The loved it all – bottle feeding a lamb, meeting ducks and goats and chickens and geese

They brought me a bunch of tulips

We were fortunate to live in a hamlet in Devon over 45 years ago, where we were friends and neighbours with the wonderful Maltby family. John Maltby was a renowned potter and sculptor and we are privileged to have several of his creations, some of which were made for special family birthdays and my parent’s anniversaries at 40 years and then 50 years. We enjoy them to this day and remain close (but geographically distant) friends with John and Heather’s daughter. For more on our Devon life (and much more besides) see ‘Jews Milk Goats’ available on Amazon.

New book out now, ‘Cohencidence’ also on Amazon

Her small cries during her last hour were so heart rending that I cried – all I could do was stroke her head and back but I don’t know if that soothed her. After she took her last breaths I poured myself a calming glass of whisky and reflected on the six little lambs outside who are thriving. They don’t all survive but it is always sad to watch an animal suffer and it never gets easier.

She won’t feed and Perky, her mother, spends most of her time out on grass and away from the lamb. Perky has a full udder but wouldn’t feed either twin.

I’ve brought Beatrice into the kitchen and will try and feed her little and often but without any real hope of success. Sad

I will continue to bottle feed her – little and often. Her mother won’t feed her (can’t be bothered?) but is attentive click below

We prepared the “kitchen cage” last used for a duckling

And previously used for Wiggle and other poorly, orphaned or rejected lambs.

I’m not at all sure she will survive. She’s very weak, doesn’t want to feed and whatever we have gotten into her has come straight through. It’s not looking good but we will do our best to keep her comfortable.

Below is the picture of contentment. Susie with her twins this morning

But Perky’s twins are not too happy. One is up and bright (we fed them a bottle each of colostrum yesterday afternoon and evening as they were not feeding from Perky). One of the girls has a good appetite and a lusty suck but the other is hunched and frail.

This morning the larger twin came to me for bottle feeding but the other had to be encouraged without much success. Perky has plenty of milk in her udder but can’t seem to be bothered with nursing her lambs. She is, after all, at least 13 years old and past breeding age. Read below the pictures what I gleaned from the internet

• Highly Fertile and Long-Lived:Jacob ewes are known to have a high breeding lifespan, with many continuing to produce lambs at 7 to 9 years old.
• Productive Years: While they can breed for many years, they are at their peak productivity between 3 and 6 years old.
• Late-Life Breeding: It is not uncommon for healthy Jacob ewes to have lambs at 10 years old or, in some cases, even older

At Perky’s age she wants to retire from raising lambs. I can’t say I blame her but we will try to get the lambs to suckle from her later with one of us holding her still and the other placing the lambs on Perky’s teats.

I had bottle fed Virginia before I left and checked Perky who looked as if she was ready to lamb. When I returned home she had given birth to Twin girls

She is now in the sheep barn until we are able to see that the girls are feeding. Probably in for a night or two