Wednesday, June 17, 2015

And another one gone...

Rooed, but certainly not naked! Blake's 2" of new growth revealed.


... another one bites the dust!
Brosna, the drama "Queen"

It was a sheep-centric day at Boulderneigh. This morning I gave Benny the last of the rumen remedy I had mixed up, then sat in his pen to  overwrite some of his recent bad experiences with good ones.

While he is bright and alert with good appetite now, Benny is still wobbly on his feet. If he got a mild case of "polio" from not eating, the unsteadiness could be a lingering effect. I will continue giving him B vitamins in hopes that he makes a full recovery; in the meantime he will stay in "protective custody" so he won't get knocked down by other sheep.

After loving on Benny, I spent time picking foxtail seeds out of the lambs' fleeces while working on their halter training. First the boys, who did quite well,

then the girls. Brosna's new owner is picking her up tomorrow, and plans to show her at the Oregon State Fair – so of course she was the only lamb who acted like being on a lead was pure torture!
"Who, me?"

"Yes, Brosna; YOU."
It didn't help that Vienna yelled for her daughters the entire time they were away from her; Brosna had her mouth open, yelling back, in most of the photos I took of her. (She has just finished screaming "Help, help!" in the photo above, while my sweet Bree nonchalantly nibbles.) I'm so glad Vienna gets to keep one daughter; she has been a very vigilant mom and would stress over losing both of them at once like Sarai will at the end of the month. (I don't think Sarai will mind at all.)

This afternoon I tackled the long, laborious process of rooing Blake. I waited too long; he had a good 2" of new growth (at least in its stretched-out state after rooing) that made rooing difficult. He was very patient and good-natured about it, though. Next year I think I may scissor-shear him early in the season. He is always too sticky for my shearer; he produces a TON of lanolin (my gummy fingers were another reason it took so long to roo him).

Oh, and Bittersweet was back to normal the day after I dewormed everyone. I don't think the medication can act that fast, so maybe his bottle jaw was caused by something else.

Two more fleeces to harvest at . . .

6 comments:

Debbie said...

Brosna is too funny! Glad that Benny is doing better. And the rest of the crew...they just keep you busy.
Enjoy the rest of your week and upcoming weekend.

Unknown said...

You have a lot of work in front of you! I hope you take time to relax too!

thecrazysheeplady said...

I've seen it go down that fast. Do you know how to FAMACHA check eye scores?

Michelle said...

Debbie, Brosna made progress before all was said and done.

Never fear, Nancy Kay; I probably relax too much!

I do check eyelids, Sara, and they have been fine (I think). But I've never taken a class on it or anything.

Lisa Smith said...

Oh the drama! Poor Brosna looks like she could have used one of those Victorian-era "fainting couches" to fall back onto! And with Vienna, I love your description of her motherly concern. . . . (maybe Vienna could have used a fainting couch too!)

I know exactly what would be the perfect retirement activity for me with sheep: I'd love to be a volunteer "Roo'er"! (If there is such a word???) I could sit for hours and hours and do that and be happy as a clam! In a couple years when my husband retires we've talked about getting an R.V. and hitting the road. I wonder if I could "roo my way" around the country?!

Michelle said...

Lisa, you're too funny. :-) I'll take you up on being a volunteer roo'er next year! Why wait for retirement?