2 days early

2 days early and today ewe number three lambed successfully. 

Two rams 

Older step sister born last year meets new arrival 

Caught you. That was a exercise and half chasing lambs round field to tail and tag both ewes. Done the older ones. 

So three ewes and 2 rams so far. One left to lamb not due till 6th April but we will see. 

New additions

Born 29 March 2020

All looking good with lambs so far. 

Herb bed

The plot coming on. 6 beds to dig. 

So relieved only the occasional shoulder pain. Feels so much stronger. Pleased I will make this years growing season. 

Finished the new shelter

Still waiting for lambs got to field found a ewe on her back pushed her back on her feet. Feed and watered. 

Starting to look like a camping den. 

Up cycling at the acres -field shelter

The plan today was a quite planting session. Polytunnel has been -2.3 degree in night so decided to cold to sow seeds. 

What to next. Well I created a field shelter for £10. That £10 also go to charity so win win. I used Pallettes and old polytunnel lid to waterproof. Needs a Perspex roof but have to wait till shops open! So it’s polytunnel life for now! 

Slopes roof. Made design up today as an impulse. 

Then created my goose coop. Not finishing as sheep can use it way it is to keep lbs safe from fox. Next ewe due 28/29th. After that make part into a goose house again all from Pallettes! Then will buy geese. 

Ducks and chickens seem happy. Little lamb happy. Mum and lamb forgiven me for tagging lamb. 

The three ewes wanting sheep nut. They dont need it but cos chickens and ducks get fed they expect it. Spoilt! 

Tagging and a sneaky hug. 

Hammock in good working order! 

View from hammock 

New lamb

Big whitety decided to lamb a day early! When there is sadness around with covid 19. This is lovely news. 

One minute old. 

Trying to stand couple of mins later

Mum were is food?  Oh I found it bit further down! Good pair of lungs! 

After head butting my aunt I better have a rest! 

I was  rescuing my fruit bushes from the grass in veg plot when I heard a distressed ewe. Looked up last few minutes of labour. She soon popped it out no difficulty. 

Placenta delivered and eaten by ewe. Mr fox no lambing happened here! 

Looking the smallholding 

Smallholding life great for escaping!

3 weeks away from frontline work and covid 19. (annual leave and days off). 

Luckily I planned time off for lambing and preparing smallholding for this season. Behind so gives me chance to catch up. I can also be distracted for 3 weeks and escape from it all. Just me and the field! 

Today I created a new door for the chicken coup after hole appeared in the fencing! 

Amazing what you can do with Pallettes and power tools. Can’t do as much in one timeframe as I could so will take me longer. . However great that I can still do smallholding. 

Sheep rolling

Grr the oldest ewe normally rolls on her back twice through pregnancy. She doing it every other day at present. How many lambs! So grateful to my neighbour who doing a late evening check for me. 

Chickens and ducks looking very happy and content with theirselves. 

Veg patch slowly but surely coming together. Strimming in progress weeding in progress. 

Think we are doing well down on kts acres. 

Also a business idea in the pipeline 

Lush grass for the ladies

Moved the ladies ready for lambing into my field that been resting over winter. The other field can rest and grow. 

Ducks and chickens all getting on well 

Weeding and saving my veg beds next on the agenda. Started slowly 

Seeds sown

Started this years seeds some a bit late but will be ok. Rest we on time so ok. 

Got a lot to catch up with but getting there. 

New chickens

New additions to the flock today. My lonely chicken thinks she’s a duck. She ignoring her new pals and continues to run with the ducks. She bosses the ducks about. 

Bit muddy and wet in the coup today. Muddy ducks still like to messy around in the rainy puddles. At least chicks feet are dry. 

Polytunnel finally ready for this seasons seeds. 

Cold frame built and ready. 

Making progress 

Lame duck

Back on the holding at last and feeling good. Despite shoulder and a bad cold. Felt good to be doing easy jobs. 

Yesterday morning found a lame duck. So muddy she couldn’t walk round coup. Others run around quacking if she in way they walk over her. Daft ducks. 

Examination nothing out or order. No signs of a brake. 

Choose to isolate her for 24hrs in a small space. She had to rest. This am what a difference she running with the best of them! Bless