We have had sheep for years now. The first two we had, we bought books. Then John read them and read them and then discovered like most animals they do not read the books. They have helped but I do, looking back and wish we had, had more hands on experience. I am not sure if we are fool hardy or just plain stupid at times. I now I said it !
We bought two ewes already in lamb from a local farm. John fed them and they got bigger and bigger.
Any way one went into labour and the pair of us stood around watching and waiting and waiting. That was back in the day when they were in a shed now the poor things are out in the field and just have a couple of shelters. I hope in the next couple of years we can change that and they will be in the barn. Well it was a nice spring afternoon and time went on and on. In the end the pair of us became concerned and John headed for the vet. He called in and said he was fairly sure this ewe was in trouble. Looking back we were so naive. He just told John to go in and pull the lambs out and if we had trouble then get back to him. Well I have to be honest we had never done anything like it before in our lives even though we have worked for the NHS. We had at least been ready, long plastic gloves, buckets of warm water, lots of old towels you name it, it was all ready. So John had a go and could not work things out by this time the ewe is on the floor on her side. We discovered that smaller hands are better for going up the uterus of a ewe and the job was handed to me. It felt like some alien was inside her and I had no idea how all the parts were going together it seemed there were legs all over the place. I can only say it was not quite like doing the washing up with my hands in rubber gloves stuck up her back side in the warm birthing fluid, I could not for the life of me work out what was what. Although I did have a really good try we in the end had to go and get the vet again. He came out and this time intervened sadly both lambs were dead.
I said as we all walked out of the shed that was a learning curve and the vet totally agreed. We have been on it ever since and now I do not even bother with the jolly gloves and just get on with it. How things change. We did have a very unlucky start as he said breach birth and the pair of them tummy to tummy. Sadly it was never going to be a good result.
Since then we are seasoned and as the vet said on leaving our the farmers stop playing and get on with it. We have had all sorts happen since one leg out and there one in, triples, not feeding you name it seems to have happened.
Now we walk up the field in a morning and a new life has arrived. We continually check but there is not that stress about it all any more. Then we head up and catch each one and do all needed to make sure that they are then part of the farm and healthy.
Belly button checked and sprayed. This keeps things clean and makes sure of no infection. Then we ring the tails. This looks awful I know but in the end it is for their good. Sheep get worms and sadly this gives them the runs. We worm regularly but it still happens. In the summer fly's then lay eggs in the shitty fleece and then maggots hatch out and start eating away. Sorry not a nice picture but the short docked tail helps keep this away. I am glad to say we have never had the problem but I have seen it with a neighbours sheep and it had gone down to the bone, sadly the animal died. The ring has to be placed within 7 days we always do it within 24 hours. The end of the tail will then fall off after about two to three weeks and yes it's totally painless to them. The testicles are also done at this time no one sadly needs lots of boys fighting and castrating them helps. ( You can see from the photo below how the bander works with a little rubber ring that we sterilise in boiling water. )
We also tag them at the same time and record when and who their Mum is etc. this will then go on to the ministry. As John says they get there earrings and it’s about the some sort of thing as we pierce their ear and put a registration tag in. So when and if the animal goes into the food chain it can get traced back all the way to us as we have our own number.
Mum also gets checked over at the same time to make sure all is OK and they may have their feet looked and some medication.
In a few weeks’ time when the weather starts to get warmer and they are not quite so dependent on their mum, they are such fun to watch. They band together as a group and play. We even had one last year chase chickens and they will leap around as they say full of the joys of spring.
We bought two ewes already in lamb from a local farm. John fed them and they got bigger and bigger.
Any way one went into labour and the pair of us stood around watching and waiting and waiting. That was back in the day when they were in a shed now the poor things are out in the field and just have a couple of shelters. I hope in the next couple of years we can change that and they will be in the barn. Well it was a nice spring afternoon and time went on and on. In the end the pair of us became concerned and John headed for the vet. He called in and said he was fairly sure this ewe was in trouble. Looking back we were so naive. He just told John to go in and pull the lambs out and if we had trouble then get back to him. Well I have to be honest we had never done anything like it before in our lives even though we have worked for the NHS. We had at least been ready, long plastic gloves, buckets of warm water, lots of old towels you name it, it was all ready. So John had a go and could not work things out by this time the ewe is on the floor on her side. We discovered that smaller hands are better for going up the uterus of a ewe and the job was handed to me. It felt like some alien was inside her and I had no idea how all the parts were going together it seemed there were legs all over the place. I can only say it was not quite like doing the washing up with my hands in rubber gloves stuck up her back side in the warm birthing fluid, I could not for the life of me work out what was what. Although I did have a really good try we in the end had to go and get the vet again. He came out and this time intervened sadly both lambs were dead.
I said as we all walked out of the shed that was a learning curve and the vet totally agreed. We have been on it ever since and now I do not even bother with the jolly gloves and just get on with it. How things change. We did have a very unlucky start as he said breach birth and the pair of them tummy to tummy. Sadly it was never going to be a good result.
Since then we are seasoned and as the vet said on leaving our the farmers stop playing and get on with it. We have had all sorts happen since one leg out and there one in, triples, not feeding you name it seems to have happened.
Now we walk up the field in a morning and a new life has arrived. We continually check but there is not that stress about it all any more. Then we head up and catch each one and do all needed to make sure that they are then part of the farm and healthy.
Belly button checked and sprayed. This keeps things clean and makes sure of no infection. Then we ring the tails. This looks awful I know but in the end it is for their good. Sheep get worms and sadly this gives them the runs. We worm regularly but it still happens. In the summer fly's then lay eggs in the shitty fleece and then maggots hatch out and start eating away. Sorry not a nice picture but the short docked tail helps keep this away. I am glad to say we have never had the problem but I have seen it with a neighbours sheep and it had gone down to the bone, sadly the animal died. The ring has to be placed within 7 days we always do it within 24 hours. The end of the tail will then fall off after about two to three weeks and yes it's totally painless to them. The testicles are also done at this time no one sadly needs lots of boys fighting and castrating them helps. ( You can see from the photo below how the bander works with a little rubber ring that we sterilise in boiling water. )
We also tag them at the same time and record when and who their Mum is etc. this will then go on to the ministry. As John says they get there earrings and it’s about the some sort of thing as we pierce their ear and put a registration tag in. So when and if the animal goes into the food chain it can get traced back all the way to us as we have our own number.
Mum also gets checked over at the same time to make sure all is OK and they may have their feet looked and some medication.
In a few weeks’ time when the weather starts to get warmer and they are not quite so dependent on their mum, they are such fun to watch. They band together as a group and play. We even had one last year chase chickens and they will leap around as they say full of the joys of spring.