Spring is always a busy time on the farm!
Recovering from winters wild weather! Fixing damage; coming out of hibernation and getting ready for everything starting to grow again as the days start to draw out once more.
It is also lambing time. When most are tucked up in their beds; I am out in the sheep shed, checking for signs of ewes lambing and helping anyone that may need it. Lambing sheep is a roller coaster ride of emotions. The elation of a ewe with her lambs safely born, up on their feet suckling is hard to surpass. But there are also the lows. They often come in the middle of the night, when no one else is around: A ewe not being able to lamb herself; a ewe lambing who shouldn't be for a few more weeks; a ewe who hates her lambs and won't let them anywhere near her; a ewe having more than twins; a lamb who is ill and you can't figure out what is wrong. The list is endless, and we had all of these and more this year. But somehow we got there...... with help! Farmers spend a lot of time on their own with no one to talk to, and mental wellbeing is a big concern in the farming community. But there is always someone out there. To lend an ear; a hand; make a cuppa, and somehow it's not as bad as you thought! We are also really lucky to have a fantastic team of vets close by for the support needed. Though my flock is very good at making them scratch their heads! "oh, I've never seen that before" is associated with my flock. All of the flock lambed in 3 weeks....except Moonpie! She had other ideas. 6 weeks after all the other ewes were happily out in the fields with their lambs, Moonpie was still inside the sheda dn not eating properly! So we put her out in the field with another ewe who didn't have lambs so she could stretch her legs, eat grass and hopefully kick start labour. Sure enough, 3 days later. 2 beautiful (tiny) ewe lambs were born. Thank goodness!!! I can get some real sleep now.
