Yay, Spring!

Things are looking up around the farm. Today is warm and sunny. We even had 1 day last week that also was warm and sunny. It has me itching to start propagating seeds and it has spurred our chickens to greater egg-laying efforts. They now average 6 per day and even Dora contributes her bit. That is Dora looking the opposite way from the other chickens at chow time. She also has not figured out the whole roost thing and will squat and drop her egg in the mud, on the coop floor, etc. The other chickens now treat her with distain but not the active hostility that caused her to be featherless and henpecked (sorry, I really, really couldn't resist).

The sheep have been busy too. Laying lambs, not eggs. So far we have 21 new lambs and had only one death. I am concerned about Starlight and her twin black lambs. They seem spry enough but are awfully thin. Everybody else seems to be thriving. Dan has agreed to move the flock (all 50!!) into the new barn paddock which has the horse stalls and greater protection from the elements. Also I will be able to keep a closer eye on them and see if they need some kind of intervention.

I have been watching but don't see much nursing going on. I just hope that they get enough of what they need that they will be able to move into grass eating and start filling out. I am not sure what the problem is but this is Starlight's 3rd year and it may be her last. I'm not sure how I feel about that but this is a farm and we do raise the sheep as meat. But on the other hand, Starlight was my first lamb and the only one I named. Well, I'll just wait until I figure out what is the least painful option for me and go from there.

Until next time.