In the six days I’ve owned a lamb I’ve learned they are only slightly easier than baby chicks to keep alive. The advantage of sheep is they are large enough to avoid predators like opossums or raccoons. Their main disadvantage is that they baa loudly, inviting coyotes for a four county area into the backyard. I’m thinks about setting out a guest book to see who travels farthest.
The new lamb has also reminded me how much the goats have grown! This morning I set out to trim the goats’ hooves. Trimming should be done every three months or so and my calendar kindly reminded me yesterday that this job needed to be done in December. Last time I trimmed Harriet and Fanny’s hooves I held them with my legs and trimmed with both hands.
As you can see, the much larger animals were not so easy. I had Brian get a few more shots of the process and then he had to help me hold them. Thank goodness, because Fanny’s hooves were pretty pointy, despite the fact that I trimmed them at the beginning of October. A goat in the wild would be climbing rocks and such, wearing down the hoof material, but soft grass just isn’t doing that for these girls! Since feet are vitally important to animals 😉 caring for them should be top priority for goat owners. I think I’ll set my next calendar reminder for February, instead of March!
By February I imagine Lizzie’s toes will need trimming as well. Thank goodness the chickens will be fine! If only they’d finish molting and get back to laying eggs. Animal ownership– gotta love it!!
Daddy's Tractor 