The Wooley Tide

It's that time of year....

These were the firsts arrivals a few days ago, a nice set of triplets.

With a proud and attentive mom - Flora.  She was one of the X twins from a few years ago, one of the two with the X on the face, which you can just barely see now.

This morning brought a full set of quads.  All healthy and bouncy and delivered with no problems or assistance.

FB doesn't like for the moms to raise more than two babies so a few of these lambs will probably go to new homes and be raised as bottle babies.  It is the only good way to ensure that everyone gets enough to eat and that the mom stays healthy.  We'd prefer it if these ewes stuck with having twins, but there is no arguing with them.

Catarina, who also got sheared last week and is looking especially space-alien like, is deeply interested in the new babies and is very eager to meet them.  She loves her sheeps.

There are lots more babies on the way....

...maybe even another space alien.

I presume space-alien babies arrive in the normal fashion, but we will be on the lookout for odd flying objects just in case.  You just never know when aliens are involved.

Meanwhile, the more prosaic sorts will, hopefully, continue popping out little lambs in good order.

Miss Drama Llama

Hello,

Here comes another llama update from me, FB!  However, first I must wish my buddy, Connor, happy birthday!  He is two, two, too good to be true!!! 

Okay, back to Caterina; she is doing spectacular!  

She goes in and out with the sheep, and I don’t even have to put the halter on her anymore, which makes her happy (me too).  She hangs out with the sheep and seems content and happy.  

On Tuesday, I had a genuine llama vet (she also does other animals) come out to the farm to check Caterina out.  She gave her Dectomax to prevent meningeal worm, and she also gave her a rabies shot.  Caterina was not thrilled, but she was pretty cooperative.  This worm shot has to be given on a monthly basis, so I am told, but I am not worried, as I am going to get Kris to give it to her!!  Isn’t that a brilliant plan?  

Right now, Caterina and the sheep are going outside for about three hours in the morning and four hours in the late afternoon.  I have 100 Freedom Ranger meat chickens, and they hang out in the barn and outside, as they please.  They are scheduled to be processed on September 17^th, and after they have left, I am going to let Caterina and the sheep go in and out of the barn whenever they like during the daytime.  

Right now, the bratty lambs try too hard to steal the chicks’ food and knock over their many water containers.  Then it will be cooler too, so I am hoping that they will be happy to spend a large portion of the day outside.  

I find it amazing how things can turn around.  Ten days ago, I never would have thought that Caterina would ever be happy here, but I think she is, and we are all happy to have her living here!

Llama Drama Update

It has been rather crazy around here in the past couple of weeks and today was the day to work on Ben's foot.  I am working hard on a post to cover that, but it is a complex subject.  Hopefully, it will answer all the questions as well as tell you how the big surgery went.  Meanwhile, FB has written a llama update as we know that many are concerned about her - as are we.  This too is a complex subject and neither of us have any experience with llamas.  We are trying to do the right thing for everyone, especially Caterina.  

***

Hello! Here is another guest blog from FB regarding the llama drama. You will all be glad to know that Caterina IS doing better! I was really discouraged about everything after she disappeared, but I am trying to keep an open mind, and I do think she is starting to realize that it could be fun living here at my farm. She is now mingling more with the sheep while in the barn, and she shows increased interest in fresh hay and other edibles.

When I check on her multiple times in the day, I usually find her sleeping peacefully in the cool barn along with the sheep. I know from the comments and things that I have read recently that there are many llama people that feel that it is important to have at least two llamas. However, the person that I got Caterina from and my GALA (Greater Appalachian Llama and Alpaca Association) mentor believe that a single llama might be better suited for a guard animal for my sheep. The thought is that two llamas might be more apt to just bond with each other and not the sheep. I just got an email from the person I got Caterina from today, and she sent me this quote from someone at GALA. It reads as follows:

“I have sold over 60 guard llamas to protect sheep, goats and alpacas from coyotes and dogs. The single llama bonds with his/her subjects within a few days or few weeks and becomes protective. Naturally, some time is required for the llama to adjust to its new environment and for the bonding to take place.

Also, stipulating that an owner must have two or more guard llamas to make the llamas comfortable from day one is not appropriate. The bonding of a guard llama with its subjects and the resulting protection is based on the principle that if the llama does not have other llamas to relate to it will soon bond with the sheep, goats or alpacas and become protective. The use of a single llama for effective guarding is supported by research reported by Dr. Franklin at Iowa State University and the observations of others.”

So anyway, we have decided on a new plan. Caterina will stay here until September 10th, and if at that time, she is still not happy here, she will return to her former home. Meanwhile, I will again point out that Caterina does not appear to be depressed or stressed at this time. She is unhappy during the short times that I have the sheep outside, as I am still keeping her inside. I plan to try her outside again tomorrow morning, with close supervision. Most of the time, she is inside the very spacious and comfortable barn with the sheep, and they are provided with fresh hay and water twice a day. She also has special llama minerals offered to her.

Hopefully, she will soon bond with the sheep and start to enjoy a wonderful life here at my farm. I certainly want her to be happy. I will keep you all updated on her progress!!