POLKADoT Farm

An update on the quintuplets.....

Just a wee note on the quintuplets. We have left the sheep with four lambs to feed at the moment, and the fifth one is being bottle fed under the heat lamp, as it has become a wee bit weaker. We will eventually have to take another two off her, and bottle feed them. This is because sheep usually only have enough milk to keep two lambs fit and strong. Before she goes outside to the field , we will have to decide on what two lambs to take off her! This will be a hard choice, as the four remaining are all so strong! Tonight they were just happily relaxing on their Mums back!

 

Only 142 sheep left to lamb! Less and less mouths to feed....

 

Great Excitement

In the early hours of this morning we had our first set of quintuplets. I don't think we have ever had any before on the farm!! Sheep usually have singles twins or triplets, and very occasionally quads! So you can imagine the surprise we had when the sheep kept producing more lambs!!! And she was only scanned for triplets!! All lambs are strong and healthy...and pretty big! The sheep will definitely be feeling a bit lighter now!

 

 

Happy Easter everyone, and thank you to my lovely husband for my gorgeous flowers...x

Decorative Eggs

I came across this gorgeous image in a magazine I had, and I thought I would share it! The eggs are so ornate and pretty. I wish I had time at the moment to make and paint things for Easter! Hopefully in a couple of weeks, I will have more free time, and I can start to make things again, as well as fill up my Etsy Shop!

On the menu tonight...

Its been another busy night in the lambing shed...lots of mouths to feed, and a couple of sick sheep to give glucose to (just to give them a wee boost.) Unfortunately, at lambing time, it is quite common for some sheep to get unwell, but if they are caught early enough, they can make a full recovery. One of the first signs that a sheep is unwell is that she holds her ears back. 

Tonight Duncan and I made up some new feeding for the sheep, it consists of wheat, barley, 'Lifeline' mineral (which boosts colostrum, improves vitamin and mineral status of ewe and lamb and promotes easier lambing and healthy lambs), hipro soya and wheat distillers dark grains. It smells delicious, and they just love it!!

 

 

  

Hooray for my Hens!!!

At long last, all 4 of my hens have laid in their house!!! I'm forever finding random eggs lying about the farm, so you can imagine my delight when I had a nesting box full of gorgeous brown eggs!!

 

When I got home from work tonight, I went down to the lambing shed just to have a wee check...and I managed to capture a photo of a sheep that had literally just popped two lambs out!! Within minutes they were standing, and going into suckle! It is always such a gorgeous sight to see.

Lots of Lambs!!

Its been another gorgeous day here! So we managed to get lots of lambs out in the fields, so they can enjoy the beautiful sunshine!

 

We have lots of pretty looking lambs this year that I think look like badgers! They have beautiful black and white stripe markings!We think these lambs are the offspring of a particular new tup(ram) called a beltex.

 

Meals on Wheels!!

With all the wonderful weather we are having, the farm is as busy as ever!! Not only are we lambing, but many fields are getting sewn with spring barley & spring oats, ready to harvest in the summer. As the weather is so good, Duncan (my husband) had to keep working on through tea tonight. So for the 1^st time this year, I got the chance to pull out my ‘super retro’ picnic bag, and fill it with a hearty tea to take out to the field.

 

 

Over the last few days, I have been noticing such a change in the farms landscape. Instead of there being flat, lifeless, brown fields, I’m starting to see hints of colour bounce through them. Whilst out on a walk yesterday with our wee Jack Russell Jock, I gave the field a closer inspection. And to my delight, I could see the newly sewn beans breaking through the soil, ready to start there journey in the big wide world!

 

lambing officially started!!

Well, that's all the sheep (nearly 400!) in the shed (labour ward!!) ready to lamb. Its going to be a busy April! lots of mouths to feed, and lambs to care for...along with my wee pet calve Harriet!

A reason to keep hens....

I have always kept hens, and for me there is nothing better than them roaming free around the farm and garden. I love having the daily supply of gorgeous brown fresh eggs, and when you crack them open, their deep orange yolks engulf the bowl with brightness and goodness! Something that makes it really special, is the occasional surprise of a double yoker!

They also make wonderful Scrambled Egg

The Biggest Egg Ever!

When I get home from work, I always lock the hens in, and collect their eggs. I look forward to opening up their egg box to see what delights they have left me...(the egg count varies at the mo, as a few are laying away in the barns!!) But today, lying on the straw, was the biggest egg I have ever seen!! It was huge! I can't wait to crack it open and see if its a double yoker!!