Friday 7 October 2011

Lambs and calves

Spring is speeding by at the moment, we're almost finished lambing, and have been shedding out(taking out any ewes that are still to lamb, or who are no longer rearing a lamb) in preparation for tailing(some call it docking) the lambs in a week or two.  The late lambers are going into a new paddock closer to home, and the 'has-beens' are off to a crop paddock to free up grass pasture for ewes who are rearing lambs. 

We have about 18 pet/orphan lambs we are feeding at the moment, three times a day.  When they are very young it is 4 times daily, and in a month or so will be down to twice a day.  It's much quicker once they get onto these buckets, feeding 7 at a time, with a few little ones still on bottles.  The first 7 get put in the pen for feeding  and then the ones on the outside get their turn, otherwise it gets pretty confusing who's been done and things get messy!



 So there has been lots of this happening here, as the girls also have a pet calf each for the first time, saved from the bobby calf(veal) truck from one of our local dairy farmers.


This is Donny and Ash, and they are pretty cute, takes me back to having a little Jersey calf of my own every year when I was a kid.


Clearly Donny is not happy about getting a halter on and learning to lead.  You always see lots of lambs and calves at the school pet day that look like they've only had a halter and lead on for five minutes before they were loaded that day - and that often is what has happened.  lol    So the girls are starting early on handling their calves.  In the interests of open disclosure these calves will one day be sent to slaughter with the rest of the farm cattle, the girls seem fine with the idea, Miss O has even suggested she could use the profit from this one to buy several next year and make even more money.  Don't get me wrong though, they do love their calves dearly and it will be a difficult day when it comes in about eighteen months!


Thanks for your kind comments on my Tis the Season finish on my last post.  I have signed up for the new SAL where we'll be making My Favourite Things quilt by Anni Downs from her new Some Kind of Wonderful book.  This is a wonderful book with lots of neat projects, but I need to get my last block of A Gardeners Journal done first.  I haven't anything to share stitching wise today, it's been a quiet week with the girls and I all feeling under the weather with head colds, but we're on the mend now.   There's Rugby World Cup quarter finals to watch on Saturday and Sunday nights so maybe I'll be more in the right frame of mind for stitching then.  GO THE ALL BLACKS!!!  ................................. and good luck to Ireland, Wales, England, France, Australia, South Africa and Argentina too! 

Have a wonderful weekend ................. Nicky

20 comments:

Leanne said...

Oh my that is a lot of orphans. We are such a hobby level.
I bet it will be hard for the girls - but part of being on a farm - good that they can think a head re profit.

I have your hexis out today - on a mission! Thanks heaps for waiting!

Love Leanne

Annie said...

They look so cute! I love these sheepy posts. Where else would I get to see this kind of thing!

Michelle said...

That's what we should've done to feed our three! I will have to remember this for next year... do you think DH will miss 4 gates to make a pen too, Lol.
Ah... I remember having a calf like that my father would religiouly make me go outside and spend time with it and brush it everyday;oS Sorry I have no words of wisdom to impart...

Tatkis said...

Cute little lambs (especially at photos :) )
We'll be watching rugby too :)
Good luck with your new SAL, I hope to buy this book at Brisbane craft show very soon :)

Hugs,
Tatyana

Anonymous said...

interesting post Nicky,lots to do on a farm,cute animals.

Susan said...

Love the lambs - lots of hard work but very cute.

Theresa said...

That bucket must be a godsend, that's a lot of lambs to feed!
Hope you manage to fit in plenty of stitching this weekend :)

Unknown said...

Such cuteness Nicky.

Oh I just LOVE your new project.... I do have the book! Have you seen the fabrics, they are to die for, really cute.

Chookyblue...... said...

love your pets.........your lamb feeder looks better then mine.........

Our kids sure get to understand the circle of life..........they have only got to keep one cow they have raised......all the rest come and go........

Bev C said...

Hello Nicky,

Oh my goodness those lambs are keeping you busy. Hope you have a great weekend and may the best team win!!!
Happy days.
Bev.xoxo

Googy Girl said...

wow lots of orphans.....
why do they become orphans do the mums die or just abandon them?

your girls must be very brave and very responsible to take on the care of the calves, specially knowing the outcome for the calves.....

good luck with your new stich-a-long it is a lovely quilt

Carol said...

I can't get enough of your lamb photos, Nicky--thanks for sharing :)

monika@mysweetprairie.ca said...

Love your blog! All the Aussie and New Zealand blogs are just great... I seem to be finding lots lately. such pretty things! I'm a new follower.
~Monika in Canada

Aunty Bee said...

Your little orphans are looking lovely and healthy, yummy. That's the kiwi in me, I see gorgeous lamb chops. I can't wait for tonight and tomorrow, much discussion everywhere I go, as the probable outcomes. I just hope the AB's win, we know strange things have happened at previous RWC's.

Anonymous said...

Aww... that is alot of little orphan lambies. Your new calves are super cute too!! Hope all is going really well. GO AUSTRALIA! ;)

Jenny said...

Sorry to hear you were feeling under the weather the past week! Thank you so much for posting more photos of all your sweet little lambs (LOVED the 'Lambs Everywhere' post a few weeks ago, too!) I really miss seeing sheep over here in the States.
Jennifer

Lynda said...

Never a dull moment at your place!

Anonymous said...

LOVE YOUR LAMB PHOTOS!
RAISED SHEEP FOR ABOUT 11 YEARS IN MICHIGAN(USA);HARD WORK,BUT A PLEASURE AT LAMBING TIME>LOVE THOSE BABY LAMBS! YOURS LOOK SO ROBUST AND HEALTHY! THANKS FOR SHARING,LINDA,AN OLD SHEPHERD. BLESSINGS!

Kiwifruit-Shiree said...

a busy time of year for you I am sure Nicki, the lambing has just started here in the high country, we are a bit behind everyone else with the danger of late frosts etc but it is lovely seeing all the wee lambies especially when they get frisky in the early evening

Raewyn said...

Oh the calf leading photo brings back so many memories!! My biggest mortification was a calf sitting down in the 'arena' (what do you call it - I've been doing horses too long, obviously!lol) and the judge had to help me get her to stand up!! and another time......!!

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