to send my sheep to hospital to be induced

[derxa]

For 3 days now not one of the buggers has given birth. They just lie there in their pregnant splendour. Not even bothering to get up and eat. I tootle round them on the quad bike every 2 hours. Not a sausage.

What a lovely thread, and loved the explanation on how the sheep are given to a different mum. I have always wanted to hold a baby lamb.

Derxa, I understand that a lot of people want to eat meat, and that if people want to eat meat then farmers and slaughterhouses are a necessity of life. Its just the fact that farmers start threads like this, all "look at the cute little lamby wambies", and then you are able to harden your heart enough to send the males to the slaughterhouse. I don't think that farmers are deliberately cruel, just more that the animals don't really have any more significance to you than a pound sign in your eyes. They are living and breathing, and don't deserve the abuse that occurs in the slaughterhouse.

And as derxa said, this isn't about the ethics of farming or even if the animals deserve what happens to them.

harsh I didn't start this thread to say 'look at the cute lamby wambies'
The title is anthropomorphic and dare I say 'light hearted', I'll give you that.
If I hadn't taken on these sheep they might well have all gone to the slaughter house. They belonged to my late father and I was on the verge of selling them. I was persuaded to keep them by my shepherdess because she begged me not to let them go. I will not make any money out of them and break even at best. Anyway some people have enjoyed the thread. Nothing you can say will upset me. I know I'm doing the best in a bad situation.

Ah this thread takes me back to my childhood, my grandparents used to keep sheep

Another reason for ewes to lamb in the middle of the night is so that the over enthusiastic 7-yr-old who is DESPERATE to see EVERY SINGLE LAMBING will miss most of them. The selfish sods.

My lambs aren't pound signs.

They are adorable little lamby wammies who also happen to taste awesome when they end up in my freezer. I'm going to eat them both myself.

There are worse things for animals than dying you know. Look around at all the neglected dogs/rabbits/hamsters if you really want to get your knickers in a twist. They are long suffering. My lambs aren't.

Anyway some people have enjoyed the thread.

I've loved it, thank you derxa (and WellErr for the fascinating info)

And of course monkey - do your lambs live in the house? They look so clean!

Garden in the day, house at night!

Except when they spot me through the patio doors. Then it's bleat bleat bleat until I allow them in!

Never mind the lambs monkey I love your rug! How old are the lambs and how long are you going to keep them.
On another note, G. the shepherd was devastated the other day when her favourite sheep died. You'd think she'd be as hard as nails about it but no.

Rug is an old Ikea one, that's the playroom so it's tatty now.

They are 4 weeks 2 days now. They are going back to the farm tonight to be grown on, then will be slaughtered in Feb hopefully when they reach a live weight of 35kg ish.

I'm going to miss my babies

But....I want a white one next! So if you ever need a hand with any orphans......

Aren't they going to miss being treated like mini royalty?

Where abouts are you? I'll put one in the trailer and drive down the motorway not really

I'd have a lamb off you derxa and let it live in my house but I fear my 10 month old would try to eat it alive. He's a bit of a pig.

He's a bit of a pig Goodness don't let him have any pets!

Im in Gloucestershire. Honestly, all orphans are welcome here! I have loads of lamlac and creep all stored away ready for the next baby

Well I love the pictures of the little lamby wambies, keep them coming Derxa

The whole loving things you kill is weird though isn't it?

and actually comparing them children too

Life is just so strange...

why yes, life is strange.

Thing is, if I hadn't have stepped in, they would have been killed at 24 hours old. By stepping in they will get a year of life, then be eaten. It's just not economical for farmers to raise orphan lambs, and I don't own a field to keep them.

There's not a lot of option. We do the best with what we have.

derxa we have a cat. He tries to eat the cat.

Thank god you don't have hamsters or fish then They would be a light snack for him.

Ah lambing season. Time to clear my freezer for the half lamb I get from my aunt

Far too weird to be judge anyway.
I'm with Peter Singer: "can it suffer?"

Just found this thread! I've just applied for a CPH no. Once that arrives I'll be looking for 4 Easycare ewes to come and live with my horses. The lamb pictures are fabulous!