Sheer nonsense

 It's shearing time for the sheep, so here is Benbecula, the sheep who lived, after her Spring haircut. Beligerent as ever, I had to tie her up (just for a few minutes) while I hand-sheared her thick, sticky coat.

You staring at me?

She will be more comfortable with the short back and sides, as the weather turns hot.

And over to Skye...

Benbecula, the sheep who lived, has given birth. Our second lamb in two days. 

The new boy on the block is called Skye, and he's a strong wee chap:

Likes a drink, does Skye

A sheep off the old block

Here is Bramble.

All together now: Sweeeeeeeeet!

This is Bramble a couple of days ago. She had a thorn in her foot and that had led to an infection (you can see that she has picked up the sore foot, in the photo) and a fever. I cleaned her up in the kitchen.

My foot hurts

And this is Bramble's mum, Benbecula...in the same kitchen, in April 2011.

Hmm. Strange grass, here...

Benbecula had fallen ill with Clostridial disease, so we poured a beer-bottle full of bicarbonate of soda down her, and she lived.

Orful, but recovering

We've had a mixed week here on the sheep front, but with a happy ending.

I found that one of our lambs - Bramble - had what looks like orf, caused by the parapox virus.

 

I'm gummy, mummy

 
Her mother, Benbecula developed mastitis in one side of her udder at the same time and we have been supplementing her one-sided feeding with the bottle.

So Pep the Vet put me, and Benbecula, onto a strict treatment regime of antibiotics and milking out the gooey stuff that Benbecula was producing from the sick udder. 

The regime seems to be working. Benbecula's teat is no longer producing puss, and Bramble appears to be feeding from both udders again. Thanks, again, to Pep.

Benbecula and Bramble

 The latest addition to the Croft. Here is Bramble, just 2 hours old...: