When Sunday rolled around it was time to give everyone a second dose of wormer; fun, fun, fun. I decided to start with the rams and took them in the same order as last time. As the leader ram Killarney was selected to go first as he has a habit of trying to protect his buddies whenever the Commander grabs them. As we were holding him I noticed some scabs and blood on the top of his head and on his nose.
Seems Killarney has been spending some time bashing heads with his so called friends.
I sprayed some antibiotics on his wounds and finished worming him, I couldn't wait to see what battle damage the other boys were sporting. As I was feeling around on the top of his scull I couldn't help but notice how thick the bone on the top of his head is. No wonder it doesn't seem to faze him when he crashes into his fellow rams at full speed!
Alders horns are very wide yet he showed no sign of cuts or abrasions. The Commander had his normal struggle capturing "Wild Man" so I could give him his dose of wormer, these sheep are strong! I don't know how people with larger animals can handle them.
Ironwood and Albion were finished last with no problems. I didn't see any wounds on Ironwood, but his horns are so massive that he must hit with them instead of using the top of his head.
I still haven't figured out how the door to the rams shed has been getting opened but the night vision camera I set up caught this little critter crawling around into Sara's kennel.
I don't think he is the culprit but what a cutie pie!
Listen to him growl!
The girls were wormed next with the usual panic at being touched. It looks like Ava has recovered from her illness completely and will be ready for breeding next week.
Here is a shot of little Alma and her tiny horns - they are almost scurrs really. She is the smallest ewe we have so I am a bit worried for her come lambing time.
Finally one of the guinea nuggets was killed by what I think was an owl Saturday night. The guineas have gone back to sleeping in the coop since that tragic evening, it just isn't safe around here. I wonder how long their fear will keep them inside and safe before the decide to sleep in the trees again.
The video was darling. You could tell he wanted to smile but needed to remain tough looking. It's a guy thing. Poor guinea, naughty owl!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lot you have going on. I hope the sheep don't get hurt. As tough as they are, I do know that they can actually hurt one another hitting that hard. I hate when my goatie girls do that.
ReplyDeleteThat is an awful cute critter you caught on camera! :) I'm sorry about the Guinea loss. Poor thing. Hopefully Alma will do well with lambing... I've had a very small goat I was so worried about, do amazing, so hopefully she'll be fine. Ironwood is really handsome!
ReplyDeleteMichaele - I have a bad feeling that owl is going to be a problem all winter. That critter was so funny with all his growling and acting tough, I wish his visit could have been longer.
ReplyDeleteTeresa - I am amazed that one of the rams hasn't been killed or seriously injured, they are brutal with the head butting.
luckybunny - Thanks for all the good thoughts! Ironwood is the lucky ram selected to visit the girls, hopefully he passes along some of this better traits.
This is a busy post! The rams must be very tough, poor boys!
ReplyDeleteThe baby is a cutie pie! :)
I'm sorry about the guinea. Owls about took out our flock. this summer and autumn we have been very lucky, haven't lost any guineas! I hope all goes smoothly this winter. I wish our guineas would roost inside!
~Lynn
I just read the posts about Ava being sick - oh no! I'm so glad she is all better now! :)
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