Ponker
Loving the herd life
Over the course of the past month my herd has splintered into four groups. I have my Finn ram Holstien, separated from my pregnant ewes. He is young and amorous enough to do them harm.
One Katahdin cross ewe, Spotty gave birth three days ago and is ready to leave the lambing pen and rejoin her herdmates with babies in tow. How do I know the other ewes won't harm the babies?
I also have two orphan Finnsheep babies who are now a month old. One ram Georgie, and one ewe, Sissy. They will take a bottle for another month at the very least. They are separate because they are so small and young.
My 'herd' of ewes that is now at the low number of two. Can I call that a herd? One very pregnant Finnsheep ewe, Athena and a Katahdin cross ewe, BettyLou.
Betty was supposed to have been bred when I got her. She is looking every bit bred but she isn't showing any signs on her back end nor is she bagging up. Nothing. I'm now speculating that she is just very fat. I wish I knew. it would be nice if I could use a pee stick and know for certain she was bred. Every day I change my mind. pregnant today - fat yesterday
Anyway - Having these four groups is really draining on me. I take them out every morning, and back in when it rains hard and at night. I need to get Momma and babies out when the weather breaks... raining hard here, at the moment. I'm wondering if I could put Georgie with Holstien since they are both Finn rams and Sissy with the ewes. I imagine they will go ballistic being separated. They are still terrible young to boot.
Perhaps I can put Momma Spotty and her babies with the ewes and the orphan Finns with the ewes too. I'm just not sure how Spotty will react to the orphan lambs. The month old orphans are no bigger than her 3 day old lambs, although they are MUCH stronger and pushier.
Any ideas? Help.
One Katahdin cross ewe, Spotty gave birth three days ago and is ready to leave the lambing pen and rejoin her herdmates with babies in tow. How do I know the other ewes won't harm the babies?
I also have two orphan Finnsheep babies who are now a month old. One ram Georgie, and one ewe, Sissy. They will take a bottle for another month at the very least. They are separate because they are so small and young.
My 'herd' of ewes that is now at the low number of two. Can I call that a herd? One very pregnant Finnsheep ewe, Athena and a Katahdin cross ewe, BettyLou.
Betty was supposed to have been bred when I got her. She is looking every bit bred but she isn't showing any signs on her back end nor is she bagging up. Nothing. I'm now speculating that she is just very fat. I wish I knew. it would be nice if I could use a pee stick and know for certain she was bred. Every day I change my mind. pregnant today - fat yesterday
Anyway - Having these four groups is really draining on me. I take them out every morning, and back in when it rains hard and at night. I need to get Momma and babies out when the weather breaks... raining hard here, at the moment. I'm wondering if I could put Georgie with Holstien since they are both Finn rams and Sissy with the ewes. I imagine they will go ballistic being separated. They are still terrible young to boot.
Perhaps I can put Momma Spotty and her babies with the ewes and the orphan Finns with the ewes too. I'm just not sure how Spotty will react to the orphan lambs. The month old orphans are no bigger than her 3 day old lambs, although they are MUCH stronger and pushier.
Any ideas? Help.