Tag: in the pasture

In the Pasture

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The pasture is a very busy place this time of year.  The ewes are hard at work raising their growing lambs.  We’ve been lucky the past couple weeks that although the sun has been hot, their has been a lot of rain.  The pasture grass has been growing at a pace that it’s keeping ahead of the flock.  Another pasture rotation is in the works, and the ewes and their lambs are moving into the knoll paddock.
Although the rain has been a real blessing for the pasture and the cisterns, it has prevented us from getting any more hay in the barn.  We’ll just keep watching for a three day break in the storms.
Don’t forget to comment on yesterday’s post for an opportunity to win a 2014 Sheeps and Peeps Farm Calendar! 

Sunday Muse

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Let the end of all bathtubs
be this putting out to pasture
of four Victorian bowlegs
anchored in grasses.

Let all longnecked browsers
come drink from the shallows
while faucets grow rusty
and porcelain yellows.

Where once our nude forebears
soaped up in this vessel
come, cows, and come, horses.
Bring burdock and thistle,

come slaver the scum of
timothy and clover
on the cast-iron lip that
our grandsires climbed over

and let there be always
green water for sipping
that muzzles may enter thoughtful
and rise dripping.

~ Watering Trough by Maxine Kumin



 

Catching a Glimpse

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In between all the feeding, watering, fence moving, mucking out, and everyday farm chores, we are feeling so blessed to catch these glimpses of first breath, first steps, the first signs of independence.

The farm air is filled with sweet little lamb baas and mamas’ answering nickers.

Today’s a big day as we move the yearlings and attempt to bring the mamas and lambs back into the barn for shots and a health check.  All the while keeping an eye on the ewes that have yet to lamb.  Wish us luck… this first time getting everyone back to the barn can turn into a real comedy!

Moving Along

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Finally a little activity on the lambing front yesterday.  Rosey was kind enough to have big, wonderful twin rams right in the most lovely patch of sunlight.  Her first born weighed 12 lbs 8 ozs, and the second weighed 14 lbs 7 ozs. 

The second born, Little Mister 1313 was very vocal from the moment he hit the ground.

Grace, a soon to be first-time mama came racing into the barn to see what all the fuss was about.

Later in the day, Faith, Grace’s twin sister, gave birth to a black ram with beautiful wool.  He seemed small but weighed 11 lbs 1 ozs.  We’ve posted a short video, ‘Faith’s First Lamb’ that shows Faith shortly after giving birth.  It shows a little bit of the confusion that a first-time mama goes through before getting used to their new role.  We’re so proud of Faith, she is doing a great job. 

And as a grand finale to the day, we had to give a little assistance to Princess as she gave birth to a whopper of a ewe lamb, weighing 15 lbs 12 ozs.  It’s hard to tell from this photo, but she is huge.  We’ll try to share a better photo later.  This little one had a rough entry into the world, but seems to be doing great.

More tomorrow… have a great evening!

Full Moon

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Despite the full moon, there were no lambs born yesterday.  The ewes spent most of the day in the pasture in a seemingly meditative state soaking up the sun, and of course eating… there’s a lot of eating going on. 

We moved three groups of lambs and their mamas out to the nursery paddock, where they enjoyed getting to know their older cousins, running, jumping and exploring.

All this lack of cooperation inactivity on the ewe’s part, gave us the opportunity to clean out the barn, move some things around and set up additonal lambing jugs.  So in answer to Boo’s Mom’s question yesterday, here’s a little more about jugs. A lambing jug is a small pen where the ewe and lambs are moved shortly after birth.  Unless there is a problem or really bad weather, we usually wait until after the lambs are up and have eaten.  This short confinement (usually two or three days) promotes bonding and gives us the opportunity to watch for any problems the ewe or lamb may experience in those first few days.  After using old wooden pallets and assorted other recycled items, we have slowly invested in this system of welded wire panels and connector hinges.  They are very sturdy and easy to climb in and out of.  They allow us to use our barn space more efficiently as they can be quickly put up, taken down, moved or reconfigured..

Hebe, Patience and their twins are the only occupants at the moment.  They’re getting lonely… come on girls, let’s get moving.