2/19/2022

Well, we've sold a couple ram lambs and a buckling this week. It's a good start to getting the boys sold off and lowering flock size a little before the craziness of spring lambing starts. My goal is to hopefully have the rest of the boys gone by then. Helps keep me organized!

I've also gotten most of the bottle babies weaned so no more crazy fights over who gets fed first. I'm still feeding the youngest and she was just joined by her twin sister, who was apparently no longer getting enough milk as her mother has randomly dried up 3 weeks after lambing. Paige, the newest bottle baby, was another case like Yelena, our first of the year, where she was 3 pounds at birth and then was discovered hypothermic and hypoglycemic out in the pasture. A dextrose treatment, a warm fireplace, and a tube feeding were all it took and she's right as rain! Seriously, do not question the magic that is intraperitoneal injections of dextrose. It has saved multiple lives this year and I will swear by it forever.

It's a very simple method too: take 20% dextrose solution (or dilute 50%, which is all I can get locally. If you're like me and cannot do math, this calculator is a lifesaver!) and using a 1 inch, 20 gauge needle, inject 10 ml/kg bodyweight into the lamb's abdomen, 1 inch below and to the side of the navel at a 45 degree angle. After this let the lamb warm up until it's revived and able to swallow, then tube feed. I've found with the two that we've treated this winter that they're usually up and around within 3 1/2 to 4 hours after they're first brought inside.

In other news, we are STILL waiting for Shirley, our old registered ewe to lamb. She's now 19 days past what I thought was her due date, but she apparently didn't get pregnant until her next cycle after when I thought she did. This means that I do not actually know who the father is and I honestly don't even remember any ram escape happening then so possibly she was bred through the fence, who knows. Luckily Brom, our registered ram, has very easily identifiable lambs, so we'll at least be able to immediately tell whether they're his or not. Fingers crossed that Shirley lambs tonight or tomorrow while the weather is still good. Her udder is starting to look full and shiny so I think it's soon.

We've also added a new addition to the farm! Ezra is a 9 month old jack who will be used to breed my 8 year old jenny, Ophelia. Their foal will be raised up to serve as a companion/assistant for Ophelia as she works to guard the sheep and goats. I am undecided if I will continue to breed her and Ezra in future years but if I'm being honest, I probably will. I kind of bought Ezra with the intention of breeding and then reselling as I wasn't positive I wanted to keep a jack, but I have a feeling that by the time Ophelia foals I'll have grown too attached to him to say goodbye.

Yes, his forehead is as plush as it looks. I can sink my whole hand into it.

He's just such a cute boy. Super sweet and super soft and fluffy, too. Not sure how big he'll end up getting as it seems to be impossible to find information on donkey growth 😂 He's 37 inches at the moment, so 7 inches shorter than Ophelia's 44. A standard, at least.

He and Ophelia met for the first time today since he was quarantining after arriving at the farm. They've settled right in with each other! Ezra was a little excitable when I first brought Ophelia into the pasture and she's had to give him a few warning kicks, but he's learning to mind his manners and that she won't tolerate obnoxious teenage behavior. One thing he'll have to learn is that Ophelia is pretty serious for a donkey and doesn't appreciate tomfoolery (a fact that is actually very helpful when she's being kept with goats. She's gentle but firm and doesn't allow fights).

Ophelia! Just couldn't resist sharing a pic of my beautiful girl