Ducks 4 in '24

[ducks4you]

If I haven't said so, we made our last payment on our Kubota Compact Tractor in October!
I got comfy by the fire pit in our nice bench seat (that DH gave me for Christmas several years ago.) Eva kept me company and I was entertained by one tractor trip after another. Surprisingly he didn't rip up the sod in the south yard very much.
The sod in front of the barn is a different story, BUT, when we moved here it was all gravel. The grass has dropped seeds and spread, no real loss.
DD's had a planned beer break by the fire pit midway.
DH had the brilliant idea many years ago to create stalls from pieces of round pen panels, one being the gate. It wasn't hard to take them apart, and tonight's rain will do them all good, what with ALL of the cobwebs! We parked the tractor inside of the barn for tonight, pick it up tomorrow.
Here is Day#1.

 

[heirloomgal]

Eva is a big girl!

 

[ducks4you]

German Shepherd. She was the largest female puppy. I couldn't find any other way to choose--ALL.SO.CUTE!!

 

[Dahlia]

I am reposting an email from Joy of Illinois Farm, for your pleasure.
March 31, 2024
A big white ewe delivered healthy triplets, two large and one tiny one, maybe 2 pounds. They all nursed the first milk, colostrum, but on the second day the tiny ewe lamb looked bad, just lying in a corner of the pen. She was not able to compete with her big siblings and without intervention would quickly starve to death.
Every spring we have a laundry basket or two in the kitchen with newspaper in the bottom, a heating pad or microwaveable beanbag, old towels, and a weak lamb or kid. 2024 was no exception...
I got the powdered lamb formula out of the freezer, brought the lamb in from the barn, warmed her up, and warmed up a bottle with 1/2 cup of formula. A lamb or kid can't begin to digest unless its body temperature is at normal (102F). She was still too weak to suck; death was near.
Decision time--should I keep trying with the bottle, or try to tube feed her? Tube feeding can have near-miraculous results if the tube empties correctly into the stomach, or it can be instant death if the tube mistakenly goes in the lungs. Well, what did I have to lose?? Since she kept breathing, the formula went the right way. By this time it was late at night after a v-e-r-y long day.
The next morning she was still alive! and able to suck on the bottle! That began a regimen of 1/2 cup formula 4X daily, which graduated to 3/4 cup 3X daily. As the formula supply dwindled, I introduced goat milk for part of her ration.

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She began to gain weight after about 6 days and now hollers loudly for her bottle when she hears people coming.

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She's back out with her mama and siblings and looking great!

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Her name is Resurrection Lamb, or Easter for short!
Til next time, Penny

Lambs are so cute! I have always thought it would be fun to take a lamb for a walk! I'm asking the professionals! Are lambs fun to take for walks or is it even possible!?