The Soay Sheep Chronicles

When last we met Patterdale, she was just a few days old, traumatized by her mother’s rejection, confused by her wanderings in the Maternity Ward, wishing she could have continued as Tolcarne’s adoptee, and a bit uncertain about her prospects in the makeshift pen in our breakfast nook.  Not to mention the nearly hourly strife of going nose-to-nose with a border collie through the wire dog crate.  Weighing a mere 2 pounds 4 ounces at birth, she had a long way to go.

What a difference a week makes!  This morning as I was feeding her, I realized we should weigh the little darling to see if she ihas made any progress.  To our great surprise and delight, she has put on nearly 2 full pounds in just 12 days, to a whopping 4 pounds 3 ounces.  Not only that, she is no longer fazed by Molly’s border-collie intensity (see Molly back there quietly observing the proceedings?), and she has decided every Soay lamb should have a kindergarten chair as her personal gym equipment.  Have a look:

A few minutes ago, I turned the chair sideways and she actually jumped right over the seat.  Time to get her out in the nursery, that’s for sure!

So what have we learned thus far?  Patience.  Now there’s a newsflash, patience with a baby.  But a particular kind of patience – not feeding too much.  Patterdale never actually scoured, thankfully, but she did not pass the … hmm … how to say this, the ”solid waste products” test.  She has been slow to pass this second test of potty training despite her best efforts.  Fortunately, Steve had squirreled away for just such an occasion a bag of an energy supplement with electrolytes by the grand name of “ARREST,” to be used for “scouring calves, pigs, foals, lambs and kids.”  As near as I can tell, it is the ovine equivalent of Gatorade or one of the other energy drinks.

In any case, it works just dandy.  We mixed up an empty water bottle of the stuff per the dilution directions.  The first day we used equal parts of the supplement and milk replacer, reducing Patterdale’s total milk intake.  The next day we used one part supplement to 3 parts milk, again substituting the supplement for part of the milk.  By the third day, Patterdale was tired of reduced milk rations and let us know in no uncertain terms.  She may be only the temporarily-adopted sister of Otley the Noisy, but by golly they have the same robust vocal cords even if they are not biologically related.

One caution about electrolyte supplements for scouring:  do store the mixture in the refrigerator.  Unlike milk replacer, which can sit out at room temperature without spoiling, at least for a day, the electrolyte mixture will start to ferment at room temperature.  What we do not need around here is a tipsy lamb; she and her ilk are not exactly rocket scientists stone-sober, after all.  Besides, I don’t know about you, but an exploding plastic bottle of sugary solution in my kitchen is not my idea of a good time.

Patterdale, you’ve come a long way, baby.

For now …