way interaction between George, Maddie and the now testosterone filled cockerel Jesus.
The cockerel seems to be shagging any passing hen he can get his randy claws on, and all fired up, he seems up for a challenge from any passing male regardless of size AND species!
Poor George! as he was doing his usual nose down, eggs stealing run into the duck house, he came face to face with Jesus, who started his usual show of dominance and threat with a sudden head up and loud wing flap!
George barked in a half arsed way then tried to leg it as Jesus attacked him. Nothing too amusing in that, you may think, and I would agree if it wasn't for Maddie who was standing nearby.
Like lightening the old girl flew forward and with a growl ripped a huge mouthful of feathers from Jesus' rear end.
I didn't know who seemed more amused with this sudden show of valour...me or Maddie as with a huge "spit" of victory, she expelled her feathered prize and ambled off.......at a smug trot!
By late afternoon most jobs had been completed; and as I walked back to the cottage my friend Helen stopped her car to ask a favour.
A friend of hers has a glut of orphaned lambs and is in dire need of some foster "mums" to take care of a couple of baby ewes........ever the sucker for a sob story I said I would ask Chris and immediately ( and rather surprisingly) he said it was a great idea.....
Now I guess, that he does not quite realise just how much work may be involved with a couple of new babies, but to be honest it will be me that does the majority of the leg work....
Tomorrow the lambs arrive!
Gulp!
ps. it's 10.30pm...and in the kitchen incubator the first pipping of the chicks within their shells has started
I'm glad that there have been some distractions to get your mind off your troubles, even if it is only temporary. Post pictures of your babies when they come, and when are your chicks due to arrive?
ReplyDeletechicks due thursday!
ReplyDeletebut I have a funny feeling it may not be a brilliant hatch rate as it is my first load!
I highly recommend Claire in Iowa
ReplyDeletehttp://chooksiniowa.blogspot.com/ for lamb rearing information! She's home reared many successfully! She can tell you about diapers for their home time!
Good for Maddie. The furor of a good woman is a force to behold. ;)
ReplyDeleteLambs. Oh, do share pictures. I think there is nothing sweeter.
Maddie to the rescue!! Take that Jesus! She sounds like quite the gal.
ReplyDeleteOooooh, baby lambs. How sweet of you and Chris. Looking forward to seeing pics of the new additions.
I almost forgot about your eggs getting ready to hatch. How exciting. The countdown has begun.
Glad to hear that you have been able to distract your mind from your dark cloud. Hope that nasty cloud has moved on!
I hope you troubles are not about the flower show. At least it wasn't the second stage of "bird flu", since it was right after you had been pot hugging and tossing your cookies!
ReplyDeleteI love lamb! The best I ever had was in Wales.
I also have a orphan-lamb recommendation, Tammy at
ReplyDeletehttp://musingsfairlightfarm.blogspot.com/
Oooooh, such excitement! Isobelle sent you to the right place as I've had quite a bit of experience with bottle lambs, having just put the 3rd one this year out into the field last week! What breed are they? Lambs do come in different sizes but most of mine have started on "newborn" size diapers (nappies) from the store. They generally go to about size 4 over the time of about 6-8 weeks, depending on breed. As they become more active, I recommend the types that have extra protection on the sides. Here they are called "little movers" but I'm not sure what brands you have. Anyway, with human babies, the side closures usually do up on the tummy, but on lambs, I use them backwards, so that they do up on the lamb's back. I cut a hole about 1 inch down from the "waistband" of the nappy on the side without the tabs, and poke the tail through, snug it down over the tail, ensuring the hole is not going to cut off circulation, and then put the nappy under the lamb and do the tabs up on its back near the tail hole. Now, if it's a boy lamb, this is harder because the nappy might not quite reach to the relevant bit, in which case he may need a "belly band" to supplement. See if you can get a playpen or other child-containing item for times when you are not supervising so that the lamb can play, stretch, etc but not get into trouble or hurt itself. Newborns I bottle feed about every 2-3 hours for a few days, and stretching out to 4 hours by the end of the first week. They learn what that bottle is REALLY fast! My first bottle lamb ended up learning that my alarm clock meant I would be awake, and learned to jump into the bed. My dog, Stickley (greyhound) was not always really impressed by the lambs so I use baby gates for separation if needed. Do buy proper lamb milk replacer (usually in a powder form) and don't use goat kid replacer because it's got copper in it that can be toxic to a lamb. Maybe they will give you the product they prefer with the lambs? Do be prepared to fall in love and possibly have any appetite that you have for lamb (meat) be permanently altered! Let me know if you have any questions! I can't wait to see pictures!
ReplyDeleteTomorrow the lambs arrive!
ReplyDelete[Sighs deeply]
lol :-o
Nx
nige
ReplyDeleteyou remind me of the gay bestb friend in every American sitcom
slightly world weary, sardonic and lovablexxx
As you know, I'm hooked on watching As the World Turns on YouTube.
ReplyDeleteYour US readers will no doubt despair at my guilty confession.
Nx
excellent ditty . . . no rest in sight . . . sigh, happiness is spring! Peace
ReplyDeleteNew life is so renewing. I am sure the hen felt right valiant after that show of protectiveness. Good for her!
ReplyDeleteLambs in the house, now that is one I haven't had. I have had pigs, guineas, kids, chicks, snakes, fish, cats, dogs, racoons, ducks, guinea pigs, hamsters and children. So, any day now I suppose a lamb would not be so bad.
Though I am holding out for a milk cow.