Morning all from a mild but windy Wiltshire. Last night I slept in the caravan, aka The Lamb Shack, as lambing has finally kicked off. I did a last check round at midnight, then up at 1.30, 3.30 and then 5.30am. I think I might try and grab and hours kip this afternoon. 2 nice sets of twins born in between the 3.30 and 5.30 checks while I was sleeping - luckily all good. The early hours just before dawn tend to be a popular time for the ewes to lamb. I expect it makes good sense in the wild to give birth in the last hour of darkness when they are at their most vulnerable and for the lambs to be up on their feet at first light. One of the ewes that lambed last night was Bev - yesterday’s lamb-snatcher’! She’s delighted with her babies ?. Today’s plans hopefully include lots of new arrivals alongside ‘ringing’ and ear tagging the lambs that were born yesterday, ready for them to be turned out tomorrow, weather permitting.
Somebody asked yesterday if all the sheep had names. They do, all 170 of them plus 80 cows along with their 12 digit official numbers. The calves generally just get the first 3 letters of the mother’s name, unless they are going to join the breeding herd or are ‘special’(like Dumpy Bag!) and the lambs just get a ear tag number, unless again, they are going to be breeding ewe lambs or orphan lambs, who get named. I don’t know any other farmers that name their sheep ( a few name cows) but I find it so much easier to remember things about each individual if they have names and besides, I like names!
Wishing you all a good day, especially to those who are poorly, unhappy or missing loved ones.