Two sheep and a goat - rescues

Well today we went to the Animal Rescue League to pick up our new companions - a goat and two sheep. They are all in decent condition as far as weight goes, but they had a terrible problem with burrs in their fur/fleece. They have not been cared for properly in terms of grooming and overall healthy appearance.

So, we first brushed all the burrs out of the goat's fur. As I did it, I asked her about her name. I have this sense that animals know their name and they can tell you. It took about 20 minutes before she was ready to tell me, but then she said she would like to be named Tulip. I had tried out other names on her, suggesting latte and coffee and butter and cocoa, but no, she went in a wholly different direction, and it was loud and clear when she said it. So, she is Tulip.

Does anybody have any idea on her breed (or mix of breeds)? She is STRONG and has a lot of muscle, so maybe some Boer in her, but she doesn't have the head or ears of a Boer goat, and she doesn't have Nubian ears either. She is way too big for pygmy.

Here she is.

Her other side. She might have a bit of Boer coloring, but she really doesn't have the head shape and ears. I am totally befuddled as to her breed or mix of breeds.

And here is her sweet face. She got lots of goatie kisses from me. She is a dear and was very patient as I used a horse curry comb to brush out the burrs.

Moving on to the first sheep, she was a sad case. You can hardly see her fleece for the burrs.

Look at her head! It's covered in the burrs. There must have been so many burr weeds in that field she was in.

Here's the back of her head. We had to be so careful with removing the burrs. We didn't want to completely shear her because it is still cold here. So we decided to start with a shear of about the top inch or so of fleece, and see what was underneath.

First pass....wow!! Clean fleece! About 1 inch under all the mess...

So, we started with the clippers. But, about 1/4 of the way along, the clippers broke. The head lost a pin and it made the clipper part fly off. No spare part for that. So, I continued with my Fiskars garden snips. I sheared a sheep with scissors, and let me tell you, when the fleece is this bad, it takes FOREVER to do!!! I had to lay on the floor (concrete) of the unheated barn to get underneath her. My back hurts, my feet were like blocks of ice, not to mention my hands, but what a transformation after a couple of hours...

Yes, that really is the same sheep. Of course, during the clipping, I asked her about her name. Turns out, she wants to be named Buttercup. I am happy to name her that - it is a good name for a beautiful girl who needed some TLC.

Look how beautiful her neck and face are when they are not covered in burrs!

I am not sure on her breed....Dorset? Polypay?

Is that a sheep laying on the floor of the barn?

Oh no, that's just all the cruddy fleece we removed from dear Buttercup! What a heap!

So here she is with her sister in the barn for the night. We will shear her sister tomorrow. There is at least 3 inches of fleece on most of Buttercup, so she has plenty to keep her warm for the rest of the winter until "proper" shearing in spring. We will do the same for her sister and then they will both be much more comfortable without all those prickly burrs. I think we will go to see if TSC store has the parts for the clipper first, which would make it much faster.

So far, her sister hasn't told me her name. I will be open and receptive to her thoughts tomorrow, and we shall see what she wants to be.

I am so pleased we have taken in these girls. I hope they will be happier here and feel more loved than they did in their former home.

GOOD LORD! Claire where were they kept in a burr patch i've never seen a animal with hair matted that bad!
Yes Glad you rescued them i bet that sheep feels 10 pounds lighter and a whole lot less itchie.

Oh Harmony, I've never seen an animal so full of burrs. I can't imagine where they were kept. It must have been awful. You should see the 2 horses they took from the same farm - their manes and tails are just a mess of burrs - they'll have to be cut and re-grown. Awful. I imagine the sheep feels so much better - it was so itchy-scratchy and so heavy - all that mess is gone. I can't wait to get her sister done tomorrow.

That hurt to look at. Yet another daring rescue!!

This is a stretch here, Claire, but how about an Oberhasli Boer cross? That stocky built like a tank thing looks Boer to me. And the ears and head 'Hasli. Of course what I don't know could fill volumes, but...

