We noticed that Moulty’s lamb was scouring. The symptons are quite obvious and we had to catch her to worm her. This should have been easy – particulary seeing that Moulty is a bit lame and doesn’t move to quickly, however it wasn’t and Ian and I were seen leaping around the field, trying to catch a lamb with an unpleasantly pooey rear end, diving and falling over until we were black and blue. Ian finally managed to get her and we injected her. As he let her go he wondered if in fact she was not scouring but whether (sorry about this) her rear end was infact blocked by a gooey deposit (this can happen) and this was causing a spreading of er, no.2’s around her nether regions. However nether of us was up to another lamb chase so we said we’d leave this to her to sort out. A couple of the sheep appear to be scouring so I’ve got some new wormer and we’ll worm them all. It is the new growth of grass, I think, that sets them off this time of year.
The weather has been good and untill today we have been sitting outside for our lunch. As it has been good as we have been able to give the goats a good wander, and they have made the most of it, exploring bits of the field that we haven’t seen them go into before.
We went to Bridge End on Sunday. We’ve had some work done there, as there was some damp. The tenants are about to give notice so we have decided to sell – taking advantage of the time of year – and of course the fact that they gave us notice, as I don’t think that we would have been brave enough to make that decision given that they have been very good tenants. We were both pleased when we saw the property – although anything looks good in the sun, and the work has remedied the damp spots which were showing in the detatched barn. We will put this on with both Jeremy and Gareth and see what happens. At the worst we’ll have the property empty for a few months – however this would be the case at any time and luckily by being given advance notice we were able to plan and will be at least a month ahead. Gareth seemed quite positive – however I do know that Ivy House in Garrigill took a year to sell, so we are not expecting anything to happen quickly.
Yesterday some trees arrived outside. Some men arrived to plant screening on the bank near the house, which will screen the cycle track. I didn’t have particulary high hopes, thinking of our experience, however there must be 300 or so trees, all staked with solid protective sleeves. They have done a good job and as long as they fence before the sheep cotton on to what is there, then it should definately provide some good screening. It will also help the garden to look like a garden, we will just have to discuss with the sheep and goats the fact that they have access to all other areas, but no longer can they wander round the garden nibbling the odd plant. However does Ian realise that this will mean we have to get the lawn mower out…?
Scooter is doing well and I am still trying to wean her. I found her this morning with her head in a sack of sheep nuts – which I took as being good news, although she could just have been looking for her special bucket.
We’ve got another horse in the stable now, a smaller one. Admitedly after Mike was telling us about how stallions can kill and other horror stories – I veared around the stable nervously. Mike also told us that he had seem a cow suckle a badger.
Unable to take rams to market because we have not tagged them, the legilsation says they should be tagged when taken off our holding, and we don’t have any tags, so we need to get that sorted asap.