The Lamb With Hobnail Boots
A story with a happy ending!
Early lambing is over for another year. The first ewe lambed on 9th January. The final ewe on the last day of February. Sadly, her delivery didn’t go to plan. Her lamb didn’t make it.
Muffin, my little cade lamb, was already back at the farm after two weeks in my potting shed. He’d mastered his bottle and clomped about the shed as if he was wearing hobnail boots. He was always happy to see me. We had little walks in the garden and he followed me around.
Phil the Farmer and I had set up a milk bar for him back at the farm, but he wasn’t keen. He preferred warm milk from his bottle. (VIP treatment all the way in the potting shed!). And he didn’t like the teat on his milk bar. But he was happy and settled, having daily cuddles, and sustained by bottle feeds.
Although he was around 3 weeks old when the last ewe lost her lamb, I asked Phil whether she might adopt Muffin. We decided it was worth a try.
We showed Muffin what he needed to do. For the first couple of feeds, I pushed him in the right direction and held the ewe still for him. By day two, they had fallen into a routine. The ewe, a Romney, is quite low to the ground so Muffin almost lies down underneath her to feed.
By day three, the ewe was talking to Muffin, a very good sign that she’s accepting him. Muffin is very content and jumping about around the pen. To say I’m happy with how this has worked out is an understatement.
It means Muffin will be cared for when they both go out in the field - probably via the orchard first. He won’t be alone. The ewe’s milk is much better for him than the bottle feed. And she has a lamb to nurture. It’s a happy ending.
All the other Mums and lambs are dotted around various fields nearby. Last week I took bags of corn out to them.
Daffodil Field is just down the lane from the farm. When I arrived, the ewes and lambs were already at the gate, clamouring for their breakfast. The gate is a bit dodgy and has to be lifted up before you can open it. I needed to get the bag of corn and myself into the field without any escapees, without being pushed and shoved, and without one massive pile of corn on the floor.
I thought I was doing well until one ewe dashed out. I grabbed at her, missed, and fell flat on the floor in the mud. I had visions of chasing her down the lane. Fortunately, her mind was on corn and her lamb on the other side of the fence. I opened the gate wide enough, stepped back a little and she ran back in. Phew!
Over the past couple of years I’ve come up with my own strategies for corn distribution. I throw corn over the fence or gate to distract them. I put corn down along a fence line so that there’s something to lean against when they pile in. They’re all relentless in their quest for corn.
After Daffodil Field, I headed down the lane to a farm I’d not visited before. It was beautiful, enhanced by a gorgeous day, and clear blue sky. The pretty driveway to the farm house led to a fence on the right hand side, a gate and sheep I recognised waiting for me. Among them was Dot Dot.
It was easier here to throw distraction corn over the fence. As always, Dot Dot wanted to be hand fed.
While they were busy, I went in and started tipping corn along the fence at the top of the field. I had a head start before they cottoned on and rushed over for the push and shove.
Round two starts mid April when we do it all over again for a few weeks. I can’t wait! I’m sure there will be more tales to tell.