[Lupin]

Aw :)

I couldn't resist ...


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2085/1608397632_10c8485f88.jpg

They are, of course, strictly pets. From left in blue we have Bluebell, then Bonnie (my personal fav- she's just so very bonny!), then in the red is Izzy and finally in purple is dear little Iris who has gimmy eyes atm but WILL make it :)

Poor things. They arrived in such a state having come off a farm that had decided the lambs were not economically viable and therefore were slaughtering all 150 odd. they spent one night with a friend that saved them for me and then arrived filthy and starving. Three are feeding well, Izzy has not got the knack sussed yet and is slow and requires coaxing. Wish I could have taken more, but there we go.

[jubjub]

Awww cute....

That will give the dog something to chase....

[BkyMonster]

Awww..

what adorable little lawnmowers :D

[katandbob]

you angel! soo cute, I want one - Jason rang me earlier, worried that there were 3 loose cows outside our house!

I said go herd them in the paddock - finders keepers - but he said no "i'm staying inside!"

oh well - I have yet to get him farmacimatised!

Kat

[Lupin]

Awww..

what adorable little lawnmowers :D

Yup. Lawns are my job but I hate shopping so dh bought the mower but he didn't think self-propelling important :exit. We have nearly four acres but the half acre plot we're on now nearly kills me.

Next time I think he'll pay more careful attention to the specifications required when shopping :D

[Lupin]

you angel! soo cute, I want one - Jason rang me earlier, worried that there were 3 loose cows outside our house!

I said go herd them in the paddock - finders keepers - but he said no "i'm staying inside!"

oh well - I have yet to get him farmacimatised!

Kat

Must confess to not being a great fan of cows but did fall in love with minature highlands at Hastings A&P a couple of days ago. Could have one of those!

[marcia]

Awwwwwwww they are so cute in their little cardies!!!
I love lambs.......especially with mint sauce!!! :D
No No really only kidding, I couldn't eat them if i'd raised them like you are doing - not that I'm suggesting you're gonna eat them - oh bother better stop before i say something else to put my foot in - you know what I mean! They are lovely!:yes

[Moorf]

We'll be really interested in how you get on - we're currently trying to score a couple or three lambs - initially as lawnmowers for the paddock but the main reason is to feed them up over the next few months and then eat them.... hmmm... could be a challenge...

[Smiler]

Awwwwwwwwwww double cute!

We're looking after 86 of them at the moment. The owner has gone on holiday and left us in charge. I'm glad they're not being bottle fed :exit

[Lupin]

Mine are strictly NOT to be eaten. I've no idea how anyone could eat something they fed as a bleating baby and snuggled and reassured they were safe and it was all okay. They cuddle up to my kids and sleep on their laps. I'd never eat the dog and these lambs are pets and strictly not for eating.

Just tucked them up for the night. I go into their shed and they butt me for milk and when I pick them up they suckle my chin and make little sighing noises. Aw. this is all great for my just-30 hormones as I do not want another child!

Husband is home and has fallen in love with them, in particular Iris who is a poor feeder and less lively. However, he says he draws the line on taking them out on their leads as apparently I'm making a laughing stock of him in the village :laugh

[Lupin]

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2250/1625877334_73377fec6d.jpg

Could you really eat that? :exit

[Moorf]

Yup! Especially when they get older and aren't so white and fluffy and are covered in cling-ons :D *shudder* old sheep fleeces freak me out! :exit yuk!

In fact, I bought a luvverly leg of lamb to slow roast on the bbq this weekend :nice1 have my own garlic and rosemary ready to go and it would be complete with a bottle of Pip's home-grown olive oil :yes

I figure that hey, I eat meat, they all looked like that once...

[Lupin]

LOL, in theory I support the 'lifestyler' way of producing meat over buying it from New World, especially if you can do efficient home kill that eliminates the transport of live animals but these are pets. I'm a life vegetarian that has flirted with meat eating since living here but tbh I'm probably too late to convert as it all smells disgusting, looks disgusting and I'd just rather have a lentil burger and a pet lamb :D

My kiwi friends who are lifestylers thought it a total riot that we bought a massive kiwi BBQ for our tofu kebabs AND they had to come round and show us how to work the thing :laugh I guess some are born carnivores and some are not!

