Beltane / Courses / Rats / Cattle
Posted: Monday 7 May, 2018
Monday 30th April
Finally gave in and got the vet out to look at No14’s lamb’s eye. Thankfully, the eye itself is fine. The vet put two staples in it, which have to come out in ten days.
That done, the pair could go out to play. It’s a very leapy lamb.
New hens are settling in, we use treadle feeders and it's on the training setting at the moment (brick on treadle).
New hens, Spike, and the treadle feeder.
It'll be like this for a week, half-open for another week, then they will have got the hang of it.
Tuesday 1st May
Beltane – first day of summer and there was ice on the water troughs this morning.
Sorted out a mix-up over pig movements. ScotEid thought we had six pigs – but three were from last year.
Jane came to trim the ponies’ feet – they were long and really, really hard. The trim makes good dog chews though. Lucy and Smokey are now on the Sheepfold track; Bug’s confined to barracks because he’ll just go through the electric fence.
We let the cows out tonight – it was drizzling rain but they didn’t seem to mind.
Saw rats in the stone pile; Dan shot one but I’ll get some bait tomorrow.
Wednesday 2nd May
Rain today but the ground needed it.
Went for hay and to Harbro for a magnesium lick for the cows, some pig food, sheep pellets and rat bait. Put the blocks of rat bait right into the stone pile with a litter picker.
Brought the cows in for a few hours to eat hay; Annie is so lame but we can’t do anything until she calves next week. I’m hoping being on grass will give her some relief meantime.
The materials for running a water pipe to Laing’s field arrived today along with the rails for the filed shelter.
Thursday 3rd May
Baked biscuits and visited the craft shop in Letham. So much stuff!!!
Saw a lamb at the licky bucket today – how quickly they get addicted.
No. 2 enjoying the licky bucjet.
So many lame lambs – none are unwell, so it seems to be mechanical injuries. A lot of them go to the troughs now and the ewes give no quarter. I’ve put out a fourth trough to give them all more space.
Friday 4th May
Course preparation today. It’s always a good prompt to have a tidy-up, especially in the office / classroom. Dan listed a load of stuff on eBay that’s been lying around for ages.
Made scones and mini lemon Victoria sponges.
Dan’s been working away on the renovation of the outside WC. It’s going to look pretty good when it’s done.
Saturday 5th May
Intro to smallholding course today; nice day to be wandering around the holding with young enthusiastic folk.
Sunday 6th May
Intro to sheep keeping course today. Lovely group of folk. Absolutely glorious weather – full sun and 17C.
Dan had time to check the bees this morning.
I always have a bit of an adrenaline rush with courses so was weeding the veg garden at 9pm.
