Good news and bad - all the highlands have safely delivered their five calves. But with one heifer and four bull calves, we will only have one replacement for the herd in two-years’ time.
Swinithwaite Highland Herd
My granddaughter has named the heifer calf, Croissant - the bull calves are all called Goldy as they were born on or around the Gold Cup Race day at Cheltenham.
Croissant
With typical Spring weather and strong winds, the animals need extra water and bedding.
Snow at the back door
A snowy sunset
When this barn door blew open in the bad weather, the pigs were too tired or comfortable to notice.
Happy pigs with no barn door
After 30 years of rearing pigs, I have produced my first bad mother. My Mangolitza cross had her small litter in the cold weather and most piglets failed to get their first meal of milk and sadly only one survived. Ginger is a firm favorite with the children.
Ginger with a friend
We will keep her to breed from next year; she has now joined a recently weaned litter and enjoys being part of a new family.
Ginger and new siblings
Fluffy the sow is due to farrow any minute - she enjoyed a coating of pig oil, there is nothing more itchy then stretched skin.
Fluffy and oils
With no family weddings this year, we are concentrating on the house. The new heating has gone in (a relief to all new family members) and the odd carpet. Now the Spring clean and clear out begins, allowing myself a year!
The yurts are back in place and being spruced up ready for the season. We now have a wedding license so Wensleydale yurt weddings are the next thing. With Fairhurst at Berry’s for food and the honeymoon Temple folly on site, we have the whole package.
Yurts in place and just waiting for leaves
Berry’s monthly themed events have been popular - and all sell outs so far. Here is the poster, I am definitely getting a table together for the murder mystery, planning early.
I am looking forward to my helpers turning up at Easter - the cream legbar bantam does a lot of the feed checking but she isn’t as chatty as the grandchildren.
Helpers due back at Easter
Miss Cream Leg bar checking the feed bins after slipping out of bird flu confinement
We are bracing ourselves for the busy lamb feeding in the Easter holidays, and the endless pony brushing to make sure the birds get plenty of material for lining their nests. Roll on the helpers of all shapes and ages!