[Moorf]

Strangely, I know so many people who don't eat meat because of the smell of it cooking..... nothing better for me than coming home to the smell of a roast in the oven.

Having said that - I'm all talk at the moment as I haven't yet got lambs or eaten any of my pets :laugh ... ask me again when it comes to delivering them to the Oxford Butchery.... :o

[Lupin]

My 'lifestyler' friends got lambs and had intended to eat them but then they felt it was too hard as they let the kids name them and the bottle feeding is quite bonding. Now they're fully grown and one is a bit obnoxious and has, I fear, sealed his fate as his new name is 'pot roast'. :laugh

[Moorf]

:laugh :laugh Brilliant....

Perhaps I should mentally prepare myself by calling them Starter, Main and Snack? :D

[holland]

ooo,Lupin your pics and jumpers made me smile...which is an achievement today!!!

[BkyMonster]

Oooh, someday I'll have a teeny herdlet...herdette?.. well whatever :D, of my own.

[KerryS]

They are seriously cute - I love their cardigans!

A friend has rescued 3 bobby calves so far this year - I love going down to visit her and giving them their bucket of milk. I'm amazed at how fast they down it!

[Pip]

awww... they are really cute. We have a similar dilemma, we desperately need something to keep the grass down in our paddocks. Maybe we could have an ENZ forum mini herd and have time share ownership! I'm thinking about getting some chucks too.. so then I can barter with free range eggs and home made olive oil!

[Familyofmonkeys]

LOL, in theory I support the 'lifestyler' way of producing meat over buying it from New World, especially if you can do efficient home kill that eliminates the transport of live animals but these are pets. I'm a life vegetarian that has flirted with meat eating since living here but tbh I'm probably too late to convert as it all smells disgusting, looks disgusting and I'd just rather have a lentil burger and a pet lamb :D



Snap....we're life veggies too.

[Lupin]

Babies are now enjoying the orchard next to our garden so I can lie in bed and watch them frisk about. Aw :)

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2143/1685993587_1594291d72.jpg

[jubjub]

Awwww, where are their cardies..... its due for a cold snap, according to weatherman, you know!

[Lupin]

Awwww, where are their cardies..... its due for a cold snap, according to weatherman, you know!

*panic*

Really? :uhoh My farmer friend persuaded me to turf them out the shed and into the orchard 24/7 as there is lots of really long grass, trees and woodpiles for them to snuggle together against for warmth but that was in this warm spell. They might have to go back in the shed or at the very least try and get the cardis back on them if we're due a "cold snap". One of them has a cold *panic*

I'm not convinced any of them would fit into their cardis from last week, the little tubbies :laugh

Friend is going to dock them for me this week (ring method, thank goodness) and has some magic powder for gimmy eye's gimmy eyes.
I do love living here :raebanana

[Familyofmonkeys]

Wow....they even have colourful collars.....:)

[Moorf]

Can you persuade your farmer friend to dip and shear them with his lot ;) could be handy!!

[Jo Jo]

Could you really eat that? :exit

LOL, I couldn't, but my husband (who LOVES animals) could.

They are gorgeous. Lambs are so cute.

[dilanium]

Friend is going to dock them for me this week (ring method, thank goodness)

Why dock them?

[Jo Jo]

Friend is going to dock them for me this week (ring method, thank goodness) and has some magic powder for gimmy eye's gimmy eyes.


How old are they? In the UK ring docking is only allowed in the lamb's first week of life.

[Smiler]

Why dock them?

From the lifestyle forum -
"What are the benefits?

Docking removes most of the lamb’s tail to prevent build up of dags on the wool around the sheep’s back end. Dags attract attack (strike) by blowfly. The sheep become “blown” and the fly’s maggots eat the sheep’s flesh causing great pain and distress. What age should you dock lambs?

