Rescued Sheep Multiply!
It's been a month since I've posted. But I'm back. 2012 is a new year, and I'm thrilled to see the backside of 2011. (Long story....next post)
I wanted to update the rescued sheep and llama story (animals abandoned on nearby farm a month ago---we found homes for them.) Our friend Drew and his family took the sheep. When he got them home he sheared them. A fleece usually weighs 7-8 pounds. These fleeces weighed 30-40 pounds. That's how long it had been since the animals had been sheared.
Animals feel better when they get that matted stuff off. But one ram found it especially alarming. After Drew finished shearing him, the ram lay there for a minute. But then his tail twitched. The ram shot up and began leaping around the pen, freaked out at something. (Leaping around isn't really normal ram behavior.)
Drew finally figured out that the ram had so much wool on his body that he'd stopped feeling his tail long ago. He'd forgotten he had one. But now, with all that fleece gone, he could feel his tail. It gave the ram a bit of a shock to discover there was something moving on his backside . He's recovered, of course, and wags now without fear.
In this rescued flock, there were both males and females. But no one expected any hanky-panky, since, quite frankly, we didn't think a ram could reach his target through all that wool.
Turns out we were wrong. A week ago Drew's daughter found two lambs in the barn, one all white, one nearly all black. And they think another of the females is also 'in the family way.'
So five months ago, a determined ram succeeded. We're thrilled the lambs have been born on an established sheep farm that understands the animals.
And here's an update from Carrie. (Her llama rescue operation drove 7 hours to pick up the llamas)---
"A bit of an update- the llamas are really doing well. The big herd is settled in. One girl was concerning us for a bit, but she's starting to pick up weight nicely now. The three boys are now OUTDOORS and are no longer afraid of sunlight. They are all 3 together and are good friends. The matted boy is so friendly. He has nerve damage to his face and it makes his lip droop. The big white stallion is still not "friendly" but he is FAR from aggressive, he is afraid but coming around. The 5 boys will be gelded this spring once they are at a healthier weight. We want to thank everyone for the support! It costs us about 400.00 a month in hay, and roughly a hundred in grain and mineral to keep everyone in chow. We appreciate all the help! We can't wait for April when we can start shearing and getting the disgusting fleeces and cockleburrs off!!"
(The llamas were so underweight that the vet can't sedate them until they gain 100 pounds each.)
Just a reminder. If you want to help support these llamas' upkeep and vet care, you can give directly at http://whipstaff.chipin.com/saving-12-llamas. This is a legitimate organization, so your money will be spent wisely. (Unlike your donations to the Humane Society of the United States... also a topic for another post!)
Welcome to 2012! It's going great so far....
I wanted to update the rescued sheep and llama story (animals abandoned on nearby farm a month ago---we found homes for them.) Our friend Drew and his family took the sheep. When he got them home he sheared them. A fleece usually weighs 7-8 pounds. These fleeces weighed 30-40 pounds. That's how long it had been since the animals had been sheared.
Animals feel better when they get that matted stuff off. But one ram found it especially alarming. After Drew finished shearing him, the ram lay there for a minute. But then his tail twitched. The ram shot up and began leaping around the pen, freaked out at something. (Leaping around isn't really normal ram behavior.)
Drew finally figured out that the ram had so much wool on his body that he'd stopped feeling his tail long ago. He'd forgotten he had one. But now, with all that fleece gone, he could feel his tail. It gave the ram a bit of a shock to discover there was something moving on his backside . He's recovered, of course, and wags now without fear.
In this rescued flock, there were both males and females. But no one expected any hanky-panky, since, quite frankly, we didn't think a ram could reach his target through all that wool.
Turns out we were wrong. A week ago Drew's daughter found two lambs in the barn, one all white, one nearly all black. And they think another of the females is also 'in the family way.'
So five months ago, a determined ram succeeded. We're thrilled the lambs have been born on an established sheep farm that understands the animals.
And here's an update from Carrie. (Her llama rescue operation drove 7 hours to pick up the llamas)---
"A bit of an update- the llamas are really doing well. The big herd is settled in. One girl was concerning us for a bit, but she's starting to pick up weight nicely now. The three boys are now OUTDOORS and are no longer afraid of sunlight. They are all 3 together and are good friends. The matted boy is so friendly. He has nerve damage to his face and it makes his lip droop. The big white stallion is still not "friendly" but he is FAR from aggressive, he is afraid but coming around. The 5 boys will be gelded this spring once they are at a healthier weight. We want to thank everyone for the support! It costs us about 400.00 a month in hay, and roughly a hundred in grain and mineral to keep everyone in chow. We appreciate all the help! We can't wait for April when we can start shearing and getting the disgusting fleeces and cockleburrs off!!"
(The llamas were so underweight that the vet can't sedate them until they gain 100 pounds each.)
Just a reminder. If you want to help support these llamas' upkeep and vet care, you can give directly at http://whipstaff.chipin.com/saving-12-llamas. This is a legitimate organization, so your money will be spent wisely. (Unlike your donations to the Humane Society of the United States... also a topic for another post!)
Welcome to 2012! It's going great so far....
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