Tuesday morning and once again it looks pretty bleak out there. The sky is a
murky grey and the rain is falling...supposedly it's going to be worse tomorrow
so I'm going to save my complaining for another day ! Yesterday was the start of
our lambing season, Smudge, one of our ewes delivered twins in the early hours
of yesterday morning. When Greg went down to feed the rowdy rabble of ladies in
waiting, he discovered that one was waiting no more and one that is still very
very much waiting and the size of a barge had snaffled one of Smudges babies.
Annie the ewe is still pregnant but clearly isn't prepared to wait for her own
offspring to make their arrival and had stolen the still wet lamb. When Greg
arrived, there was Smudge nursing a little brown lamb and also there was Annie
happily licking a contented little brown baby who didn't know who his mommy was
! Momentarily, Greg was confused, Annie still looked HUGE and there was no sign
of a recent birthing, Smudge had obviously just lambed but Annie was in no mood
for parting with her adoption. To try to solve #2 lambs confusion, Greg tried to
gather the new little family of 3 but Annie was quite determined not to loose
"her" baby and her frantic bawling could be heard through the valley ! Annie the
ewe WAS going into the bonding pen whether she was invited or not. Greg had
quite the struggle to persuade her that the lamb belonged to Smudge and Annies
time will come soon enough judging by her condition.
murky grey and the rain is falling...supposedly it's going to be worse tomorrow
so I'm going to save my complaining for another day ! Yesterday was the start of
our lambing season, Smudge, one of our ewes delivered twins in the early hours
of yesterday morning. When Greg went down to feed the rowdy rabble of ladies in
waiting, he discovered that one was waiting no more and one that is still very
very much waiting and the size of a barge had snaffled one of Smudges babies.
Annie the ewe is still pregnant but clearly isn't prepared to wait for her own
offspring to make their arrival and had stolen the still wet lamb. When Greg
arrived, there was Smudge nursing a little brown lamb and also there was Annie
happily licking a contented little brown baby who didn't know who his mommy was
! Momentarily, Greg was confused, Annie still looked HUGE and there was no sign
of a recent birthing, Smudge had obviously just lambed but Annie was in no mood
for parting with her adoption. To try to solve #2 lambs confusion, Greg tried to
gather the new little family of 3 but Annie was quite determined not to loose
"her" baby and her frantic bawling could be heard through the valley ! Annie the
ewe WAS going into the bonding pen whether she was invited or not. Greg had
quite the struggle to persuade her that the lamb belonged to Smudge and Annies
time will come soon enough judging by her condition.
Supporters of Gertie the confused goose ( confused sheep, confused goose and confused Greg...I'm confused why everything seems to be confused !!!!) will be happy to hear that Gertie was very much back and very much in evidence yesterday. Watching from the house ( still on medical "house arrest") I watched Gertie with Quest in the field, where he went, that Canada goose was sure to go ! when Greg went to bring the Shires out of the field yesterday evening, Gertie was there ready for the waddle down the farm road. Sadly, Gerties waddle was no match for Greg and the two Shires, not a problem for a goose with wings that really do work,even if she rarely seems to make use of them. Gertie just took off and circled around them at head height before landing on the road just in front of the horses huge hooves. Gertie waddled along the road in front of the threesome who had to slow their pace for the goose ! Lady, unimpressed by Gertie who was delaying her dinner picked up her pace and Greg lady and Quest had to walk around her. Gertie stood for several minutes in the road by herself watching the horses go into the barn before she fluffed her feathers up honked and flew back to join Gustav who was waiting in the pasture. I guess he has got used to taking a back seat in Gerties affections.
Greg had a chicken " roundup" and the chicks that hatched at Farm Fest Open Farm
Day in October now have new residents in their roost. The "Open Day" chicks
appeared to accept the new arrivals, apart from Bozo. Bozo was a very
recognizable chick when she hatched. Greg gave her little hope because much of
her early life was spent on her back. If it still breathed it still had a chance
and Bozo got special chick care for her first few weeks. Bozo the "special chick
has grown into Bozo the bully with a limp !!! Of all the older chicks, it was
Bozo the bully that hen pecked the younger chicks we hatched several weeks ago.
The younger chicks have already had three moves, from the incubator to the
brooder box, from there to a larger secure pen and yesterday to the "grown up
pen". The Farm Fest chicks are due to start laying at the beginning of April, it
is 6 months before hens start to produce eggs, not long to wait
now.
Well, nothing more to report, time for a cup of tea...and a
walk ! Take care, M
Day in October now have new residents in their roost. The "Open Day" chicks
appeared to accept the new arrivals, apart from Bozo. Bozo was a very
recognizable chick when she hatched. Greg gave her little hope because much of
her early life was spent on her back. If it still breathed it still had a chance
and Bozo got special chick care for her first few weeks. Bozo the "special chick
has grown into Bozo the bully with a limp !!! Of all the older chicks, it was
Bozo the bully that hen pecked the younger chicks we hatched several weeks ago.
The younger chicks have already had three moves, from the incubator to the
brooder box, from there to a larger secure pen and yesterday to the "grown up
pen". The Farm Fest chicks are due to start laying at the beginning of April, it
is 6 months before hens start to produce eggs, not long to wait
now.
Well, nothing more to report, time for a cup of tea...and a
walk ! Take care, M
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