Hebredians & Cold Weather.

It's really cold. The calor gas has frozen - well the regulator has, so we have to tip boiling water over it so we can use the cooker.

Jim walked to the little shop today as the track is frozen solid. The roads seem passable, but we don't really need to get out, just need bits & pieces really. We are having a young cockerel for our tea. It was getting bossy & was too close to breed from, so I have a cockerel on order & another Scot's Grey hen to bring in some new blood.
There's 4 young cockerels growing on for the pot & three young hens who are perfectly marked - so they're a great addition. Scot's Grey's are number 2 on the endangered species list.

When I got the 4 Hebredian ewe lambs I was told that I'd never be able to get near them. So I've posted a picture of one coming to be hand fed this evening. ( Hebredian's are black )Out of the 4 there is one who is still a little aloof, but it'll come around. I also got told that they wouldn't flock by someone who shall remain nameless, but who has never kept sheep, but talks as if they are some sort of expert. They do flock Mr Armchair expert. We feed them all sugar beet pellets twice a day & they get hay. Jim even goes up last thing at night to check them. We hear there's a big dog fox on the prowl & has taken large lambs from a neighbouring township. Well not taken, but had deadly bites out of - either a fox is responsible or someone's arrived up at a holiday home & is letting their dog attack sheep. Or just letting it run wild. It'll be shot if it's caught.

The water's frozen, but we have the burn to hand, so it's easy to fill buckets up & bring them in.
Last year we were frozen solid for a couple of months - really deep ice - this hasn't been too bad until lately. Old caravans aren't the warmest places to live. Thank goodness we have the wood burner - I love my wood burner.