Baymule’s 2021 Lambing

[bethh]

Yeah, and here we have lovely red clay, so slick as oiled glass and will suck your boots right off... Even the horses walk gingerly when it gets slick because they slide... and they have 4 legs, I'm just happy when I don't fall in it.

It’s like that here. I can’t go out unless hubby is here because my ankle is still recovering from the break last month. I can get my muck boots on over my brace but the ground is so slippery.

 

[bethh]

Yeah, and here we have lovely red clay, so slick as oiled glass and will suck your boots right off... Even the horses walk gingerly when it gets slick because they slide... and they have 4 legs, I'm just happy when I don't fall in it.

 

[bethh]

@bethh snow usually shows every 2-3 years, we get 2-5 inches, by day 2 it is melting, by day 3 it is mostly gone. My kind of snow party!

THIS storm is I think they said a 50 year event. First we got an ice storm on Thursday, then sleet all day yesterday, Sunday, it started snowing last night and this morning it looks like 10 inches.

This is the house.

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This is the sheep barn, open on 3 sides because of the ferocious heat we have. There is radiant heat barrier under the metal roof that makes a 10 to 15 degree difference in the summer. Doesn’t do much good right about now....

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How do you like Carson’s photo bombing tail?

This is a shot of a small pen I use to jug ewes and new babies in, when needed. I had a lamb born during the ice storm Thursday so I jugged new baby and new mom, using cardboard to block the wind. I put them both in the barn yesterday, hoping they have bonded enough, figuring the lamb would stay warmer in my original shelter I built. The lambs pile up in there. Just look at the snow that blew in the pen! Divine guidance made me move that ewe and lamb!

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In the front corner, by the T-post is another pen, Sheba curls up in the hay in the corner. It got dusted with snow too, but her corner was a little more sheltered.

The pictures are so amazing. Thanks for posting them. My husband read to make salt water in a water bottle and put that in your water buckets and they won’t freeze. We haven’t needed to try it. Maybe google it. At least if it’s not frozen, maybe it wouldn’t take as much to warm them?

 

[Kusanar]

The pictures are so amazing. Thanks for posting them. My husband read to make salt water in a water bottle and put that in your water buckets and they won’t freeze. We haven’t needed to try it. Maybe google it. At least if it’s not frozen, maybe it wouldn’t take as much to warm them?

Doesn't work, I have tried it. Some people have luck with it, but likely they wouldn't have frozen very solid without the bottle. Essentially the bottle moves around and keeps the surface from sitting still so it doesn't freeze as quickly. I have had to break the ice off of the bottle before.

 

[Baymule]

Trip wanted to come in, warm up and take a nap. Demon Diaper Lambs thought he was a trampoline.

 

[Mike CHS]

He doesn't seem to mind. How are you liking the bottle baby routine?

 

[Beekissed]

Wheels are useless in snow. If you have anything you can use as a sled it's 1000 times easier than carrying buckets.

I have to bucket water to my animals also, I use a sled that holds 3 buckets, and when I need to wash out and completely refill I use the sled that holds 5 buckets. That's usually about 50 gallons worth of hauling.
My exterior faucet froze up yesterday so dh helped me fill and haul water from our frost free hydrant up front. Not enough snow to use a sled then, so dh sweetly carried them for me. Today we finally have snow to cover all the bare bits. Only 3" so far but still coming. Back to being able to slide things.

I am sorry for all of you getting hit by all this. You sure are getting character development! Not that you all weren't a bunch of characters to begin with...

I'm hauling water in 5 gal buckets with lids, using the garden cart and the 4 wheeler. I have a heated bucket in the paddock but have two black rubber pans I fill also. If I had to haul it by hand instead of using the ATV, you can bet I'd be using a sled!

 

[farmerjan]

We use the salt water in the gallon jug and if the animals keep bobbing it find that it works quite well. It has to be at least a 25% salt water solution... 1/4 c to 1 qt water... and no more than 1/2 gal full so it moves. Also, if you can get a dark colored bottle... like an iodine jug from the vet... dark brown..... or a well washed out antifreeze jug... blue... it will draw more heat from the sun and work better. Lots of us cattle farmers use them.

But again, realize we are putting them in 50-100 gallon tanks for the cattle. Another thing.... black tubs make it easier to dump if the sun gets on them for a little bit.... and the fortex are less likely to split than the hard plastic.

 

[Beekissed]

Bay, all that snow sure looks pretty!!! I know folks in TX be freakin' out about the temps and snow, but it at least it's been a pretty snow, huh? We were supposed to get some of those low temps and we usually do anyway at the end of Jan and beginning of Feb, but they passed us by. Freezing rain and snow, regular winter temps and that's about it.

I'm glad all your lambs are doing well and you are gettin' er done on the water....please, please be safe walking around out there!

 

[Baymule]

He doesn't seem to mind. How are you liking the bottle baby routine?

they are adorable and fun. I'll be glad to put them outside during the day when it warms up next week. they gallop around the house, chewing on everything. They are instinctively "eating" grass and hay like their mom would be, if they had one.

@Beekissed i don't have a sled, what would I do with a sled? This is busting records set in 1909! It could be awhile before we do this again! And the battery is dead in the mule, got one ordered and THAT ain't doin' us no good now! LOL

I broke trails to the places I had to carry buckets to. I got 'em packed down pretty good.

Getting another ice storm Wenesday and more snow Thursday.

Winter. The gift that keeps backing up and crapping all over us.

Governor Abbott has declared all 254 counties disaster areas.