Sunday, 22 May 2011

The Stork's visit

Ten buff orpington chicks hatched in the incubator. I fostered 2 under the pekin hen -


And 8 chicks under a buff hen -


It seems an unfair division, but it's a size issue. The buff has more junk in her feathery trunk, good for keeping chicks warm. Both broods are thriving.

The stork had a delivery for me too -


Five orphan lambs, three girls and two boys. The ewe lambs (big ears) are mule x Texel, a commercial meat breed who will join my flock of Dorsets. The rams (black noses) are Charolais x, and will live in my freezer eventually. For now, I'm caught up in the cute factor.


 

The stork should be visiting us again sometime in September, if these coloured bottoms are any indication -


There were four green bottoms (and, somewhat disturbing, one green forehead) before I changed the raddle harness crayon. The ewes cycle every seventeen days, so changing the colour lets me know which were covered earliest, and helps me work out more accurate due dates.

There is one very red bottom already, and two yet to be covered properly. When every sheep looks like a christmas ornament, the ram can go back home for a well-deserved rest.

6 comments:

Paula said...

Gosh this post reminds me of the song Spring, Spring, Spring from Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

I probably made the same comment last year.

They are pretty cute, I have to admit. Congrats on all the new babies!

Harvest Kitchen Sisters said...

Tis the season! I have just let the turkey hens try their little wings at setting... and am awaiting the results of our home incubator. Another funny post!

Maria said...

Very cute indeed! and incidentally I like your stripy cardigan.

the green forehead makes the mind boggle :o)

Tamar@StarvingofftheLand said...

You have bubonic cute overload.

It's a damn good thing we humans don't walk around with chalk marks from where ... ahem ... you know ...

Peruby said...

I can't stop laughing over the green forehead! I am so sorry but I can't stop.

Jennifer Montero said...

Maria & Perbuby - I can assure you that we made all the purile jokes going. I still snicker when I she the ewe, who now has a red bottom to go with the green forehead

Tamar - If people wore raddles harnesses, it would give a new dimension to 'the walk of shame'