Eye, eye, - Fergus again!

Fergus's conjunctivitis in his left eye has returned.  This photo was taken at the beginning of the week when it was weeping a bit and making his cheek wet.  It doesn't seem to bother him, there is no discharge or pus, just tears.  So it was to be another course of Orbenin ointment in the eye - so better get him in the pen.

We usually pen all the boys at once then release one or two, usually Faro and Rufus if they are becoming a nuisance to the others.  Faro (left) and Fergus lead the boys to the pen where we put Fergus's head collar on whilst the Orbenin was applied.  We took the opportunity to do a bit of nail clipping with both Fergus and Fidget the two white boys having all nails clipped.  Gully's back nails were also clipped and all 3 boys were very well behaved (for a change!)  By the end of the week after two applications of ointment, Fergus's eye has cleared up again but we will give him one more 'skoosh' of the stuff just to make sure.

Rufus is not a fan of the catch pen and he usually moans and hums all the time he is in there - when he is in a good mood.  If he is in a 'tetchy mood' he spits at the others and will kick, however he is also easy to work with in the pen and readily accepts the head collar.

You can just tell by looking at Fidget that he doesn't like having his nails cut!  He  struggles against having the head collar on, but once it is over his nose and being fitted,  he is fine.  He really likes a neck rub in the pen but outside of the pen he does not want to be touched.

I forgot to mention last week that we had had a flying visit from Lorna and Sandy of Ardo Alpacas in Aberdeenshire and Lorna very kindly left me a bag of fleece from Jacob who is one of her boys.  I haven't been spinning for a while whilst the house move was on but couldn't resist spinning up Jacob, who is described as an Appaloosa with the distinctive markings.  The fleece is lovely and soft and I've now spun several skeins, two of which appear above.  Lorna is selling Jacob via the Alpaca-seller web site (www.alpacaseller.co.uk) Nice to see you again folks!

This last week has seen large flocks of migrating Fieldfares descending onto the heavily laden Rowan trees.  The noise of their "chack-chack-chack" call can be heard all over the area and the sky is full of birds going from one tree to the next.

And finally...........you can see what the Grumpy Gardener has been up to this week - clipping a very long hedge - both sides of which have to be done.  This side borders one of the boys' top paddocks.   With another 4 hedges of various sizes still to do (all but one are double sided, only one adjoins a neighbour),  this should keep himself out of mischief until Christmas - at least!