Final prep and then waiting….. for lambs. The first possible due date is was March 26. And sure enough – first lamb on March 26 so we are off and running. As of this writing (march 30) we have three sets of lambs – a black single, 2 white twins, and lastly a set of quadruplets! This is definitely a first for us, and very rare in this breed, but all 4 lambs are doing well. They are being bottle fed as Mom’s udder dropped so close to the ground with the weight of almost 30 lbs of lambs plus fluids that they can’t really nurse well. So they are getting fed, at this point every 3 hrs around the clock, which also coincides with checking on everyone else. If we are looking a bit ragged that’s why!
When first born we keep them in “jugs” or small pens for the ewes and their lambs to bond and just be sure everything is OK. We then give them a tetanus vaccine and an ear tag before turning them out. This is generally about 2 days depending on the lambs and, to some extent, the weather.
After a bit of much needed rain and some warm sunny weather the greening has begun. The hay fields are starting to grow in well and the pastures are greening up with new grass. We will soon be crowning the hops plants. This involves clearing any old growth and knocking back the ‘bull shoots” to help increase air circulation and expose the downy mildew spores. We will be planting potatoes and onions in the next week or two (and sweet corn once it warms up more) – look for the produce in the upcoming farm stand this summer and fall.
The maple sap run is done. Once the trees start to bloom out the sap flow really backs off. Tom has finished boiling down the sap and now has some lovely maple syrup available in the mercantile.
This is also a time of equipment preparation for busier days ahead. Mower blades need to be sharpened, tractors will get oil changes and hydraulics checked, haying equipment gone over and greased up, etc.
In the meantime we keep watch on the ewes and await more lambs.