I woke up to rain on my birthday. Rain any day means farming is more challenging but rain on your birthday is disappointing. I knew when I got to Garth Hall I would clear up when I saw all the animals. And my new hens didn’t disappoint, the youngster that has started laying, produced another one for my birthday. Good girl. The eggs are tiny though. The size of Guinea fowl eggs but they will get bigger. I fed Rascal, and then checked the two left in the wellfield. There was hay and one ewe. No Munchie. Lambing or sheltering? I trudged through the mud and there she was sheltering in the railway carriage. She’s not stupid that one.
I went to the alpacas and moved the bits buckets back under the shelter. I got there food sorted and they ate enthusiastically. The troughs in the weanlings field needed emptying. They are heavy, stuck in the mud and the other side of the fence. I had to empty the water out. That was hard. Twice. They came and all ate so I was pleased. Getting into the girls filed is OK but trying to put food out while they are after food and we’re all walking in mud is ‘challenging’. Awesome 🙄 The rams trough was in the same state but I had a system so it was easier. I didn’t hang round in all the rain and then went to check the wethers and empty ewe lambs at Tregurnog.
After dinner I went to see Jordan and Riley. I had some lovely cwtches and left to do the afternoon shift at Garth Hall because Neil wasnt available. I didn’t mind that at all until I remembered I’d have to feed he sheep and instead of two separate lots, they were all outfield now. It would be a bloody nightmare. The weather was horrendous when I got there. I got all the necessary waterproofs on and ventured out. I fed the chickens and tucked them in. It was misty and getting dark because of the weather even though it was only 4pm. I could see sheep around the ring feeder but they weren’t up waiting as usual. I couldn’t blame them, they would be sheltering somewhere. They’d soon appear once I opened the doors to Cai. I got the bucket. No sign of the ewes! It was unheard of. The thing was a combination of the rain and the direction of the wind, didn’t carry the door opening noise. The rain was blowing in a south westerly direction, blowing the rain pretty much horizontally. I went through the two gates and started calling. The ewes at the ring feeder heard me and started calling. This alerted those a but further away and there were suddenly ewes hurtling towards me. I had to dash towards this danger because therewere still others coming and it’s not fair to feed them until they are all there. Once I reached the first ones, which included the silvernose, they surrounded me making progress in any direction almost impossible. The silvernoses have tiny horns and as I tried to push forward I got nudged by a big horned head and then got pushed the other way into another ewe. I was like a human pinball. My glasses were now getting wet despite a cap and hood that blocked most of my visibility. It was then that it happened. I was just over the ridge that had once been a stone wall when I was viciously attacked from behind. Bitey must have been uo on the little ridge and seen the contents of the bucket with she launched herself at. I can carry the bucket but not when there’s part of a sheep jn it. I nearly went down and my life flashed before me. I slapped at her hard and managed to ďislodge it before the contents spilled. I could go no further, I had to start throwing the ewe rolls out. Somehow, I made it out alive and made a dash for the wellfield. I fed Rascal his tea and then fed Munchie and her companion had their ration. Job done, despite the rain.
Helen x
