Meet the resident Sheep

 

Keats and Kipling were 2 Wiltshire Longhorn lambs destined for the abbattoir when we intervened. We acquired a holding number from DEFRA, the paperwork was completed and our two little castrated  lambs were delivered. “They haven’t had any shelter” the farmer said. That night it rained and we found them both lying down in the stable with Tatiana, the rescued racehorse. They were definitely not stupid. We decided to name our sheep with names beginning with K calling them Keats and Kipling. They proved somewhat timid at first but we soon discovered that bribery in the form of a bowl full of sheep nuts was a very effective way to make friends. Kipling unfortunately died of fly strike. We had been told that they were unlikely to get it because of their short fleeces so it rather took us by surprise. Keats thank goodness  escaped it as did the others.

 

Unfortunately someone left a gate open between the donkeys and the baby lambs which resulted in the donkeys getting into their area and Kylie breaking a leg. Fortunately the excellent Matt at Arun Vets in Pulborough offered to repair it at cost. She caused quite a sensation sitting  in the surgery in between the cats and dogs. Sometimes she went unnoticed until they heard a ”Baa”! It was major surgery but all went well and she  now walks, runs, and jumps like her normal sister Kim. Their mother the lovely Katie died of old age in 2011.

Through being spoilt just as much as her sister and  being bottle-fed when Katie had mastitis both Kim and her sister Kylie are incredibly friendly and tame. They are now normal sheep living in the field with the 2 large horses Marty and Shabba. However people cannot believe how friendly sheep can be and are enchanted with them.