Lambs 0, Calves 0 - Not a score to remember...

No more lambs today...very disappointing.  I know we're not expecting any for a couple of weeks, but I was secretly hoping that we were off and running.  Oh well, I suppose you can't have everything.  Ho hum...

It wasn't all doom and gloom today though - the sun has been out and the sprayer that we were using yesterday on the barley has been put away, so we can get back to some sheep work.  Thank goodness.

anyway, this afternoon we had some of last years lambs to sort through and they needed fetching from one of the fields on the way to Lowick, which was quite a hike for all of us.  Skye came along for the ride and had a bit of a dash about when we were in the field, but I managed to get them home - no bother...and Skye was very pleased that we had no more new lambs waiting for us when we got back!

Poor little Daisy just had to watch from the front window while we were moving the sheep about - she says that she wishes her legs were a bit longer so she could run after the sheep.  Mind you, I've seen her running after the sheep in the front field once...and she wasn't too bad at gathering them up.  Maybe we might let her take some of the lambs and ewes out if she's good...we'll see what we think later!

Take care

Lambs Away!!

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy!  What a great day I've had today - we've had the first lamb of the year.  She's a lovely looking thing, but much more important than that...we've started the lambing.  I think we'll have a break now for a few days as there's nothing much else looking likely, but I have been known to be wrong (very occasionally) so we'll just have to see.

Skye is in decline.  Every lamb born is just more trouble to her - she knows she can deal with them when they're tiny little lambs, but she also knows they speed up quite a bit as they get older and she just can't catch them then.  We might have to have a bit less riding about on the bike and a little more running around...poor old Skye.

Daisy got a bit of a wake up call today as well - she got a bit too close to the lamb and was warned off by its mum.  That cheered Skye up a little - she likes watching a good chase.

Anyway, here's some pictures of the new arrival with her mum and having a snack

I'm off to get a good sleep...looks like it going to be busy soon - at last!!

Take care

First calf

There was lots of excitement in the calving shed first thing this morning.  A lovely new calf born about 6am to one of the hand-reared heifers we bought in a while ago from the local dairy.  I must say, I don't get quite as excited about a new calf as I do about my lambs, but it is a nice little thing and his mum is VERY pleased with him, bless her...

I've got some pictures of the little rascal here, just before he got his tags

We're still watching one of the other heifers who will be next, but it's a relief to be started.  Skye is surprisingly happy the calving has started and is hoping to be drafted in as chief cow watcher for the duration (in preference to working the sheep, she'll consider anything).  Daisy has persuaded her she'd better volunteer for something to safeguard ther supper each evening (I know she'd still get fed even if she did nothing all day, but I'm saying nothing!).  I think she'd be a good cow watcher.

Take care

Fencing again - Can you believe it?

Groan...groan...groan.  More fencing today, and hardly any jobs ticked off my lambing list.  I bet they don't have this much trouble getting the lambing sheds ready for that programme on the telly.  I'm doing my best to be patient - I know we'll get there in the end, but I'd sleep a lot better if I thought everything was all done.  It's very exciting now we've got less than a month to go till the lambing - much better than Christmas...just think of it - over 500 little presents to play with.  And they call it work?  I just can't wait.

Skye is still in denial about the lambing - she and Daisy have been planning some trips off farm (mainly to the beach, which is their favourite place to go).  Personally, I don't think they've got any chance of getting a lift off farm now, but it certainly cheers Skye up, so Daisy is going to ask. 

Can't be much more than 2 weeks left now.  How will I ever get to sleep?

Take care

Calving just about to start

Looks like the cows have beaten the sheep to it again.  We're watching some of the heifers now and they look quite close to calving.  Fingers crossed that they don't take too much attention away from the lambing...let's just hope they just get on with it, great big brutes that they are.  Far too big for me to do much with, but I do try every morning when we bed them out.  Skye just gets her head under one of the gates and glowers at them for hours on end, but I like to get into the shed - most of them don't mind me now so it looks like persistance certainly pays.

Little westie is back in the dog house again today - along with Skye.  You think they'd learn, but oh no, far too stupid (or in Skye's case, stubborn) to do that.  Anyway, today they were taking turns to chew a grubby shoe that we all play with in the garden and wouldn't stop when they got a bit rough with it - so guess what?  It was taken away and they were surprised!!  Give me strength...I think even the hens could have worked that one out...

Oh well, at least the lambing is a day closer

Take care

Snow joke

I can't believe it!  Snow right in the middle of our getting ready for the lambing.  This weather is driving me daft - it wasn't just a sprinkle we had, oh no...a full blown blizzard all morning.  Then by 3pm, clear blue sky and all the fields green again.  Even Skye felt a bit sorry for the sheep when we went out to feed them (although she hides it well)

And Daisy? She just thought the snow was fantastic. But she's still only a puppy and just wants to play all the time.  So much so that she got into more trouble today when she started running round the front field chasing all the ewes carrying triples.  That's no way to get into anyones good books - those sheep have attitude at this time of year and were certainly not going to take any stick from a tiny little whipper-snapper.  Still, she'll think twice next time!

Only 25 days to go...calm, calm.  Must stay calm

Take care