The birth rites of spring

[johnhcrf]

Earlier you spoke about the safety of cats/dogs around crows but since these are both carnivores, surely the birds would be wary?

John.

[ina]

Earlier you spoke about the safety of cats/dogs around crows but since these are both carnivores, surely the birds would be wary?

John.

Ravens, John, ravens. You suggested to lure ravens to towns, and I thought that cat owners might get worried. I don't think ravens would mind whether the animal they caught was carnivore or not - I think size really matters there. But that's just a thought of mine; I've never seen it happen. I have seen a crow take a live rabbit once.

[johnhcrf]

Rabbits have no defence, bar speed of flight. I'll need to research the different sizes of crow to get my definitions precise.

John.

[johnhcrf]

Rooks are the birds I was describing. They are often seen with smaller crows feeding in gardens. In the google page rooks were described as having human-sounding voices and I think that is correct. Have you noticed that Ina?
Ravens are a bigger type which I have not seen.

John.

[ina]

Rooks are the birds I was describing. They are often seen with smaller crows feeding in gardens. In the google page rooks were described as having human-sounding voices and I think that is correct. Have you noticed that Ina?

It's just crows we get around here - I might be able to tell the difference between the birds if I saw them together, but that's not happened yet.

[johnhcrf]

It is possible that they are locally based, staying in the same place, like humans. How were the lamb's today? Are they developing bad habits yet?


John.

[ina]

Lambs are fine - most of the ones born are out by now - lovely in this weather! I just have a few little ones and orphans left inside. And the second flock (Cheviots, the others were Blackfaces) is about to start lambing, so I have a tiny bit of a breathing space before they really get going... Only the one premature one so far, which is doing fine, considering his size!

[johnhcrf]

How are orphans reared? I suppose other ewes may oblige. How many lambs do you look after and do you take them out all day?

John.

[ina]

If we can, we foster spare lambs onto ewes that only have one. So most of our "orphans" aren't actually without a mother of their own; they mostly are spare triplets, as very few ewes have enough milk for three lambs. Those that we can't get a foster mum for, we rear on the bottle, or, if there are more than just one or two, on a bucket with several teats...

A couple of years ago we had a lot of triplets on the farm - a lot more than singles, so I ended up with something like 35 orphans to rear. This year, so far I have only two; but the flock that's just starting to lamb has a lot more triplets than singles, again, so I'm expecting to end up with a dozen or so.

Normally, the ewes stay inside with their lambs only for a couple of days - but that depends on weather and on how strong the lambs are. And then they are out for the rest of their lives! Orphan lambs have to stay in for a bit longer, for practical reasons (difficult to feed outside); but I may be able to set up a little paddock near the shed where I can still give them a feed a couple of times a day once they are a bit older, and don't need to be on constant milk supply. They start eating hay, grass and "creep feed" (special lamb pellets that contain dry milk) at a very early age.

[johnhcrf]

You seem to have a great knowledge and wealth of experience. Have you worked/reared other animals and can you deliver the young?

John.