My plan for today was getting a poo sample from Garth Vader so I decided I would feed the boys last. I was expecting quite a wait but there were plenty of things I needed to do first. After the ducks, I went off with Rascal to the barn with the alpaca food. While I was getting Rascal his food, Bramble strolled in. Very greedy, that one 😂 Then Texas Hold’em came next. Hennessey came in with Garth Bale. They were followed by Cupcake. Theadora was coming in as I was going back out. Getting them in to eat hadn’t taken long!
I walked down to the alpacas with mounting trepidation. How many ewes would Munchie have taken in the podfield with her today? And how much repairing would be awaiting me? 🙄 I crossed the brook and the podfield was empty. The barrier and hurdle were still in place. No holes, no sheep where they shouldn’t be. What a result 👏 I filled all the buckets and lugged them to the main field. They are heavy but as soon as I start emptying them they get much lighter, obviously. I opened the gate and began walking to the troughs and then did a double take. Two bloody ewes were standing by the ring feeder. In fact one ewe was eating hay from it! I immediately looked for holes. It wasn’t likely because if there were holes, the field would be full of ewes and empty of alpacas 😂They must have jumped! I was fuming and sent Neil a photo. No point. He was in work so couldn’t do anything. I filled the troughs which may have been a mistake. The ewe went straight to the troughs and pushed her way in 🤬 I chased her round and round. I needed the Benny Hill music playing. I got her out of the way and back up to the hay. I glared at her. She glared back. Standoff. I backed off, still watching her while I fed Ffion. When the alpacas began strolling from the troughs, I left the ewe to it and fed the rams.
When I was going back with the buckets to get the boys food, Neil messaged. “How?” I replied “Jumped over the fence!” I didn’t have time to deal with them. He’s in charge of the sheep. They are his problem. The thing is Beyonce was jumping fences regularly at Tregurnog and she’s at it again now. Pregnant! The best part is, she can’t walk without a nasty limp but she can jump higher than a flaming pole vaulter 🤦♀️The boys were very confused that I hadn’t fed them first as normal. They watched me walk back and then up with their food. I fed them and then went in to wait. I sat on the edge of their bath. After about 10 minutes, Vader obliged. I bagged it and walked up. I rang the vets on the way up to warn them I was bringing alpaca poo and to request some antibiotics. I fed the Peckys and collected eggs. I then drove off with my bag of poo 😂 I discussed the poo test with Russell and he then asked what I wanted antibiotics for, There were a few available for foot rot so I asked for something that could also be administered to an ewe after assisting on a lambing. He gave me the one suitable for both. It’s our policy to give antibiotic and painkillers if we’ve had to put a hand (or more) in an ewe to deliver a lamb. Of course there will be clean gloves but you never know what you’re introducing so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Finally time to go home for dinner.
While food was cooking, I was on the phone, chatting to Jordan and playing with Skye. One particular time she hadn’t brought her frisbee in, it was just outside. So there I am, chatting away as I go through the door to reach for the frisbee. But I don’t know what happened, must have just clipped the door I suppose, and I started to fall. Luckily it was Jordan because I shouted “F###!” as I fell. I was lucky though, I didn’t hit the ground. The back door is propped open with a bucket of water. My right shin and right forearm connected with the bucket. The phone was in my left hand because I was trying to reach for the frisbee. My right arm therefore was already extended. I had a thick jumper and fleece jeans on which helped absorb most of the impact. The phone didn’t go in the water either. Phew. It’s definitely better to knock into a bucket rather than kick one 😉 And as for Jordan, did she say “Mam, are you ok? In a concerned voice? No, she was laughing hysterically 🤦
It was a good job that I had an afternoon of paperwork and cleaning, leaving Neil to deal with the woolly jumpers!
Helen x