You know Grow, I wondered about some Oberhaslii myself. The coloring is right, and the head shape might work. The ears are just so non-Boer, but the "tank" build works. I really wonder if you might be right.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDnda-D2R7w
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sleepyzfarm.com/sitebuilder/images/Treasure_10_mos-244x205.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.sleepyzfarm.com/ourdoes.html&usg=__tWL43AytDM6XYdBt-SPmVcMmO-g=&h=205&w=244&sz=14&hl=en&start=17&um=1&tbnid=1W35pepvLR3quM:&tbnh=92&tbnw=110&prev=/images%3Fq%3DOberhasli%2BBoer%2Bgoat%2Bcross%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3DlBc%26sa%3DN

Wow Claire! You are the dream team for the Animal Rescue League! You go!

Oh, what a relief to have those sheep out of that place. Where ever it was it was unfit.
They are the fortunate ones. The ones that make it out. The goat is cute. The ears are too short for Boer but like Grow said it could be a mix. Either way, ITS CUTE!
when is pool party??

Did Buttercup's sister ever tell you her name? Wonderful job, Claire.

Yes, her name is Petunia. :-)

Awww! Petunia. I luv that name!!!

I love Petunia

My first thought was Oberhaasli cross, too.
And I think there are lots of tulips in the Alps...
=o)

Edelweiss...

Edelweiss...

a zaftig alpine

Awww.....what a sweet name! I love it! But she's already Tulip.

Well, I know there is bound to be a birth around here soon....Edelweiss will not go unused!

We're singin' n you missed your cue...
Every mornin' you greet me...

This message was edited Jan 26, 2009 8:29 PM

Smaaall and whiiite, cleeean and briiiight
Yooou look haaappy to meeeet meeee.....

Blossom of snow may you bloom and grow
Bloom and grow foreeeeeeever...

She's probably preggers, C

Edelweiiiiss, Edelweiiiiisss.
Bless my homestead for eeh, eehh, veeeehhhrr....


Edelweiss and Julep...errr...

Awwww...you guys singin' just warms the snowy heart.

Jay was singin' about me an' yer sheep...

Easiest way to get burrs out is to soak them with baby oil and they comb right out with a mane comb. I'm sure it would have worked on the goats and I imagine it would have worked on the sheep too. Likely would have taken a bit longer. Our horses on the farm get full of them. One cockle burr plant is loaded with burrs and all it takes is a gentle bump on the plant to get them all over you.

CMoxon,

May good things come your way!

May peace dwell in your home.

May great blessing and joy be your friends.

What a blessing you have been to these dear animals.

Whatever you sow...you will reap.

Thank you for loving these babies.

April

Cajun - I'm kind of giggling at the baby oil idea....I think I would have needed several gallons of it. I bet Costco has it in bulk! I will pass your idea on to the shelter though, because the horses that were rescued from the same place have tails that look like the sheep - no single horse hair is really visible - it's just a huge, nasty mat. Same with their manes. The horses can't even use their tail to swat flies or anything. Maybe they could use the baby oil instead of cutting the tail and mane right back.

April - Thank you for your kind and thoughtful words. By helping these girls, I have to say that I am already reaping great joy! It is such a pleasure to see them more comfortable. I am always delighted to help when I can, and will always have an open door when we have the space!

By all means try the oil on the tails before cutting them. It really works. Ours always get full of burrs on the farm adn we get them out easily with the oil.

See the wad of burrs in Gypsy's forelock? That wouldn't be 10 minutes work after being soaked with the oil.

See she still has her beautiful forelock in tack.

Wow, Gypsy is gorgeous!! I love horses with grey coloring in them. The first horse I ever rode at Horse Riding Camp when I was a kid was named Shadow, and she was grey and white, and I just loved riding her.

I told the Rescue League about the oil trick and they are going to try it!

She is pretty! Nice job on the hair doo! ;)

I am sure I'd go on a burr bush killing spree!