Here are the sheep - the shelter just sent me a photo. I think they are Dorsets....does anyone agree? You can't see their fleece really well in the photo. I'll take more when we get them. Poor things are so matted with burrs. The goat I am not sure about - it isn't a pygmy - too big. It isn't a Nubian or Boer goat. It might even have some Oberhaslii in it? Maybe? I think it's definitely a mixed breed. Their names are Thelma and Louise, but I might change that.
12 comments:
Oh, those poor sheep! Bless you for taking them on. I can't wait to see the 'before and after' pictures!
I bet NEXT year, you'll get some lovely fleeces from them....
Claire, big, big, cyber hug for taking in the poor farm animals that haven't had it so good, when they get to your house they think they've gone to heaven. Sounds like you have a great local shelter too.
are thelma and louise getting a tub bath when they get to your house?
Nancy - yes, next year they should be lovely, and hopefully they'll be much happier when sheared in the spring without all that extra weight!
Joanna - thanks for the cyber hug! I hope they'll be happy here.
Diane - they are deceptively small in that picture. They are probably 150 to 200 lb ewes. So no, they will not be going in my jet tub! They will be having a meeting with Mr. Sunbeam soon. (the clippers)
Without seeing it, I would say the rust color is dried blood from the parsites they have. I would be very cautious and not mix them in with your other stock until you get it taken care of, or figured out. Worm them right away [ask your vet] but I would say a shot of ivermectin?]
Lovely pic of your new buddies, and a lovely blog Claire. Hugs, Diana (frolicnfibers MFG)
What I know about sheep is only from visiting sheep and wool festivals, and yes those might be Dorsets.
Bless your heart for taking care of them. Can't wait to hear the next installment of the story!!
Wow, you weren't kidding when you said they were matted and had burrs! Yikes. Poor sheeps, they will feel so much better once they are sheared. As someone mentioned getting them wormed with Ivomec or something similar will not only help with internal, but some external parasites as well. They really look pretty healthy outside of the horrible mess of fleece. They don't look too much Dorset to me, just looking at their faces, but they could be a dorset mix (or it could just be the angle of the pictures). You can also (eventually) tell more by what their fleece turns out to look like. Maybe they are something like Polypay or something?? If you want me to, somewhere down the line, I can send you a sample of Dorset fleece to compare to. Regardless they are LUCKY SHEEP.
Take care,
Tammy
Awwww, poor sheep. They remind me of how disheveled and dirty my angora doe was when I rescued her.
Lisa
Those poor things are so lucky to have found you!I bet with a little love and care and some good food they will look great.
I have a husband who will be at the shelter soon. Interested? You must be on your shelter's speed dial! How lucky they are to have someone who so generously gives of her heart and home. I think your new sheep are beautiful!
Poor sheep, I am wondering just how many burr plants were in those poor girls pasture for them to get that much of a mess, well they will be in a better place now! I can't imagine how much better they are going to feel when they are sheared of all that mess, it has to hurt!
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