The sheep code of welfare recommends that lambs should not be docked before they have bonded with their mothers after birth - allow them at least 24 hours. Docking, regardless of the method used, should take place before 6 weeks of age. The earlier it can be done the better."



The ones owned by the farmer around our house were done at about 5-6 weeks with the hot iron method. We were offered lambs tails for tea that night, :confused: well OH was and even he declined! I was so proud of him!

[Moorf]

We were offered lambs tails for tea that night, well OH was and even he declined! I was so proud of him!

As a life-carnivore I can honestly say I'd probably draw the line at those types of appendages, too :confused:

It's really important to keep on top of the dipping and shearing (are you crutching?), blowfly strikes are NOT pretty or nice for you and the sheep. We lived nextdoor to a family with pet sheep in Scotland and they didn't have a clue - poor lambs were being killed by the maggots and hatching blowflies by the thousands. I think out here you'll find more local farmers who can help you out :yes but in Scotland they were just laughed at :( (mind you, they should have asked for help imho). Needless to say they lost half of their wee flock.

Do you use the lifestyle.co.nz forum - it's really good and very helpful and friendly - lots of new Brits on there with their lifestyle blocks but equally as many Kiwis offering heaps of advice. :nice1

[Lupin]

Why dock them?

I really wrangled with it actually! In the end, the research I read and the opinion of farmer friends was that docking, although horrible, sufficiently reduces the risk of blowfly strike to warrant the discomfort. My friend and her son are coming in the morning to do it and I'm teary at the thought, but I need to do what's best for them. My lovely friend has told me to go out for the morning and they'll be perky and fine when I get back.

Other farmer friends (who we bought the land from) have offered to dip and shear when they do their flock, I presume they'd crutch them for me too.

I am a lifestyle.co.nz forum member, but don't really post there, although do read the articles sometimes.

I hope I'm doing the right thing by my babies. I'm quite anxious for them for tomorrow and I'm going to miss their beautiful tails :(

[dilanium]

Ahh, I didn't know about the blowflies (it's what I get for growing up in the city).

I did some more research and found that the tail can catch feces too, and cause lots of irritation. I also found that only certain types of sheep need to be docked while others that don't have as much wool under their tail or shorter tails can keep what they already naturally have.

[Smiler]

I hope I'm doing the right thing by my babies. I'm quite anxious for them for tomorrow and I'm going to miss their beautiful tails :(

Lupin, yes you are! Their wee tails are cute, especially when they wiggle. But if yours got strike as Moorf describes, you'd feel even worse and have the vet bills to boot.:(

They'll have forgotten the pain of docking and be bouncing round in no time, when you get back. :yes

D x

[Lupin]

They're fine and it's done :)

I was here in the end as my littlest is feeling too poorly for kindie. I really felt for them, they were bleating and sitting down and wobbling about but half an hour later and they're much cheerier and now they're fine. She also put powder in the pair that have gimmy eyes, so it was a tough old morning for my babies!

[Smiler]

Hugs Lupin.

I hope the gimmy eyed ones are better soon too. :)

[Lupin]

I think I'm having sympathy pains in my "tail" :roll

I'd never make a farmer :laugh

[Lupin]

The girls have been living down in the paddock we fenced out from our section and have become whoopers indeed! They still try and climb up my leg for milk, but I stopped just before Xmas.

Big news is that a friend gave me a new lamb two days ago and she's a bit special, as I'm sure you'll agree!!!

Meet Fiver:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2311/2246385095_dc5bf5bf6d.jpg


And *someone* has given my friendliest two lambs mohican haircuts- they look ridiculous :laugh

Bonnie-the-Boss is still the boss:

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2355/2247179448_6da69923c3.jpg

[jubjub]

Lupin, is it my eyesight or has that lamb got an extra leg? If so she is special indeed! one extra sunday roast joint! :laugh

[Moorf]

Oh my! Fiver!!

[Smiler]

Lupin, is it my eyesight or has that lamb got an extra leg? If so she is special indeed! one extra sunday roast joint! :laugh

I had to look twice too!! Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwww