Lamb update

We have 14 lambs, 11 can be seen in the above picture enjoying their lunch the other day.

We also have 3 lambs in sick bay, 2 lambs came to us very young, just hours old I think and were very weak, and despite having them for nearly 3 weeks now they are still not strong enough to fight their corner when it comes to drinking from the bottle. The other poorly lamb has pulled a ligament in one of its front legs and can only walk on 3 legs, very healthy & fit despite that but again cannot cope with the hustle & bustle of the rest of the lambs.

We have two sets of lambs, 5 are 2-3 weeks older than the others and this weekend they were taken down to the big field (albeit in a small-ish pen) where they will live until weaned when they will be let out to join the llamas. One of these 5 lambs is a bit smaller than the others and will stay with the younger lambs until it has put a bit of extra weight on.

The younger ones will stay in the old "goat" paddock and once weaned they will be able to join the bigger lambs.

I was amazed though at how much more civilised feeding time is now that they have been split up, and the older ones are no longer there to push the youngsters off their bottles because they can drink faster.

All in all a good move methinks.

If it stays civilised I may well let the 3 out of sickbay and join the others in the hope that it will aid their recovery but will keep a careful eye on jostling as the youngsters will need some protection to ensure that they get to have enough milk.

You can find out more about our smallholding at www.ashwoodllamas.co.uk

We are very busy at the moment!

As are most farmers and smallholders, spring is the busiest season with plenty of offspring turning up to add to the headcount.

This spring we have had 7 young goats born, mum Lucky had twins, mum Munchkin had twins and Breeze, bless her gave us triplets. In total we now have 19 goats!

Here are the triplets, just a week old and already causing mayhem!

We are not expecting any new llamas this year, but we have bought in 15 young lambs, all either orphans or unwanted triplets. Aged between a day old and 2 weeks old when they arrived they are all doing well, except for some that need a heavy dose of antibiotics to get over an ailment called "joint ill" which is something they can get shortly after birth when they do not get colostrum in time, or are born into mucky surroundings. Something that is all too common in orphan lambs and in a wet spring where the weather does not do anyone any favours.

So, a headcount, 19 llamas, 19 pygmy goats, 14 chickens, 15 lambs, 4 dogs and a cat! No wonder we're busy!

Next up, get the incubator going and let's have more chooks!

We have lambs!

Our first batch of tame lambs have arrived, 6 altogether and between 1 week and 3 weeks old.

Our llamas are fussy when it comes to eating grass, and there are huge areas which we have to cut, and so these lambs will be saving us some petrol and wear and tear on the ride on grass cutting machine.

For the next 4-5 weeks it will be bottle feeding though.

3 times a day!

Having had a big lunch this lot are now trying to find a cosy corner to have a lie down.

They have this shed to live in for a few weeks until they are used to us and their surroundings, they have an outside area where they can get fresh air and have a jump & play, and then they will be let loose in a small enclosure in the "lambs field" before then having the run of the whole field.

We hope to be able to get another batch in around two weeks time, and when large enough 4 or 5 of them will join the llamas to help them eat their grass.

Time to resurrect this blog!

Blogging has been off the agenda the last few years, but now, I think, the time is right to have another go!

A quick reminder, we are llama breeders based in North Devon, UK. We also breed Pygmy goats, keep lambs for short periods, have 4 dogs & a cat! Oh, we also have a small flock of chickens!

These little lambs are our latest additions!

Only 3 and a bit weeks old & drinking milk three times a day!

They will be with us until the autumn! While here they will be looked after very well & will have llamas as neighbours (who are already bored with them).

This chap isn't.

This is Lladdie, who we hope will assist us in rounding up the llamas when needed, but he prefers to keep an eye out for the lambs!