As most of you know the weather is going crazy here. For one thing it is May and it is snowing. Folks, I live on the prairies of North Eastern Oklahoma. Snow in May is NOT Normal. With that said it is also taking a toll on the some of the animals. Mostly the older ones. One older Ewe is in trouble tonight. If you remember we got Momma and her baby, Pistol, Last year. Momma was coming here because her health was really bad. Well, not bad for an 11 year old Ewe but bad by our standards.
Her owner basically asked up to bring her here to die. She had been kicked by a horse and wasn't able to get around well. In true Straw fashion, we identified the problem and got her going again and she has been on special feed for her health ever since. She wasn't even supposed to have been bred this year but the Ram got to her without us knowing it. She has gone from on her death bed to back to normal in less then 6 months.
The sad truth is that we know that she won't last forever and tonight we found Momma under the shed half frozen. Pickles, her baby from this year, was staying by her side. Mom was still at work so Dad and I moved Momma into the barn. No, we didn't bring her inside. There are a few things you need to know about Momma. First, she hates that inside pen. No matter what she will kill herself trying to get out of it. Second, Momma hates everyone but Mom. For Dad and I to get her into the barn with Pickles was quite the chore. We put a heating lamp on her and gave her food and water. She seemed to be doing better and even stood for a short time.
When Mom got home, we ate a bite and headed to the barn. There we found that Momma had gone down again. Mom got her onto the pig blanket (a large heating pad that is used to warm litters of Pigglets) and then lay down beside her to use her body heat to warm her. Momma Laid there and took Mom's kisses as if it was normal for the two of them to curl up together and go to sleep. I lay down on the other side of Momma and used my body heat to warm her other side. In a little bit we had her warm again and she was holding her own.
Pickles isn't quite sure what is going on but when ever we tried to kiss on Momma he would come up and headbutt us and try and protect her. We know Momma can't live forever, but Mom isn't ready to lose her so soon after Juneau. However, I did hear Mom tell Momma, while they were curled up together, that if she had to go Mom would understand.
Her owner basically asked up to bring her here to die. She had been kicked by a horse and wasn't able to get around well. In true Straw fashion, we identified the problem and got her going again and she has been on special feed for her health ever since. She wasn't even supposed to have been bred this year but the Ram got to her without us knowing it. She has gone from on her death bed to back to normal in less then 6 months.
The sad truth is that we know that she won't last forever and tonight we found Momma under the shed half frozen. Pickles, her baby from this year, was staying by her side. Mom was still at work so Dad and I moved Momma into the barn. No, we didn't bring her inside. There are a few things you need to know about Momma. First, she hates that inside pen. No matter what she will kill herself trying to get out of it. Second, Momma hates everyone but Mom. For Dad and I to get her into the barn with Pickles was quite the chore. We put a heating lamp on her and gave her food and water. She seemed to be doing better and even stood for a short time.
When Mom got home, we ate a bite and headed to the barn. There we found that Momma had gone down again. Mom got her onto the pig blanket (a large heating pad that is used to warm litters of Pigglets) and then lay down beside her to use her body heat to warm her. Momma Laid there and took Mom's kisses as if it was normal for the two of them to curl up together and go to sleep. I lay down on the other side of Momma and used my body heat to warm her other side. In a little bit we had her warm again and she was holding her own.
Pickles isn't quite sure what is going on but when ever we tried to kiss on Momma he would come up and headbutt us and try and protect her. We know Momma can't live forever, but Mom isn't ready to lose her so soon after Juneau. However, I did hear Mom tell Momma, while they were curled up together, that if she had to go Mom would understand.
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