Lambing 2013

Here are some of our favourite photos and highlights from this years lambing . . .

 

Lambing 2013...

....is almost over.  Another rollercoaster!  One thing which sticks in my mind from last year is our vet students Mel and Akash being in the lambing sheds in t shirts, this year it has been woolly hats, gloves and scarves, it couldn't have been more different!  We've had snow, sleet and a bitter easterly wind that has made turning ewes and lambs out hard and we are waiting for the grass to start growing.  We are still feeding the ewes outside with hay but fingers crossed the weather looks like it is getting a little milder which will help the grass to start growing.

A major highlight of this year has been all the lovely people we've had join us to be shepherds for the day or for an evening in the lambing barn.  Thank you to all of you for coming and getting stuck in and spending time with us and our flock.  Here is some of the feedback we have had -

To have seen a dozen or so lambs born and to have been able to take part was a real treat. If only I could have started this when I was younger, beats sitting at a desk all day - Diane, Luton, Bedfordshire

Just wanted to say a big thank you for the amazing day we had on Tuesday shepherding with you. We both loved it and were so happy to be so involved in all the activities of the day. It was a day we won't forget - Janet, Long Wittenham, Oxfordshire

A big thank you for a wonderful evening. Bill, Michael and myself thoroughly enjoyed it and to have the chance to help deliver a lamb was something I will never forget, it was absolutely magical.  I'm sure if you hold the evenings again next year we will be there as we enjoyed it so much we didn't want to leave :) – Debbie, Bill and Mike, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire

Just wanted to say thank you so much for an amazing day!  I’ve always had physical jobs, love to be hands on. Delivering lambs, what an amazing experience. I’ve not stopped smiling!!!  I admire your commitment, it’s a way of life for you, not a job but allowing people like myself to taste and experience a morsel of your lives is awesome.  I will recommend this and your lamb to everyone!!!

Thanks so much again! - Mandie, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

I know Mandie has already contacted you to thank you for the amazing sheep day we were lucky enough to come to, I also had a wonderful day and I’m so glad Tracey had the bright idea of arranging it for my 40th Birthday. It was so good to get involved with it all and it was a present that I shall remember for ever you really do get a proper feel for it.  Thanks again for a great, well informed and organised day.
p.s Great cookies on a very cold day.
p.p.s Any chance of keeping Lamb number 40 he was so cute - Chris, Abingdon, Oxfordshire

Our great friend Ben also came down to visit us with his boys Sam and Jack.  Will and Izzy from Ben's agency came to do some recording and you can see how they got on here More soon and we'll post some photos of the lambs enjoying the new spring grass which we hope will be growing soon!

Camilla, Roly, Molly, Freddie, Boris and Belle

Well done Basil!

We are so proud of Basil! We think these are just the sweetest lambs with their woolly knees just like their Dad! Lambing is in full swing and we have had some wonderful twins, triplets and even a set of quadruplets! The only downer is the weather...we had snow on Sunday, so understandably we didn't have the visitor numbers but we're hoping this weekend will be warmer so do come and see us and say hello to the lambs.

We have put our first trailer of ewes and lambs outside and they are doing well, the ewes are just so happy to be outside eating the grass which we hope will have the chance to grow once the weather warms up, come on spring! we're all waiting for you!

More soon

Camilla, Roly, Molly, Freddie, Boris and Belle

A tricky start but all is well...

Lambing started earlier than was scheduled and it has been a worrying 10 days. We've had some sad losses which were unusual, enough to make us get a post mortem done which we are awaiting the results for. However, we hope we're not speaking too soon but we think we've turned a corner and have had some wonderful lambs over the last couple of days. I took this photo this morning of Roly and Molly taking some lambs outside to bask in the sunshine!

Henry our first ever orphan lamb was the first to be turned outside, mainly because she is so demanding! Always wanting to be be fed and behaves like such a diva! We can't help being fond of her though, as she is such a character. You can spot her in the photo, she has the blue number 1 on her side.

5 sets of triplets have been born today, all doing well. Come along and see them this weekend or the following weekend when we are open to visitors. We also have a few spaces left on our 'evening in the lambing barns', so get in touch if you would like to book a place. Visit our website for more details www.camillaandroly.co.uk

More soon

Camilla, Roly, Molly, Freddie, Boris and Belle

First signs of spring!

Freddie is 5 weeks old today.  He is growing fast and is settling in well to his farming routine already.  Molly is very chuffed to be a big sister and is very excited about the start of lambing.  She loves being up in the lambing sheds with us and has her very own bucket for feeding the sheep!

We have glorious sunshine here today and we're hoping it will stay with us for the next few weeks so our lambs and mums have the best start on the new spring grass.  The ewes are all looking well and we can't wait for the lambs to begin arriving.  It is a strange time the week before we start as we all feel a bit twitchy in anticipation!  This year we're particularly looking forward to seeing Basil's offspring, if they look anything like their Dad we will have a lot of teddy bear look a likes.

Our lambing weekends are very soon so  please come along and see our flock and the lambs and enjoy a day out with us and the Earth Trust.  Dates are 16, 17, 23 and 24 March, 10am until 4pm, for more details please see our website www.camillaandroly.co.uk

Our posts will be more regular as lambing begins and we can't wait to tell you all about the new life being born up in the sheds.

More soon

Camilla, Roly, Molly, Freddie, Boris and Belle

My name is Freddie

 

I just wanted to introduce myself. I am the new mini shepherd in the picture. I joined Roly, Camilla and Molly (from left to right!) on the 29th January 2013. My name is Freddie Thomas Gerald Puzey and I was born in Wallingford Hospital. For those of you that like detail, I weigh 8.9lb, and in the words of my dad (a shepherd) ‘I am a good strong single’! My mum is amazing, and my big sister Molly thinks I am great.

I look forward to meeting everyone soon
With love
Freddie Puzey

191%

It has been an extremely busy few days for our girls.  Not only have they had to navigate their way through the mud to end up in the lambing sheds, they have since been shorn and scanned to see how many lambs they are each having!  Our scanning result is 191% which we are really pleased with considering what they have had to put with this summer with all the rain.  Even one of our favourite girls is having quadruplets!

Scanning is a really important part of our management as it enables us to divide the flock according to how many lambs they are each having and feed them the right amount of food.  This obviously saves us money but also ensures the ewes who are having singles do not end up having enormous lambs and troublesome births.  From the photo you can see the different coloured dots on their backs - red is for singles, blue is for triplets and our quad (2 blue dots) and no dots are having twins.  The green marks are the ewes whose offspring we will keep as replacements to breed from in future years.  How many are Basil's offspring remains to be seen, can't wait!

As I write the snow is falling outside and we have probably had about 4 inches this morning.  This is when it is nice to know the ewes are inside and we can keep a close eye on them.  We have lambs outside still but they will be tucking into their fodder beet and hay which will be keeping them warm and giving them energy.  Basil doesn't think a lot of the snow, it sticks to his fleece but makes him look even more handsome!

Our baby is due today, so having our tractor on standby is rather a blessing.....

Roly was lucky enough to see an elusive visitor to the lambing sheds yesterday morning, have a look at this you tube clip.

More soon

Camilla, Roly, Molly, Boris and Belle