On Sunday afternoon, our job was to herd all 15 lambs into a chute so we can weigh a few of them on the scale. The project leader said she’d catch one, harness it, and then hopefully have it sit on the scale for 2 seconds. She and Chris managed to get one on the scale, but the scale decided to malfunction last minute. But we presume they are about 120 pounds each, except for one that will weight more since it weighed 120 pounds upon arrival 2 months ago. You can see that there is a lone lamb outside the chute that slipped out of the corral. Its standing next to the flock outside the chute, probably bemoaning its bad decision (towards the far left).
The leader’s assistant is leading the lone lamb back to the chute with a flake of alfalfa hay. This is the only way it’ll follow her, but it still did a fair share of wandering. This lamb was not too food motivated.
Elliot and I crammed inside the far end of the chute, ready to push the lambs with our hands so they will move forward and down the chute. Unsuccessful attempt. They’re stronger than us and we barely had any space to move. But I got a chance to give them big bear hugs.
Our attempt to flip a lamb and have it sit on its behind. First, you need to grab its nose and turn it away from its body, then you stand over the lamb between your legs, and you knee its back legs to make it fall on its behind. Once the lamb is in the sitting position, you can hold their arms and check their teeth.
This is what we were aiming for as shown by the project leader, but the lamb must’ve known we were not experienced herders. I ended up just petting him and apologizing for the bother I caused.
Here’s Chris holding down a harnessed lamb to get it on the scale.
Ellis was not interested in getting too close to the active lambs. She was afraid of getting trampled, so she kept a good distance away from the whole commotion. Her job was to move the water troughs and fill it with cool water.
Here is a ladybug larva and the flower Vetch with its pea pods. The lambs eat them for protein.
All in all, it was an exhilarating and exhausting afternoon for all of us. Ellis and I were nervous about the physical labor involved, like moving the fence and water troughs, herding the lambs, being out in the blistering sun, that we suffered mild gastrointestinal issues, probably anxiety caused, before we headed out to the farm. But once we saw the lambs, we were ready to do our jobs and finally get a chance to hug one.
Afterwards, we treated ourselves to McDonald’s Fanta slush drinks and ice cream sundae for Elliot.
10 responses to “Lambs: weighing and flipping attempts by the Suhs”
Whew! That was quite a workout!!
This is a nice series of photos Esther .— – may they will be even more conducive for hugging as time goes on.
That photo of the lamb sitting on its rear is just funny. I really enjoyed seeing the ladybug larva, too. I’ve only photographed one, and it took me a while to figure out what it was — but mine looks exactly like yours, which it should!
Wow, What a nice photo you get a big bear hugs.
really enjoyed seeing the ladybug larva, too & Chris holding down a harnessed lamb. Ellis doing to move the water troughs and fill it with cool water.
Seems like a lovely experience.
Everyone looks happy
Sounds like fun, but exhausting work, but a once-in-a-lifetime experience for the entire Suh family.
Linda, it took me 2 days to recover. At the time, I don’t realize how physically worked I am because it’s fun to be around lambs and with the adrenaline. But once I get home, I start feeling the aches and pains. But yes, it’s a unique experience that we would rarely have again.
It looked like hard work, between toting all the water to them and then getting them weighed.
It took me out for 2 days…doing farm chores is physically challenging. Ellis gets a bloody nose afterwards.
I felt like a Mack truck ran over me the day after doing all the yard work … like you, if you’re not lifting, toting, moving your body like that every day, it takes its toll on your body.