It’s been a month since I’ve posted. But I’m back. 2012 is a new year, and I’m thrilled to see the backside of 2011. (Long story….next post)
I wanted to update the rescued sheep and llama story (animals abandoned on nearby farm a month ago—we found homes for them.) Our friend Drew and his family took the sheep. When he got them home he sheared them. A fleece usually weighs 7-8 pounds. These fleeces weighed 30-40 pounds. That’s how long it had been since the animals had been sheared.
Animals feel better when they get that matted stuff off. But one ram found it especially alarming. After Drew finished shearing him, the ram lay there for a minute. But then his tail twitched. The ram shot up and began leaping around the pen, freaked out at something. (Leaping around isn’t really normal ram behavior.)
Drew finally figured out that the ram had so much wool on his body that he’d stopped feeling his tail long ago. He’d forgotten he had one. But now, with all that fleece gone, he could feel his tail. It gave the ram a bit of a shock to discover there was something moving on his backside . He’s recovered, of course, and wags now without fear.
In this rescued flock, there were both males and females. But no one expected any hanky-panky, since, quite frankly, we didn’t think a ram could reach his target through all that wool.
Turns out we were wrong. A week ago Drew’s daughter found two lambs in the barn, one all white, one nearly all black. And they think another of the females is also ‘in the family way.’
So five months ago, a determined ram succeeded. We’re thrilled the lambs have been born on an established sheep farm that understands the animals.
And here’s an update from Carrie. (Her llama rescue operation drove 7 hours to pick up the llamas)—
“A bit of an update- the llamas are really doing well. The big herd is settled in. One girl was concerning us for a bit, but she’s starting to pick up weight nicely now. The three boys are now OUTDOORS and are no longer afraid of sunlight. They are all 3 together and are good friends. The matted boy is so friendly. He has nerve damage to his face and it makes his lip droop. The big white stallion is still not “friendly” but he is FAR from aggressive, he is afraid but coming around. The 5 boys will be gelded this spring once they are at a healthier weight. We want to thank everyone for the support! It costs us about 400.00 a month in hay, and roughly a hundred in grain and mineral to keep everyone in chow. We appreciate all the help! We can’t wait for April when we can start shearing and getting the disgusting fleeces and cockleburrs off!!”
(The llamas were so underweight that the vet can’t sedate them until they gain 100 pounds each.)
Just a reminder. If you want to help support these llamas’ upkeep and vet care, you can give directly at http://whipstaff.chipin.com/saving-12-llamas. This is a legitimate organization, so your money will be spent wisely. (Unlike your donations to the Humane Society of the United States… also a topic for another post!)
Welcome to 2012! It’s going great so far….
9 Responses
I’m so glad the llamas and sheep are in good hands now, and will be cared for as they should be! And you have little lambs! Surprise surprise. 🙂
Mary,
No lambs here! Drew rescued the pregnant sheep, so he has the lambs. It’s unseasonably warm here this week, but the temps will be dropping back into the teens soon…not the best time to lamb, but he’s used to it.
What a happy ending to a sad story.
It’s wonderful news that everybody has been found a home but I had no idea that sheep could be sheared in winter.Especially in Minnesota.
I should add that I’m from Kentucky and have never owned a sheep.I just thought that they had to have all that wool to keep warm in the winter.
I’m so glad you were able to help all the animals get into safe places where they will be well cared for.
macbew…no worries. The sheared sheep are in a barn.
Thanks for sharing the update. You and Melissa were a big part of the rescue and re-homing of the critters.
Surprise lambs are always fun when you are able to take care of them.
A friend and I rescued a few sheep a couple of years ago that were in a similar condition. We had only gone for 2 (our breed), but another ewe insisted that she had to get on the trailer too. I’ve never seen animals run onto a trailer like these 3 did, but they seemed to understand that we were good guys. Once we got to a friend’s we sheared all of them. The bonus ewe was freed of a 40 pound fleece that had been hiding the fact that she was at least 50 pounds under weight.
I actually prefer to lamb this time of year (need the time for growth for show lambs), and I try to shear a week or so before lambing. They have access to shelter at all times (not that they always use it), and when the lambs come they can find the udder more easily, plus when they cuddle up to mom they can really get some of her body heat, which they can’t if mom is in full fleece.