Lambs – See How they Grow

Spring is gaining slowly here. The trees are finally leafing out on the upper Patten. At the center of the farm (a drop in elevation of about 600') things are perceptibly further along. Warmer temperatures are elusive. Plenty of wind.

The pastures are greening up nevertheless.  I have strong feeling that cooler spring is healthy for the lambs. We put them out in pasture every morning. Although they can return to the barn at any time, they mostly stay out all day. I know because I spy on them. The moms graze lustily. The lambs nap in the warm pockets on the leeward side of rocks.

When the sun intensifies, the mothers will retreat to the barn after morning graze. But until the heat (and the black flies) kick in, they are perfectly happy to picnic in the field all day. 

The lambs are sturdy and robust. I'd like to show you the difference a week on pasture makes on their growth. The first three shots show the lambsters just over a week ago.

Gala

Gala (with Jonathan in the background)

MacIntosh on pasture

MacIntosh (left) and Braeburn (right)

Pippin

Pippin rules! First and largest lamb in the pasture.

Now check out some shots from dinner time yesterday.

MacIntosh in barn

MacIntosh

Pink lady

Pink Lady

Keswick, fuji

Keswick and Fuji

See how they're filling out? A really nice bunch of lambs. Fuji (above) is IMO the pick of the ram lambs. He is the spitting image of his dad, Teaberry.

His pal Keswick (left) looks like his ears were dipped in coffee. He's got the same spots on his back side and hind legs.

Keswick's speckles
No one knows what to make of Keswick's mysterious freckles, though we are having fun inventing explanations for this.