Ngā mihi o Mahuru Māori ki a koutou! Spring is tantalisingly close and everyone at the Black Sheep is looking forward to more daylight, less mud and fresh green paddocks. It's always delightful to watch the animals trying out the new grass and basking in sunny spots. Meanwhile, we’re keeping busy with sanctuary tasks ranging from fencing, vaccinating and desexing to constructing new toys for the pigs and Caspar the cockatoo. If only the days were longer!
Animal updates
It’s heartwarming to see previously neglected animals regain health and confidence. You may remember Fang, a frail underweight lamb who was rescued just in time from being slaughtered for dog food. Rejected by her mother, and nourished only by grass, her growth was severely stunted. Fast forward a few months, she is thriving and it’s a pleasure to watch her jump and play. We are supplementing her diet to ensure she continues to flourish, and she’s lapping up the extra treats and attention! She has buddied up with Toffee, a gentle goat kid who arrived with ghastly leg injuries. We’re so happy that Toffee has also made an amazing recovery and enjoys balancing on the seesaw we built for him – which has the additional benefit of encouraging him to exercise his weak leg.
It’s heartwarming to see previously neglected animals regain health and confidence. You may remember Fang, a frail underweight lamb who was rescued just in time from being slaughtered for dog food. Rejected by her mother, and nourished only by grass, her growth was severely stunted. Fast forward a few months, she is thriving and it’s a pleasure to watch her jump and play. We are supplementing her diet to ensure she continues to flourish, and she’s lapping up the extra treats and attention! She has buddied up with Toffee, a gentle goat kid who arrived with ghastly leg injuries. We’re so happy that Toffee has also made an amazing recovery and enjoys balancing on the seesaw we built for him – which has the additional benefit of encouraging him to exercise his weak leg.
Moose, a goose with a deformed beak, is also regaining his strength and independence. As he was very thin and sick when he arrived, we initially housed him in our predator-free enclosure, so we could ensure his safety while monitoring his health and weight. Soon he had recovered so well that we were able to release him into the paddocks to wander with our other geese. He enjoys his new freedom and turns up regularly at breakfast and dinner time to be hand-fed his special meals.
The other good news is that Trotter, a friendly kunekune pig who suffered from persistent tumours in his mouth, is thoroughly enjoying life and able to chomp on his favorite food, bananas. After three operations, the surgeries seem to have been successful, with no sign of cancer returning. Special thanks go to all our animal sponsors - your generosity makes all the difference when paying off our substantial food and animal care bills.
We’re also hugely grateful to everyone who donated to our Dancing with the Pigs fundraiser. The money came through just in time to help us survive the COVID-19-related lockdown, which required us to close our fundraising charity shops for nearly two months. As well as helping fund our winter feed supplies, it was a significant help with some of our recent vet bills, such as operating on a rooster with an eye ulcer and desexing our five recently rescued bunnies. They have grown so fast - below you can see Clover when she was only a couple of months old.
The other good news is that Trotter, a friendly kunekune pig who suffered from persistent tumours in his mouth, is thoroughly enjoying life and able to chomp on his favorite food, bananas. After three operations, the surgeries seem to have been successful, with no sign of cancer returning. Special thanks go to all our animal sponsors - your generosity makes all the difference when paying off our substantial food and animal care bills.
We’re also hugely grateful to everyone who donated to our Dancing with the Pigs fundraiser. The money came through just in time to help us survive the COVID-19-related lockdown, which required us to close our fundraising charity shops for nearly two months. As well as helping fund our winter feed supplies, it was a significant help with some of our recent vet bills, such as operating on a rooster with an eye ulcer and desexing our five recently rescued bunnies. They have grown so fast - below you can see Clover when she was only a couple of months old.
Our last adopted roosters
Last month, Pak Choi, Goldy and 2IC joined us, three unwanted young roosters who had been hatched from fertilised eggs in the hope that they would lay eggs for humans to eat. Fortunately we were able to integrate them into our existing rooster flock, where they settled into the orchard, crowing at the tops of their voices.
The orchard gate is closed now, however. With over sixty new arrivals in recent months, we cannot safely bring more roosters into the flock and our vet bills are increasing. Like Pak Choi, Goldy and 2IC, the vast majority of our roosters hatch as unwanted byproducts of the egg industry. Most people can only care for hens and are unaware that there is a fifty percent chance that any chick that hatches will be male.
Last month, Pak Choi, Goldy and 2IC joined us, three unwanted young roosters who had been hatched from fertilised eggs in the hope that they would lay eggs for humans to eat. Fortunately we were able to integrate them into our existing rooster flock, where they settled into the orchard, crowing at the tops of their voices.
The orchard gate is closed now, however. With over sixty new arrivals in recent months, we cannot safely bring more roosters into the flock and our vet bills are increasing. Like Pak Choi, Goldy and 2IC, the vast majority of our roosters hatch as unwanted byproducts of the egg industry. Most people can only care for hens and are unaware that there is a fifty percent chance that any chick that hatches will be male.
Roosters are inquisitive, playful, intelligent and beautiful birds who can be very special companions. They also make very noisy flatmates who love to crow at any hour of the day or night. Most residential areas do not allow roosters, and consequently many birds are dumped on the side of the road where they starve to death or are vulnerable to attack by wandering dogs. Please help us spread the word and encourage anyone in your circles to stop breeding unwanted roosters.
Thank you for your incredible support during this difficult year and please follow our Facebook page for further updates about the sanctuary animals and some sunny spring photos!
Thank you for your incredible support during this difficult year and please follow our Facebook page for further updates about the sanctuary animals and some sunny spring photos!
