On 25th January, still noticing new damage caused by Storm Éowyn, which blew through the previous day, Astrid kicked off 2025's lambing with twin boys. She had them all by herself and was already licking them when I spotted her. We got the new family into a pen and left them to it.
Astrid took to motherhood very well. The boys are almost identical, apart from a spot on the back leg of one of them. They're called Henry and Herbie (he has the spot). If I can't see the spot, I can't tell you who it is! This is one of them.
Primrose and Frida lambed the following morning, but it was a full week before Fern was ready. She had a difficult lambing, and unfortunately one of her twin girls only lived for a few minutes afterwards. The smaller lamb, coming backwards, we were able to save. This is Heather.
Meanwhile, the other ewes and lambs were enjoying the shelter of the shed. The wind picked up and we lost some of the shed roof on the Sunday after Storm Éowyn. Thankfully someone came and got that fixed for us the following day.
Frida, the poor thing, had a single, dead, ewe lamb. We're not sure why it died. It looked fine. But these things can happen sometimes. She was upset for a couple of days and I kept her in with the others until I was sure she was alright.
Here's (checks leg) Henry. I think.
Primrose, the only of the four who had any previous lambing experience, had a huge single ewe. I've called her Hyacinth.
The boys again. Henry with Herbie in the background (I'm sure this time).
The mums are kept busy - those lambs don't stay still!
So, overall, not the most successful start to lambing, but at least the pets are done. Now just over 200 or so to deal with come March! Easy peasy!
