What's New at the Farm this Spring?

Lambing Collage

It’s actually raining outside as I’m writing this but Spring must be on the way as we have spent the day mucking out all the big sheds and power washing them ready for high season and lambing! March is always spent getting the farm ready for the switch to high season hours when we are back to being open every day except Mondays. The daffodils have bloomed, the fields are greening up and the anticipation of new life is very exciting.

Equines

As the ground dries out we are expecting to be getting back on the horses to do some work with them in advance of the Cheshire Show in June. They are all unfit after the winter months off so we have to start out slowly with some hacks in the park and build it up. Tabby is going to be 18 this May but she is the one who still thinks a ride out is a race! Our donkey Pickles has been lame with an abscess but thankfully that’s cleared up now and she can continue on with her training alongside Huw and Frosty.

Pigs

Susie the Saddleback is the next pig due to farrow in April and we are hopeful that our lovely Large White, Lola, is finally pregnant for the first time too. Our youngster, Orla, is growing into a lovely, sociable and cheeky gilt which is fab as I think Bonnie and Martha are now in retirement! We are hoping to purchase an ‘in-pig’ Tamworth for this Summer as we’d love to continue to help with the conservation of this beautiful, ginger breed.

Sheep

The sheep’s time to shine is upon us as we embark on lambing week from the 28^th March. They will all be coming in onto the yard to give birth and visitors often get lucky with a live lambing. We are expecting nearly 50 lambs so this is a great time to visit. Nothing says Spring like newborn lambs skipping around the pens! The sheep and lambs do go out in the fields after the Easter holidays so if lambs are your thing then don’t miss them when they’re young.

Cows

We are hoping to try again with the implantation of some Native Jersey embryos into our dairy herd as part of British Breeds Revival Trust. Native Jersey cows are extremely rare now and this is part of a project to increase their numbers. Success rate for embryo transfer is only 40% so it’s not easy. We will start the AI process nice and early this year for 2027 calving as none of the cows managed to get pregnant for this year. We think the very hot weather and some fertility issues with the bull last year was the cause so we want to give the cows plenty of opportunity to get in calf again this summer.

Goats

We have just hired in a Golden Guernsey billy goat to run with Emily and her daughter Rose. We will eventually get them scanned to see if they are pregnant so fingers crossed. We have a feeling Emily has held to him but Rose wasn’t sure about the billy goat and may have managed to dodge him! Our Angora cross, Betty, has had her first shear of the year. Amber is still ruling the roost as usual!

Poultry

The first batch of eggs have gone into the incubator and are due to hatch just before the Easter weekend. The hatchery will be open for viewing of the chicks but we are unsure whether we will be able to do our Meet the Chicks activity until later in the year, it will all depend on the avian flu guidelines. We will keep you posted…