My New Baby_Silly Me, Ram

[Queen Mum]

So, I took my goats to the sale. BUT until this little shetland ewe lamb was sold they would not start selling my herd. No one would bid so I paid a token bid for Petunia.

Petunia is neurologically impaired. The best way to describe her is Cerebral Palsy. She has akathisia. This means that her muscles start moving when she wants them too, but then they take on a life of their own. She starts to walk and then her legs run away from her. If I hug her, she can calm things down a bit. When she is calm, she can control the palsy somewhat.

ANYWAY,

• How do I check her age? She looks older than a bottle baby but she drinks out of a bottle like a starving baby. She can chew and eat grass.
• What else should I feed her?
• Do sheep need selenium?
• Should I check for other stuff that might be exacerbating her nervous disorder? (I know not to feed her copper.)
• Any other suggestions for a goat herding one handicapped sheep owner newby?

 

[promiseacres]

Ahhhh you're so sweet to take her in. I am not much help but I would keep up with 2 bottles a day until she's eating the grass and sheep pellets better.

 

[Queen Mum]

Shakey little Petunia is ADORABLE. I gave her a little bottle this morning and sat with her. She spent about 10 minutes smelling me and looking at my face. JUST looking at my face. I rubbed her face Iike I do the goats and did the sweet spot scratchy thing and she became a piece of tape on my leg after the ten minutes was up.

The "herd" is having a bit of a time adjusting to this white fluffy ball that doesn't smell like a goat but cries like a very LOUD baby goat and trembles violently when challenged. Mama knows she is a baby and is torn between telling her to get lost and protecting her. Confused is the word of the day for both of them.

I am wondering if she would make a good little therapy sheep for handicapped kids. I gave her some banana and she loved it. She was so excited she almost fell down trembling and trying to eat it.

 

[norseofcourse]

She sounds like just the sweetest little thing... glad you ended up with her!

 

[purplequeenvt]

Shetlands are loads of fun. Once tame, they are the friendliest little buggers. All five of my Shetland lambs so far are super friendly.

Little tip.....Shetlands LOVE getting a chest scratch. They will lean into it and wag their little tails. I've had them fall asleep while getting pet.

 

[Queen Mum]

She has this way of pointing her little nose in the air and closing her eyes with a look of absolute ecstasy when I scratch the top of her head. You would swear she is smiling. It is super cute!

 

[Queen Mum]

Silly me, I should have looked. I just assumed when they told me he was a ewe. But when I noticed this morning he pee'd standing up, I checked and... I guess his name isn't Petunia, it's Peter. I shall probably wether him. Is that what you call it when you castrate a ram lamb...?

 

[promiseacres]

My mom did that years ago, brought home a puny tiny ewe lamb....that turned out to be a ram. We called him Folly

 

[Queen Mum]

Peter got a bad haircut today. It's starting to get really warm and he seems to have a hard time with the heat. So I clipped him with scissors.

I'm thinking he is close to two months old. He is eating more hay and starting to eat grass and leaves.

Today one of the grown up does, April, went after him and he stood his ground. YAY Peter! She backed down. He is still afraid of Mama, who is starting to get used to him. He identifies as one of the herd now but is still glued to me when I come down to the barn.

 

[purplequeenvt]

Does he have horns? The majority of Shetland rams do. Can you post a picture of him?