Hormones Run HIGH On the Farm
Well it’s happened - we’re officially into autumn. Somehow the year has swept by and after the disastrous months of 2022, I can’t say I’m sad to see the waning of summer. The battle against the drought has been fought (and lost), rain has finally begun and the colder nights have started to slow growth, bring about the colours of fall, and send the rams into rut.
Having normally lambed in the second week of Feb, lambing in Mid-march was a novelty in 2022. I did, however, find it to be a little too late. Without sponging the ewes, I had lambs in April. That’s no bad thing but it’s the same time as the market garden and flower farm really begins to ramp up in terms of workload. I still brought the ewes into the barn in Feb due to low forage and wanting them on camera. That meant I was feeding them for longer. It’s also set the lambs back a little - instead of them being a good six months by the end of summer, they’re younger. It has a knock-on effect on the ewes too which I want to get back into condition for tupping.
Frenemies
The rams have entered the rut!
So taking all things into account, I’ve decided to tup at the beginning of October for end of February lambs. But given the way in which Montague and Capulet are now knocking each others’ heads about, I may throw the rams in a few days earlier. The two Norfolk Horn rams have never been exactly best friends, but they accommodated each other. Now they’re knocking seven bells out of one another.
Eve continues to evade pregnancy commitments
Hormones are not exactly running high with the goats. Away from Eve, JJ’s pong has disppeared and though he continues his billy-like duties of sniffing all of his herd-mates (wethers), he’s no longer covered in so much pee he can be smelt from the other side of the farm. Eve, however, continues to evade questions over her pregnancy. She must be pregnant - she hasn’t come into heat and JJ spent a good six months with her before losing interest of his own accord. So I wait an engorged udder and signs of labour - she’ll probably choose the coldest or wettest day of the year.
After the shocking growing season, I’ve tried to hide my woes in autumn planting. I was feeling rather desperate having seen all my hard work from spring frazzle away and die. Towards the end of August and the beginning of September, I began a sowing frenzy. The fruits of my endeavours are now beginning to show, with seedlings large enough to be transplanted going into the polytunnel. I have lettuces, radishes, kale, spring onions and turnips on one side (along with a few others) whilst I’ve also begun flowers for the 2023 season. Hesperis, cornflowers, larkspur, sweet williams and asters are now all becoming little plants so that when the spring arrives, they’re ready to burst into flower.
The polytunnel is beginning to fill up with food and flowers for overwintering.
It’s been quite a busy but productive time on the farm over the past couple of weeks. The countdown to 2023 is here and I can’t wait! In the meantime I’ve also had a local photographer come and take some photos of my beloved animals on the farm for next year’s calendar. I’m super excited to finally put something together. There’s a couple of potential images below. Don’t miss out on a calendar for yourself - GET it here.
