Spring

I am enjoying this spring weather, not ready for summer. The gradual shift is much easier on the animals, and me, than the years where we go from winter to summer. We have had plenty of rain, and hopefully it won't stop completely like it did last May. Grass is growing in the pastures and the barn is very low on hay, again a gradual shift from hay to grass is good for the sheep's stomach, too rich grass can cause stomach upsets, scours and bloating. The bred ewes and does are starting to bag up, the new protein rich grass helps with that, and should start dropping lambs and kids the end of April. Still much to do to prepare before then. The lambing and kidding barn has to be scraped down, limed and fresh straw scattered on the floor before they can begin. They need a clean environment to come into a dirty world. Most will be born outside on the pasture, which is cleaned by the sun and rain, but some will be born in the barn, possibly during the night. You can never kill all the germs that grow in a barn, but the lime will help and the sheep and lambs will enjoy sleeping on the fresh straw.