Kineton Lamb

Ding D**g

Lambs are growing like weeds. Been topping the grass, thistles and nettles this Bank Holiday as they grow like weeds to...

Lambing all finished. Ewes and lambs out in the field and doing well. Only 6 cade lambs to look after and feed each day. Roll on the spring sunshine!

Antenatal pen almost empty now but some of the lambs still in a hurry and popping out before mum gets transferred to the lambing pen! New lambs making friends between pens with only two reprobates currently on hand feeding ❤️. Hoping that the weather improves and stops soaking the lambs in the field with icy rain 🤞

Despite our best efforts, little Lucky didn't manage to establish effective feeding and was too young to safely introduce any other nutritional supplement so I'm sad to say that she didn't make it through. This is all part of the whirlwind that is the lambing season and also part of life, we always try our best with these new lives but sometimes it isn't enough.
At the other end of the emotional spectrum are the two mums out in the field, delivering their twins, feeding them and keeping them warm and protected. Finally there is a little bit of warmth in the weather, making their first day's that much easier.
Have a lovely weekend everyone x

Possibly due to her difficult delivery, Lucky is struggling to latch and suckle well from her mum. We expressed some off and put it in a bottle for her but she still didn't seem to understand what she needed to do. As it is early days, we can get her to swallow a small tube and fee her directly into her tummy, this gives her an energy boost to keep searching for the udder and hopefully latch and feed herself.

Busy weekend so far at Kineton Lamb! Grateful for help all day yesterday from auntie Zoe ❤️. We watched the twins - pictured in the field - deliver very sweetly on their own, ewe and lambs all doing fine.
Most deliveries are going well but some, as with all deliveries, not so well. These can be challenging when you try 110% for a safe outcome for both ewe and lamb but sometimes it's not enough. We had a very difficult delivery this morning but due to our combined skills, experience and dexterity, Chris and I managed to deliver 'Lucky' (pictured in the pen) She is a big lamb and after taking a while to.come round, she now seems to be OK.. I'll keep you posted.
As the weather seems to be a little better we have been turning the ewes and lambs back out into the field, always a sight to lift your spirits 🥰

This clever girl had quads this morning!! All four doing well so far ❤️
This is not very common for sheep, it shows that she is in great condition and that we got the ante natal care spot on for her 😀. We will see how she manages with four for a few days and then will probably adopt two on so the lambs have the best chance with plenty of milk available.

One lamb safely born, two more to go! The ewe in thr background looks a bit shocked 😂

This ewe has a lamb that is not hers, it's called 'twinning on'. Kate, the sheepdog, is told to stand quietly outside the pen so the ewe instinctively protects the lamb, this helps her to accept the lamb and let it feed. As the ewes milk passes through the lamb it begins to smell more familiar to the ewe, building a bonding relationship.

Ante natal bay up and running. These ladies are having triplets or quads(!). The twins are out enjoying the grass and will be in later. Not long now...!

The ladies need extra feed as they approach lambing time, they can hear the Landrover bringing breakfast, even if they can't see it through the fog!

First triplets of the season - good strong lambs and mum making plenty of milk

Fencing today

A few days of sun. Might dry the girls out a bit

Happy sheep

With all this wet weather at least the sheep have lots of fresh grass to eat

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