Smart Feeder - Light sensor values

[Lewis]

For me, Spring means Lambing ... 4th year this year!

I know a few people on here are expecting Lambs this year too

 

I'd already got some lambing planned at a Uni farm starting in the next couple of weeks but was asked to go and do Lambing at another farm here in Aber

Did my first night shift on Saturday, 9pm - 6am! I was on my own at the start, with 800 ewes to lamb and instructions in Welsh(?!) so phoned my friend to come + help, was still hard work with the 2 of us.

Got a couple of pictures off my blog, sorry they aren't v good but it was really dark!

 

Lambing shed:

Traditional old barn with the ewes + lambs in:

Bottle feeding the lambs:

Especially for OSH ... guess the breed!

 

Anyone else got pictures of this years Spring Lambs?

[Old Speckled Hen]

Especially for OSH ... guess the breed!

 

Absolutely no idea

[Lewis]

I thought the last one was really easy! Look at the eyes

[Alis girls]

how many did ewe deliver in the one night then? 800 - I am really impressed. Hope you got time for a cuppa

[scarlettohara]

Well done Lewis

[The Dogmother]

They're gorgeous Lewis

 

Well done that Boy

[Lesley]

Its face looks like a Herdwick but it's too white!

 

We're not lambing again in case Carl has to take contract work but our friend is and we're on standby now for any cade lambs from him.....we're ready to go.

[The Dogmother]

Ooo, let me know and I'll be there like a shot Lesley... lamby cuddles

[Lesley]

Will 3am suit you?

[The Dogmother]

Will 3am suit you?

 

don't laugh, I did two consecutive years of lambing 20 years ago and remember the night vigils - I don't do night feeds on babies of any kind these days though. Shout if you need a hand at a weekend though.

[Lewis]

Its a Charollais! Look at the eyes

 

We lambed about 25, which doesn't sound like a lot but def felt like it!

No time for a cuppa - literally had 5 mins break all night. Have a chest infection too, so not best!

Back tomorrow night

 

Sounds good Lesley Any luck with the Merinos?

Oi! I was ahead of you in the queue for cuddles Clare!

[The Dogmother]

Have a chest infection too, so not best!

 

Not again

 

Oi! I was ahead of you in the queue for cuddles Clare!

 

I'm not cuddling you if you have a chest infection Mr Wescott!

[Redwing]

We are expecting we had the vet out a couple of days ago and he confirmed two of our three sheep are in lamb - he isnt sure about the third one but the ram ran with the sheep for 10 weeks or so and its possible she is a bit behind the other two

 

Dreading the actual lambing - I pray that as they are small native breeds they take care of it themselves

[The Dogmother]

OOo, lovely news, you'll have a maternity ward then! Shout if you need a hand.

[Lewis]

They should be fine Tasha!

 

Been doing nights at the farm, getting in at half 6 then lectures at 9 so been rather tired!

Its all good though. Only for a few weeks and then can sleep for aages

 

Just got back from first shift at the Uni farm! Was good

Not tired at all now though!

 

Know you all love photos

Although these ones will come with a *warning*!

 

We've had to get big high viz bomber jackets + waterproof trousers for the Uni farm so will get some photos of us there too

[Lesley]

Do you always pull the lambs Lewis, or just if there are problems? Any lambings I've seen on TV they seem to be in a rush to 'help'

 

Tash - was the ram a Shetland as well? Shetland ram lambs are just about impossible to castrate within the 7 days. Good luck with the lambing, it's tiring even when you only have a few ewes as you don't know their dates and spend a lot of time traipsing back and forth checking for the signs. We used to check ours up until 1am and then I'd be up again at 5.30am.

[Lewis]

Do you always pull the lambs Lewis, or just if there are problems? Any lambings I've seen on TV they seem to be in a rush to 'help'

At the first farm we went to here we pulled everything ... less risk of having any problems, lambs still having membranes over their faces + dying etc.

Most of them have some sort of leg back, head back, backwards/breach too They're a mix of texels, charollais and commercial mules so bigger lambs.

 

At the Uni farm we started at on Friday we leave them alone and let them get on with it as best we can

They're split into 4 trials + are a Performance Recorded Flock, so we have to weigh lambs and score the lambs + ewes on loads of things, so if we went in and pulled everything it would affect the trials data .

They're Blue Faced Leicesters, Texels, Beulahs and Lleyns and have been mostly fine lambing on their own. I only pulled 2 lambs all night on Fri!

They've got some Aberdales on 1 trial which 'kick off' in 2 weeks, which they're improving the prolificacy of with the Inverdale gene (more twins + triplets and don't use best grass when tupping), they're smaller and 3/4 texel genes so think we'll have to help pull a lot more of those!

 

At 'home' lambing we tend to leave them to get on with it and try to get them to lamb on their one, only help out if we need to or if its been a long time.

Get all kinds of experience at the different farms

 

Bit of an essay but depends on the farm really!

[The Dogmother]

Lovely photos Lewis, and glad to hear that you're enjoying yourself.

 

Rosie says hello

[Lesley]

Thanks Lewis - I had a feeling that would be the case.....different opinions on different farms.....

 

On the course at Moreton Morrel we were told to observe and having just a few ewes to lamb meant that we could do that.

[Lewis]

Aber Lambing is finished! (may still go lambing at 'home' depending on whats left to lamb! ... oh and then we may be lambing outdoors in Aber after Easter )

Seemed to go on forever but it wasn't that long ... just drags on when lambing from 9pm, getting back at 7am and then going straight to 9am lectures!

My brother + friend ended up coming with me one night when they were stayinng up here and the person meant to be on was rushed into hospital!

 

We were on £70 a night at the one farm ... split that between 4 of us and its less than £1something an hour. Not really in it for the money!

 

Anyway, had a few visitors last weekend!

Mother + Grumps (dad) came up on Saturday...

... and then Debs (Space Chick) and Jue (JooJoo) came up on Sunday

The other pictures from before were at the private farm, and these are at the Uni farm

... its a bit better looking!

[The Dogmother]

Lovely photo of your Mum, Lewis

 

How did Nat manage with the lambing thing?

[craftyhunnypie]

Beautiful lambs! I had a giggling fit last night as showed hubby the photos. He made a comment on one particular photo by google talking to me. He made a typo error that made it read very funny, but was very apt. I can't repeat it on a family forum though. Sorry, but Lewis & a few others would have laughed too.

 

Emma.x

[Lewis]

Nat was alright with it He's been on the quad round the fields + stuff when they've picked me up at home, then when we had Greg + Bluebelle at home to bottle feed so not too new.

 

Staying awake was the hardest thing for them though!

I left them in the farm office for an hour ... came back to snoring

 

Dying to know what he said Emma

[The Dogmother]

I should imagine that if you're actually 'doing' the lambing as opposed to watching, then the adrenaline must keep you awake... I used to be able to do all-nighters at your age too - now I'm happy to be in bed by 10pm