Bottle Lamb Update | Foxfire Fiber & Designs

Mistral

Mistral, Georgia and Garamond moved back to the big barn this week and are now free to romp and roam with the others. Lots of crazy leaping about when we moved them back into the main pen, then they raced the length of the barn with the rest of the rowdy bunch. Mistral has become quite agile romping on three legs, though still favoring her left front. She's finishing a course of antibiotics and then we'll see how she does. It's hard to take a good picture of her – her features get lost in all that black wool. But she is very pretty, fine boned and long-legged, whereas Georgia is stocky and lower to the ground.

The exciting news is that someone wants to adopt the three of them! Georgia, Garamond and Mistral will soon be part of a small flock program for teaching children about farm animals. I can't think of three lambs who would enjoy being the center of attention more. And they get to stay together, another big plus. Since I don't want Mistral to leave my farm until her leg has completely mended, you'll still be able to visit them here for a while longer. It was really tough making up my mind to part with them. Hard not to get attached to three lambs who have been sharing my house part time. Since they've become pets and they adore attention, they will love their new home. I'm confident that they will be spoiled.

Georgia

Garamond

Mishka is looking much brighter this week. She's found her appetite and had decided the low-protein, renal diet is A-ok. Just found out they make low protein dog treats, too, so we'll be stocking up on those. Golden Retrievers are incredibly food-focused and in this house we're pretty liberal with snacks between meals. So now she won't feel deprived. I really appreciated your supportive comments and good wishes while she was in the hospital last weekend. We're all so glad to have her home.

Today the big boys had pedicures and coat changes. Mike and Andy knocked off that messy project this afternoon. The boys have huge feet with extra-gnarly, heavy-duty hooves. My little hands are almost not strong enough to power the hoof shears through the thick outer wall of their hooves. I can manage one or two, but then my hands cramp up since hoof shears are designed for larger hands.

I have a pair of little pruning shears that fit my hands well and they're great for doing the yearlings, lambs and smaller ewes. But not the big guys. There's no way I can do feet on a dozen 250 lb sheep in one session. Amazing how much "foot" they've grown since shearing day last March, the last time we did pedi's. I'd show you picture, but it's nasty, smelly work. Take my word for it.

Come back tomorrow to see some funny shots of shorn llamas.