Lambswool

8:29 PM, 7 February 2010
Temperature: 41 F, overcast, calm


We separated the remaining two lambs out from the enclosure with the pregnant ewes and the three rams. The black lamb's horn is still attached enough that a firm yank won't pull it off; there's a bit of bleeding there from it getting the wound scraped when it got tangled in the fencing, but it looked clean. We'll keep an eye on it and if need be call in a vet. We still need to call in a vet about Slightly's sniffles and for the necroscopy, though we're not sure if the dead duck (loosely wrapped in plastic) will be still stable enough for such. The freezing should have helped it though.

The kittens are currently confined to the smaller part of the workshop, after Tootles refused to return for some time after they'd been allowed in the other day and not only refused, but hissed and showed general signs of more feral behavior. This not being acceptable, until he begins to show more signs of being properly socialized again, they won't be allowed to roam freely.

We checked in again on Minnow and her babies; at first, the one white kit kept being out in the open. We moved it to the sheltered straw and hay area and we'll see if they survive. We suspect we might take more losses, though. Informed the breeder from whom we purchased Minnow about this surprise, and she's interested in possibly getting one of the kits from us if they survive, in order to preserve the genetic strain. Apparently the buck she'd bred Minnow to has since died of unknown causes, possibly genetic and possibly not.

The ducks are clearly ready to begin laying as well, but are uncomfortable with the lack of sheltered places to lay. We've collected two goose eggs so far, which made a delicious omelet for two tonight for dinner. The geese keep laying out in the open; not great considering the sheep in the enclosure. We intend to go to Les Schwab or some similar place and pick up some used tires to use as the basis for nest boxes. That and a trip to the farm store for more hay lie in our future tomorrow.