Relaxed Farming - our farm in your classroom

Not quite so much sunshine today but despite being less than 24 hours old, our lambs from yesterday looked strong and healthy first thing so after breakfast out they all went into their paddock. Mrs Brown's pair proceeded to play, run, spring and explore whilst Mrs White's two kept very close to mum and then, as the photo shows, lay down and went to sleep. Lambs sleep for about 8-10 hours a day and drink from their mums once or twice every hour. The rest of the time is for 'play'. They enjoy chasing each other and climbing and it is not uncommon for our lambs (who all grow up quite tame) to jump on our backs if we are crouching down. They jump on their mum's backs too, not always something that is appreciated!! We are happy to report that all pooing is occurring as it should be (no sealed bums in this latest pair thank goodness - see 12th March). So lambing for us is now over and we look forward to 'kidding' next with Onion (our pygmy goat) due first any time from around 18th April.
Meanwhile, Katherine our Bourbon Red turkey laid her second egg today and as the photo shows was very protective of it - she tried to roll it under her and would we are sure, have carried on sitting on it if we had let her. Our hope is she lays a good clutch and then goes broody. Turkeys don't however make great mums as we learnt very quickly when Elizabeth hatched out 15 turkeys two years ago. She was pretty good with them during the first day but at night when she put herself to bed; she pretty much 'forgot' to take most of them with her. We found them outside the house, really cold, unable to get up and really calling for her. The next day we gave her a second chance with them but by mid-morning she had trodden on one and killed it. At that point we took them all away and reared them ourselves under a heat lamp. Experienced breeders tell similar tales, so if Katherine does go broody and wants to hatch out some eggs, we will let her but then probably take the chicks away. Fortunately the lack of mothering skills means that she probably won't miss them at all... sad but true!! (Finally, no goose egg OR nest today at all!!)