Lambings still in full swing and i think we should be finished by the end of next week. Results are still positive despite loosing a few due to the snow we have had. I have tried my hand at just about everything now. Sunday saw me docking and castrating, i even had an audience! My mate came over with his dad and bro as a new member of shoot and they popped down to the shed to see me and as they walked in out of the snow, they seen me feeling a lambs testicles to which i got a big cringe and a ''what you doing!?'' off my grandad - could have had a good few one liners but i didnt! Managed allright in the end and i managed to do it a lot quicker than i did at first - boss even commented that i was doing it well and with a bit of pace so thats always a good thing! Docking was a doddle - easy as pie really!
But today however, our first ewe went down - wasnt looking a happy lassy and we got a lad (his dad has a bit of grazing rented off us) and he came over to check her out - we had a quick chat and i went off and chatted with him about her but it turns out that the ''general consensous'' (spelling?) is that she just needs some vitamins as apparently she has been sucked dry by the lambs and an antiinflamatory and some calcium should do the trick - our only problem being is that we are organic so we have to abide by the rules and if we wanted to administor medication, we would have the ring the vet (just through a few quid away). Hopefully, she will get better as we cant afford to loose her!
But, leaving sheep alone for a mo, i have now discovered my hate in farming - pigs!! (que some eery music). I got sent over to the pens they are in to put new bedding down for them. The older sows were not a bother - just came over and messed round and made there bed in the sty. However, the pen i was most looking forward to - the piglets was like pigs on a plane (new film directed and starring me adapted from snakes on a plane). They followed me every where, tripped me up and sqeeled at me ( i found the squeeing quite entertaining - thats the peak of my mental capabilities) I then got stuck in my rigger boots couldnt move and just sort of swayed from side to side while the boss looked over and laughed?! But i quite like them, just dont desire to farm them, sheep seem easier and i like them a bit more. But there rare breeds so i like them in a way.
Finally - i cannot believe now hot it is when you are delivering lambs - there so incrdibly warm!! Had a great few days though - hope the rest are the same - the boss is a good laugh and he doesnt get too anoyed when i laugh at him when a sheep escapes!!! My mate and I (his idea) are thinking about going back to our early youth and being boy scouts by camping out (cant ever remember being a boy scout probably for this reason) and sleeping at the farm for a night or two (probably just the one) to do the night lamb - should be good though - pity he cant lamb then i could stay asleep and have a good 9 hour kip!!!
I'm off now - i am starting to smell like sheep!