Borrowed the rubber ring thingee from Brent to apply rings to the tails of the five lambs. First owner built pens and a chute thingee (advice on names of farm equipment appreciated please) so we corralled the five into there for picking up as they're fast wee buggers and only Shadow and Cuddles are any good at coming to us so far. Must go check on Cuddles - he was having trouble sitting down - kept jumping up like a bee had stung him! Have decided not to de-man the boy lambs as they will become food sources before they get too big and amorous!
Picked up a jersey dairy cow and her calf yesterday evening from Bernie Rye - a chance conversation with him about the calves from the Hunters and next thing he's offering us a cow to feed them with. She's lame so can't walk to and from the milking shed for any distance but is fine to feed the calves.
So this morning, following the advice Bernie gave us, I put her (Daisy) into the shed with the calves and they soon started feeding. Pippi however had trouble finding a teat, even with me trying to help her, but eventually was able to get some sucking done. Went back later with a bottle for her as she hadn't had much. Daisy kept pushing her away too so will have to watch that and keep fingers crossed that they get to like each other.
Beefy got completely shat on as he had his head between Daisy's two back legs and she off-loaded twice (I think she does that to let me know what she thinks of me!) Her own calf, a jersey bull, was fine as has been doing this for a week now. Kieran has named him Ginge. He actually has speckles like a baby fawn but Bambi just didn't seem to suit him.
Will keep an eye out for a one-stand electric milking machine - let me know if you know of any for sale - so can maybe milk Daisy for ourselves once the calves are grown. That's if she ever decides she likes us enough to let us catch her!
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