By: Blonde Two
On Friday last week, I had the most wonderful Dartmoor afternoon in the company of some rather lovely sheep, some chickens, some geese, a ram, some ducks, two dogs, some incubating duck eggs, a nice chap called Matt and a very friendly lady called Gill.
I have to say though (apologies to Matt, Gill and the grown-up animals) that the ‘meet-the-Blonde’ show, was completely stolen by three very new and very cute ram lambs.
The plan was that Two Blondes would arrive at the farm, a sheep would conveniently go into labour, Two Blondes would help proceedings by muttering calming words and stroking a fevered woolly brow and then there would be a pair of lambs to cuddle.
Well that was my plan; but Blondes are often busy, and sheep are not going to be pushed into these things by silly human schedules (quite right too)! As it was, Blonde One couldn’t come, but I had a fabulous time undertaking such activities as:
Holding important things while Gill put a feeding tube down into a poorly and very new lamb’s stomach. He looked much better after his forced dinner and I have it on good authority that he is doing well.
Cuddling lambs. I hadn’t realised quite how cute they would be close up. One little chap even had the start of a pair of horns; not very pleasant for his mum during the birth, but they did suit him.
Getting stuck whilst climbing farm gates (oooh my lady bits!). Gill showed a level of gate-agility that can surely only come from heaps of practice.
Exploring the farm. Truly beautiful, I will have to go back to see the Dartmoor views because it was misty, but it is easy to tell that the whole place is a labour of love.
Chatting with two other people who are as batty about Dartmoor as we Blondes are. Always a pleasure to compare ‘Dartmoor 365’ records.
So, a big thanks to Gill, Matt and their lovely sheep (Whiteface Dartmoors). No lambs were born while I was there, so I didn’t get to use any Blonde midwifery skills; but I am looking forward to going back for another try.
Despite living on a 400-fleece sheep farm in Somerset for 18 months, over two lambing seasons, my one and only experience of lamb birth is from NZ – we arrived at a friend’s farm, no time for a cuppa, straight outside to assist one of the oldest lady sheep’s difficult labour. 2 hours later after much twisting, pulling, ropes and the vet (even suggesting removing the lamb in pieces), out came a very dead lamb. So sad. One day, as a biology teacher I would too love to see a live animal birth other than on TV!
It is a very beautiful thing when nature gets it right, unfortunately sometimes nature can be cruel. We have had our fair share of lambing tragedies, this year however the ewes are being SO slow that we still only have 5 lambs!! It was lovely to meet you B2, come back anytime you like, and bring B1. And if anyone wants to follow out farm antics you can follow me on Twitter @gillben1
My farmer friend said all her lambs were born with a suicide gene – which led them out into busy roads, down into the farm pond, under the wire into the pig field, out onto the cliff path, etc. etc. etc. I’d love to see a birth.
And I could watch them play “king of the castle” in the fields for hours – – –