Monday 13th March 2017
Still waiting...
The barn is still full of lots of expectant mums: Garlic and Onion (our Boers), both due on Friday and the three sheep: Lamorna (left photo), Mrs Brown (right photo) and Skerry. Skerry is due tomorrow, the other two are pretty overdue, by five and six days respectively!!
We had the vet out today (Alan from Market Vets) to see both Skerry (still lame) and Pepper (also lame and with sore ankles). We asked him to have a quick look at our mums-to-be and also what was the maximum ‘days overdue’ he would be okay with before starting to worry. It is usual to talk about 145 days after mating as being the 'due date' but as with all mammals, due dates are not precise. Alan said that the 143/144 to 150/151 days gestation was within the ‘normal’ range but that going to 155 days would be alright as long as the ewe was still acting okay. Mrs Brown is on day 151 today! Alan examined Lamorna and said he felt she ‘was’ pregnant as her udder was now beginning to swell and on feeling her underbelly he felt he could push a lamb (or lambs) upwards a little. This was very good news to hear!
Also good news was the discovery of a toe abscess in Skerry’s front right foot, so not a sprain after all. Alan paired back the foot and eventually found the point of entry, a gap in the wall which had allowed an infection in. Skerry has now had a shot of antibiotics and with any luck should no longer be limping by the time she gives birth. Pepper’s lameness was due to a bit of scald and his sore ankles (red and scabby) were put down to the mud which had probably stuck to his legs, dried and then made the skin sore. Both conditions are caused and then exasperated by the wet and so we will keep Pepper in for a few days to allow him time to heal. The land is drying well and when they have been out the goats have enjoyed grazing but with the girls due on Friday, a few days in will be no bad thing for any of them.
We are hoping to put Mrs White and her lambs out tomorrow – we are set to be fair and mild and we are sure Mrs W will enjoy a bit of grass again. They will be going out into the top 3-acre field and as the only animals there, we hope won’t get lost!! They could have gone out today as it was very warm and sunny but we had thought we would be castrating the ram-lamb and so wanted to be able to keep an eye on him. Lucky for him, castration is not an option at the moment: we will explain... hopefully tomorrow...
Also good news was the discovery of a toe abscess in Skerry’s front right foot, so not a sprain after all. Alan paired back the foot and eventually found the point of entry, a gap in the wall which had allowed an infection in. Skerry has now had a shot of antibiotics and with any luck should no longer be limping by the time she gives birth. Pepper’s lameness was due to a bit of scald and his sore ankles (red and scabby) were put down to the mud which had probably stuck to his legs, dried and then made the skin sore. Both conditions are caused and then exasperated by the wet and so we will keep Pepper in for a few days to allow him time to heal. The land is drying well and when they have been out the goats have enjoyed grazing but with the girls due on Friday, a few days in will be no bad thing for any of them.
We are hoping to put Mrs White and her lambs out tomorrow – we are set to be fair and mild and we are sure Mrs W will enjoy a bit of grass again. They will be going out into the top 3-acre field and as the only animals there, we hope won’t get lost!! They could have gone out today as it was very warm and sunny but we had thought we would be castrating the ram-lamb and so wanted to be able to keep an eye on him. Lucky for him, castration is not an option at the moment: we will explain... hopefully tomorrow...