Sunshine!

6 April 2013

What a difference some sun makes! Even though the grass is yet to start growing the lambs have really enjoyed the first warm, sunny day that we have had for ages ewes and lambs had a lovely few hours soaking up the rays...

  

Cuthbert catching some rays

The dry week that we have just had has also meant that we finally deemed it warm and dry enough to get the first row of potatoes planted - about a month later than normal. Sybil supervised Neil in getting the trench to the right depth and the seed potato spacing just right...

... until she was diverted by a passing ice cream van.

Kitty's Lambs

6 April 2013

The last ewe lambed earlier this week with her first lamb arriving at 3.20am. Having checked her over we thought she was done and dusted (if still a little large), she surprise us by then delivering a twin sometime between 9.30 and 11.30am; this is an incredibly long gap between lambs as sheep normally drop within an hour or two of the first arrival. Both boys are fit and well but it has become apparent that Kitty has had mastitis in a previous season - one of the perils of buying in new ewes. In anticipation that she will find it difficult to keep up with the demand for milk from her boys we have been trying to get them supplementary feeding, they are not keen but will hopefully come to the milk bar as and when they need a top up.

Annabel putting a lamb on the milk bar, watched by our neighbour Bob and Kitty in the trailer.