This little lady is one week old. My son had to help deliver her because she was a huge baby and the mother was having difficulties. He named her Hilda (because she was born on a hill).
The mother abandoned her afterward so we now have a pet to raise.
My daughter has been the surrogate mother this week but she is back to University tomorrow, so I will be sheep mother from now on.
It's that time of the year when the lambs start arriving.
One week in and there are lots running around.
Only 2 days old and these 2 are already practicing their moves.
Just born, a nice set of twins learning how to work those legs.
This lady won't be rushed, although I can't imagine her holding out much longer.
What a beautiful week we've had. Cold frosty mornings don't worry Luke and Ted.
They become beautiful blue sky days.
And the only cloud to be found is this one hanging around the top of the hill. I can feel spring coming.
There's always one who wants to get in on the action.
I was trying to get a picture of my very pregnant ladies when this one photo-bombed me.
Linking up with
Winter pruning time.
The cleanup crew arrive.
I haven't pruned much over the last 2-3 years so it was a big job. The girls got stuck in eating soft shoots, bark and trimming branches.
I think this hedge needed a trim too.
Team chicken cleanup at ground level.
This is our pet lamb from 2015. Ivy was born in September and orphaned so we bottle fed her.
The first photo is Ivy at 2 weeks old. She only had one speed - FAST - so getting a photo of her that wasn't a bit blurry was impossible.
These 2 photos were taken 3 months later, in mid December. She has been weaned and is now back with the main flock. She still loves the people that come to talk to her though.
Lambing is underway for 2015!
We have had about half our lambs in just over a week.
The weather has been perfect, with only one rainy day.
Mothers and lambs are enjoying the early spring conditions.
This is Kelly our pet lamb from 2 years ago with her first lamb. She is a wonderful mother and her little girl is doing great.
Linking up with
Moving the sheep on a beautiful fine winters day a couple of weeks ago. The sheep are getting rounder each week as we get closer to lambing, which should start in about 4 weeks.
This is Kelly and she will be a first time mother this year. She is looking a lot bigger now than when this was taken. Kelly was raised by us after she got separated from her Mother and orphaned.
This is a picture of her from September 2013. Hopefully there will be lots more of these cute little faces to photograph soon.
It's that time of year when the rams get to have some fun/do some work. They have about 6 weeks when they are in with the girls, then the rest of the year is all about eating, sleeping and preparing themselves for the year ahead. A very tough life!
They have been next door to the ladies for a couple of weeks, pacing the fence and sweet talking whoever will listen.
I moved them into a new paddock and then let the girls in. The boys came running.
"Well helloooo ladies"
That's about as long as it took for introductions - I'm guessing you can work out the rest.
Lamb photos to follow - in about 5 months.
It's that time of year when the sheep get shorn and lose their heavy wool coats. After shearing they were put in our front paddock where the grass has been growing like mad and is up to their chins in places. The lambs will be shorn in a month and are nearly as big as their Mothers now.
The trees have been growing fast in the warm, wet weather we have been having. This sheep decided to do some over-head pruning. That's her 2 lambs looking at me.
A day after going in the paddock all the trees are trimmed to the same height. My four legged pruners do an excellent job.
This one is an expert at balancing on two legs and reaching where others can't. That's an apple tree she's eating - I guess I'll be up a ladder with the birds to get the fruit that's left later on this season.
Once the lambs get a couple of weeks old they tend to congregate and play like children with anything that looks a bit different.
This little overbridge and drain was a great source of fun while they were in this paddock.
They were up and down and over and round. Very entertaining to watch, and it gave the mothers a nice break too.
A lovely spring afternoon and the sheep are enjoying the new growth and the warmth. The paddocks take on a "super green" look as the grass starts to grow faster with the extra sunshine hours.
There is always one who is happy to pose.
Over the fence the cows are getting rounder and preparing for calving which should be starting in the next week. I was standing behind a netting fence when I took this, so a double fence shot for this one.
Linking up with
The last of our pet lambs Jemma has had her lamb.
I spotted her in the afternoon trying to deliver the lamb. I could see the tip of his nose and 2 front feet so thought he would be out soon. Sheep don't usually take long to lamb once the baby is in position, however Jemma was pushing and getting nowhere. After a while I headed home and returned with my husband to check on her. She was still in the same position and needed help. With a bit of work we managed to deliver this huge boy. Jemma was exhausted but was still keen to clean him up from her sitting position.
Next day both Jemma and her lamb are looking great. He is the biggest lamb in the paddock even though he is one of the youngest. She has recovered and seems very proud of her wee man.
Chloe has had her 10th lamb. At 12 years old she is our grand old lady.
The lambs started arriving last Friday and over the next 7 days over 60 arrived.
This is about 2/3 of what I expect so pretty amazing for the first week.
Luckily the last week of winter has been lovely and spring like so all these lambs have had a nice start.
This is Elena with her first lamb. She is 2 years old now and was raised by us when she was separated from her Mother. It's so nice to see the pet's with their lambs, they are such lovely calm Mother's.
I'm sharing with
