May 2023
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‘52’ continues to need extra feed – he is one of our oldest and always tends to lose weight.
Along with Skinny Minnie, now just Minnie really, although she isn’t carrying a lot of weight either.
She looks far healthier than when she came to us.
And Twiglet who is just always hungry.
A quick visit to the main flock found a few escapee lambs who had jumped up and through the feed barriers and were having so much fun.
Georgia’s lambs are friendly, following her lead:
14 May
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An ominous pile of feathers …
And sure enough, only two guinea fowl to be found.
Next year, we will build another aviary and get some replacement chicks in to replenish the flock.
The sheep like nettles … but not fresh nettles.
They like nettles when they have been chopped down and left to wilt for a day.
Perhaps the sting goes out of them after a day or so.
We enlisted Boots and his strimmer for the job.
15 May
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We have a small veg plot on the farm this year which is very exciting.
21 May
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A little later than last year but we have started shearing. It’s been so cold up until now.
Our method is somewhat unorthodox.
We do it with the sheep stood on all 4 feet, free to come and go as they please.
We shear with the old-fashioned scissor shape hand shears.
The sheep actually like it and will stand for anywhere between 5 minutes and hours – Chubby and Pecky will stand all day being groomed and shorn.
They love the attention. So much so that there is often a queue … which can become a crush. It’s not ideal when you have razor-sharp shears in your hand.
But we are just happy they find the process so enjoyable and relaxing.
It’s an addictive and very mindful process, which is good as it will take most of June to complete.
The sheep are done piecemeal, everyone a little at a time until they get bored and walk off.
We like to think of it as fair, everyone has an air vent while it’s hot.
Happily, they all remember it as being a pleasant experience from last year and we don’t have any hairdresser nerves.
All except Twiglet, this is his first year and to begin with, he was not sure at all.
Champion is the easiest of all to shear, his fleece comes off like a carpet.
Chubby loves it, to the point of being a bit of a pain when you are doing the others.
22 May
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Pecky will stand for hours.
26 May
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Finally Twiglet succumbs and decides he loves it so much he will lie down to truly relax into the experience.
The wool is being gathered up and last year we composted it. In fact, last year, we had a bumble bee nest in one of the wool sacks!
Thank you to Boots for helping gather it all up.
Twiglet, a constant nose at my hip …
As I said, it’s unorthodox but it works for us.
A bit of willow as a post haircut snack, always a favourite.
Finally, we remember ‘120’ – who seemed fit and healthy right up to the end.
‘120’ and Daft Lamb came to us together in 2016.
‘120’ is on the right.
And here, with his front legs on the log.
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