Unbelieveably. And against the odds she is still quietly sitting in her pen watching the world go by. She cannot walk more than a few steps, and makes not a sound. I pour her potion down her throat every two or three hours and make her get up to pee. Yesterday about 3pm I noticed that her ears were warming up.
Later she ate a little corn lying down. And I hand fed her some spinach. And by late evening she was standing up for a very short while to eat some hay.
Today I will call the vet and get a shot to make sure that she has expelled everything. Because I am pretty sure she has not, though I could feel nothing in there. I have images of her expelling the dead one and others alive in there but this is impossible. Just fanciful. So miserable for her. But I am feeling very tentatively positive. And lets hope that this is a one time thing and not a sign of illness in my flock.
She will not be bred again though. In fact next year no-one will be bred until I come back from New Zealand in October.
I will tell you a funny story.
Last night I was slow to cover Sheila up. Every night she tuggles into her carefully prepared bed and I lay her blanket over her, sealing in the heat.
Well,last night busy I was hand feeding Mama her potion. It is all melted into a full cup of warm water and I shoot it in small amounts down her throat with a big syringe. But it does take some time as we rest between mouthfuls.
Sheila’s pen is just across the barn corridor and she has a little kind of window in the wall that she can stick her fat piggie head head through to see what is going on in the barn. I could hear her moving around arranging her bed, pulling it up higher and higher and then I heard her lie down and it was quiet for a minute. I kept talking to Mama as I sat on the straw beside her, holding her head and helping her drink. Then I heard a distinct “harumph” from Sheila’s pen. “Coming Sheila.” I gently called out. I kept feeding Mama then heard another grunt and wriggle. I started to finish Mama up then as I stood I was greeted with Sheilas what about me face, through her little window. She proceeded to bark quite indignantly at me. “Ruff ruff ruff ” she was saying. Her snout quivering in the throes of a little piggy tanty. As I moved to climb over the gate, her head was swiftly withdrawn and as laid down my cup and syringe, pilled my gloves back on and settled my hat further down on my head, stomped my frozen feet and picked up her blanket, I heard her rustle again in the straw.
As I leaned over her gate gathering her blanket into folds to throw over her I could see that she had raced back into her bed, wriggling deep into the straw, then hearing me she went quite still, her elephants eye turned upwards peering out from under her ears waiting for her blanket. I flicked it out into the cold air of the barn and it unfurled straight like a sheet above a bed and floated and settled over her long round body, coming to rest just below her ears and and she was covered right past her tucked in piggy tail. “About time” she thanked me her voice muffled in the deep straw. And with a great sigh she closed her eyes. And the barns sleepy silence fell about us. I turned off the lights, patted the sentinel cat and closed the door behind me quietly
Have a lovely day.
your tired friend
celi
We are into the fifth consecutive day below freezing and there is ice everywhere. Mainly from buckets of water freezing solid overnight then being chipped out so they can be filled with warm water again in the morning.
Someone liked the snow though.
c
The Kitchen's Garden 
62 responses to “Mama still holding her own and a funny story”
I need to come out and meet Sheila. You too of course 🙂
Am anxiously awaiting tomorrow’s post to hear how Mama is doing. Keeping fingers crossed that she’s okay, healing and getting back to normal.
I would love you and your daughters to come up for a visit, that would be lovely. c
enchanting – all of it, including your writing!
Well done Celi, you deserve to win Mama’s life after all that love and effort..
I feel the cold too, so I sympathise with dear Sheila…
A wonderful winter story! ‘Mommee, unfair! You always come to me first’ – snuffle!! Don’t think Christmas elves sitting on barn posts would work in this case 🙂 ! And even we Down Under hear about your freezing weather in the news every night . . . Hope the vet was able to give some worthwhile info and ease your mind . . . ! And have to count how many sleeps till a New Zealand you will be happy to see after the myriad of untoward happening on the farmy this year . . .
mama cleaned by herself, before the vet had a chance so now we are on a wait and see.. it seems to be taking a while though for her to get back up.. maybe tomorrow.. c
Thanks for the news! Well, methinks her biological clock has said its piece and the productive lady should be given time to do ‘her own thing’ . . . Boo and Marmalade would not move out of their ‘cot’ I suppose 😉 !
Fingers crossed.
If it’s not one thing it’s another… Marmalade Kitten, Celi & the big wind, Kupa and now Mama… Sheila makes me think of the [nice version of] the Old Woman Who Lived in the Shoe…
“There was an [not so] old woman
Who lived in a shoe,
She had so many children,
And loved them all, too.
She said, “Thank you Lord Jesus,
For sending them bread.”
Then kissed them all gladly
and sent them to bed”
🙂
excellent.. now off to bed the lot of you!! c
So happy Mama is looking up. Absolutely hate having an animal ail, first off trying to figure out what is wrong and what to do and then beating myself up in case it was my fault. Your piggy story gave me the same smile I had every night when I put Roosevelt T Pig to bed, he had that same wiggle and sign once he was covered up and tucked in. Sent me off to bed smiling without fail. Better jump on that Kune Kune! I think they go fast.
We had 5″ of light fluffy overnight and windchills in the minus teens today, not good when you have to stand around holding horses and a donkey for the farrier. Didn’t think I’d ever thaw out! I’m so done with winter……
I am sending my cheque in the morning, thank you for the link! What a lovely man.. c
Yes he really seems to be, I have a sense he has a real love for his animals. Now we have to wait (groan). I feel a little silly, I’m a 60 year old woman and I feel like a 10 yr old waiting for her new puppy!
I am going to talk the americans into driving me down to see him soon, (still cannot drive my own car.. more groans) .. it is two hours from here and will make a great day trip, they have never seen a kunekune before! I am thrilled hat we might be getting them at the same time.i just said yes to all his litter dates, as long as i can get a black and white or brown and white one
Glad to hear Mama is still eating and getting up for a bit. I loved Sheila’s bedtime story. Hope you get some rest, and good news regarding the sheep.
Things are busy as usual for you. I hope your little one is feeling better soon. I am glad Shelia is making everyone laugh. Hey did you lie on the cold ground on your belly to get that shot of the ice? Brrr. But a very cool shot. Take care and stay warm
no i just pit the camera by my boot.. too cold!! morning bam darling.. c
Your piggy story is so funny. Sibling rivalry in the stalls, I thought (even though a sheep and a pig can’t be siblings). Next thing they’ll be wanting lullabies before going to sleep. I’m touched by the care you are giving Mama. Your heart is so warm, even thought the world around you is so cold. PS Did I hear you say NZ? A trip in the offing?? How exciting.
It’s wonderful seeing the chemistry of your Noah’s Ark of a farm at work….very beautiful…
I’m playing catchup on reading… my goodness Celi! It’s the middle of the day here and that story made me want to take a big, snuggly afternoon nap!!
I swear I know so many farmers but none of the likes of you most don’t even have the time to tuck their own babies in 😦 you are a good Momma HUGS