That’s a bit of a worry out of the way, as some of you saw, we baled the hay this afternoon. A couple of weeks back I was getting very concerned that the bad weather would stop us from making any fodder at all, let alone hay. With the hot sun this morning it had made by lunchtime. Just as well as the forecast is showers tonight. It was a bit of a gamble to try to make hay with the forecast for in the middle of the week being wet, but I did not have an option. Mind you I have never not made hay in all the time that I have been at Denbury.
We made 141 bales, that is with out cutting a small paddock at the end of the valley, that we would normally cut, up about 19 more bales from last year, although the contractor reckons that the bales are tighter than last year. I will try to sell 50 of then. Last winter we used 109, about four a week I would guess. Some people would say tat we feed more hay than we should, but I would rather have fat warm Horses in the winter months.
All going well the bales will be taken from the fields and stacked in the barn tomorrow. So that the bales can be put into the barn we have had to let the Sheep out of the pen, that they have been in for a six weeks or more. The Portlands should have been taken to market this morning for the Rare Breeds Sale, but the restricted movement of Cattle, Sheep and Pigs because of the Foot and Mouth outbreak, the sale was cancelled. I had intended to keep the friendly Texels, so we have put up netting and gates around the lake to hopefully keep them in. All the Lambs have now been weaned off of the Ewes, so we should not get them breaking out of the area we have put them in.
Although the distance from the barn to the lake is only about fifteen metres, it was a bit of a problem getting them to their new area. The first thing that they wanted to do as the passed out the gate was to graze, and they wouldn’t move. Tass and Kye were deliberately put where the sheep could see them, which blocked off one area, just in case they decided that they wanted to go in the direction that I didn’t want them to, I stood on the other escape route. After about ten to fifteen minute, with a little coaxing they went into the lake area. Hopefully that is where they will stay.
It is possible we could soon be looking for a live in Groom to help with the Horses, and other odd jobs on the farm. The person would need to have experience with Horses. If you think that it may interest you, please email me at info@denburyfarm.co.uk telling a little about yourself.