414 SHEEP AND SWINE 



shouHl take entire charge of the work and be entirely 

 responsible for the results. For this reason it is well to 

 know something about baby sheep before starting. 



Of all farm animals, sheep are least understood, and one 

 reason why many farmers do not make a success with 

 sheep is because they do not understand them. This is 

 not only true of lambs but of the adult sheep also. The 

 babies are leggy and delicate creatures. " They are prin- 

 cipally legs, the connecting body being simply a contriv- 

 ance for converting milk into more leg, so you understand 

 how it is that they will follow the flock in two days and 

 are able to take a trail in a fortnight, traveling four or five 

 miles a day, falling asleep on their feet and tottering for- 

 ward in the way." 



The first day or two of their lives they are well-nigh 

 helpless. It may be necessary to assist them to their first 

 meals. Sometimes the lamb does not have as good a 

 mother as the colt or calf has. It often happens that the 

 mother in her eagerness to forage seems to forget her 

 child. If in this condition the lamb becomes dangerously 

 chilled, it is a good practice to immerse it in warm water 

 to bring the circulation to the skin. When thus warmed 

 and stimulated, it should be removed from the bath and 

 rubbed dry. Lambs should be kept warm and dry at all 

 times. A young mother, or an old one, which is not well 

 nourished sometimes disowns her bleating child. It is 

 then advisable for the raiser to teach the parent a few 

 lessons in maternal responsibility by confining the mother 

 to a small enclosure while the baby is given a chance to 

 nurse. 



In a week or two the young begin to nibble at solid 

 foods, as grain and hay. It is a good plan to encourage 

 this desire, because it will then be easier to wean them later. 

 Put a little grain in their boxes two or three times each 



