Lambs are then marked with matching numbers for twins, a letter of the alphabet for triplets and a single dot for a single lamb. This makes it easier for Graham and Peter to make sure each sheep family is properly mothered up in the evening - lost lambs are at risk overnight from predators, the cold and hunger. Twice a day the sheep in the shed receive concentrated food. Some ewes are so greedy, and after living here for up to five years know our system so well, that they gobble their own ration and then leap into other pens, disrupting the feeding for the rest of the flock. Hay and water is topped up as many times a day as we can manage - a minimum of six times.
Clean straw is added to each pen at least twice a day in an effort to keep any infection away.
Each little family unit remains in the shed for up to 48 hours. Each vacated pen has disinfectant powder sprinkled on the dirty bedding, more clean straw put on top and a fresh bucket of water put in. Dorothy, who helps us out a few hours each week, has just arrived. She had a phone call yesterday to say that we and another farm had gone down, but so far we're both still here. Her diary will be back on Friday.