Playing an old Cat Stevens song in my head as I think about putting pet lambs Peaches and Fig out into the side paddock yesterday here at Struan Farm. John helped to carry them over from the Pet Pen in the backyard, where they were rapidly becoming big lambs in a small pond.
With three other younger abandoned lambs in the Pen, Chalk and Cheese, and our newbie ewe lamb, feeding times were starting to get a bit rough for everyone involved. Peaches and Fig were running around, wanting to jump and play in a bigger area. We could see that even if they didn't know that themselves.
The first day out in the Paddock is always a bit scary. We feed them an extra bottle or two so they get used to knowing where "home" is. John also walked them over the redwood trees, where there is good shelter.
Before long they will be wandering all over the paddock and I will be needing to call them home to the gate for their feeds. I use an especially high pitched voice to call the lambs, something they all get used to hearing and associating with "mum." What we haven't done is put them in the same paddock with Buzz, Sugar and Spice. They are much bigger lambs, a tight trio at this stage, and I didn't want any of us trying to cope with that.
Now I need to come up with a good name for the newbie. Who isn't quite so new now at five days old.
Comments