| Below is some of the feedback we get from our student - we
always like to hear from students to know where we can improve our courses
and we particularly appreciate the photos! |
"This course is well worth doing. I went on last
one and learnt a lot, just wish I had the time to stay and use the
artificial ewe. My first lamb is due in about 2 weeks (a bit early
considering rest won't be til March/April but my pet sheep just couldn't
wait!)
Congratulations to Ruth on such a good lambing rate." - Scotsgirl
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"Belated
I know but thanks. Our first lambs arrived on Wednesday morning – twins.
We had to bring one in by the cooker because he was a bit weak and started
to get very cold – hence the extra sweater! He’s now back out with his mum
and is doing fine.
Another 3 have arrived since and I’ve managed to miss the birth of all of
them! Luckily, no complications so far but I feel a lot more confident
having done the course. Our only problem is it’s bloody cold out in the
barn at 3 in the morning!
Thanks again
Heather
Jefferies
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"I went on the last one it was fantastic, so much
information but not too much that it confused you. So practical and a big
THANK YOU to everyone involved in making it a great day." - Ellis R
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| "Have just got back from this
course and would recommend it to anyone thinking of lambing for the first
time. Loads of information and practical stuff as well. I shall be looking
forward to our lambs with a lot more confidence. Thanks to all involved and
good luck to all those I met on the course." - Mrs J |
"I went on this today,Woolly Shepherd had sorted
it out at a farm near to her
It was a great day!
Ruth the farmer covered everything from signs a ewe is ready to start
birthing through to letting us have a go at castrating & ringing tails &
the obligatory spraying of the number on the wee thing!Mine was number 13
not so lucky as it was a boy twin & it was my job to castrate it!
I can now write on my List of Things I Can Do~ check a lambs doodads as
the smalls would say, are in the pockets! & then use the pliers to put the
ring on(& yes the menfolk there did most definately wince) & get the ring
off the pliers,I found this tricky as was worried I was going to hurt it
but it was fine! & how to check they are all in the bag so to speak & job
done!Ringing the tail was a doddle heheheh
I learnt how to condition grade a ewe,feeling across the back to see how
much fat & muscle there is. At first you dont know what you are feeling
but with explanation & being shown various sheep I could soon feel a good
condition one to an overweight one.
The mock up ewe was a genius idea.Made from bits of a wetsuit inside a
wooden box so the lid was shut,it was surprising how different the senses
have to work when you cannot *see* something & also cannot use both hands!
Inside a specially made bag were placed one or two dead lambs.Might sound
gruesome but it was a blimming good experiance. It was good to know you
couldnt do any damage to the ewe or the lamb & could take as long as you
liked,not always the case in a live situation.
My scenario was a twin birth with one presented head on but slightly on
its side & the other on its side & breech. It was a case of working out
how many legs,heads,which legs were they?front or back legs?,which lamb
did they belong to! I had to move the breech lamb back in the womb & then
there was room to manouvre the front presented one to be born & then with
that out there was room to get the back legs of the breech one out from
under its body so they were laying out straight behind it so you could
then pull it out like that,you dont turn them apparantly.
We had a wonderful lunch & I came away feeling alot more knowledgable than
I did when I arrived thats for sure! I could do with some more basics in
sheep husbandry but have been recommened the new book by Tim Tyne so will
trot off round the internet when I have a bit of spare cash.
I still dont know alot but I know more than I did this morning
"
- Greentwinsmummy
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