Alaskan
Herd Master
Oh... and when you fo travel, bring the milking sheep with you... they are small... right? Fit right in the car!
I had a trip, two years back, that mom would not let nurse. She did all else for this kid. I would milk her directly into the bottle and feed that one. Never brought her inside, she was with her family all the time. Had hoped it would change. But, she knew I was where she could nurse. As she got older, I could call her and she'd run right to the fence to get her bottle. Otherwise she ways always with mom & her other bro & sis. Odd, I know! This past year, she had trips as a FF. Seemed to favor two more than three. Had to watch close! Plenty of milk, short on patience. Some let two nurse and are then finished with that chore...#3 just doesn't get enough time and has to learn to jump in whenever.We went to town yesterday to a wedding shower. Went to post office and grocery store. Lot of bare shelves. I needed milk for the bottle lambs. Signs were posted, 1 per household so I got a gallon. There wasn’t much, I felt lucky to get it. BJ was out of bread, again, signs posted, 1 per household and there wasn’t much to choose from, didn’t have his favorite. So I got one loaf of bread.
When I was doing chores yesterday evening, neighbor Robert called, on his way home from Walmart. He had gotten a half gallon for the lambs. SCORE! Last week another neighbor brought me 2 half gallons, this is turning into a neighborhood effort for these little guys.
The sun is shining, 35F with a high of 62F. I’ll put Reject and Tiny in a pen in the barn today. I did that yesterday, they were able to get acquainted with being sheep. LOL A few more days and they can stay in the barn and run and play with the other lambs.
I've tried to get her to milk one when she had them with lambs at side. Haven't been successful. I sure would milk at least one! Right now, I'd be milking some from a couple of them....to feed those kids. I save colostrum and a few days first milk from mine each year. Never know when it's needed for yours or another's. I was able to give someone colostrum and milk for 5 pygmy kids when they lost the doe at birthing. Didn't know them but my vet was theirs and called me....knowing I always kept mare and goat colostrum frozen.Time for a milk goat? I will settle for the cows. Maybe milk a sheep?
But the TEATS... 2 finger teats? Three finger teats???My sheep have udders any goatie would be proud to have on their goats. They look like they are squeezing a volley ball between their legs. LOL
2, 3 and whole hand, depends on the ewe. I have a bottle lamb because she was a small triplet and couldn't get that big fat teat in her tiny little mouth.But the TEATS... 2 finger teats? Three finger teats???
2, 3 and whole hand, depends on the ewe. I have a bottle lamb because she was a small triplet and couldn't get that big fat teat in her tiny little mouth.
No, haven’t milked any beyond colostrum for a lamb.
Have you ever tried to make sheep milk cheese???