Monday, May 16, 2016

Growing Rocket



Rocket is growing wonderfully, and since he is always asked after, I thought it was time I gave you an update.
Rocket now spends his days as a sheep, out in the paddock with the little flock of last spring's lambs. We slowly moved him out by bringing them down into the large house yard for a few days, where Rocket could spend the day with them whilst also being close to us. It's so much better for him to be out with other sheep, as lambs learn by copying, and since being in with sheep he drinks more water and spends more time grazing. He was still sleeping inside at night until a few evenings ago.


When the sheep ran out of grass down here, we moved them back up to their paddock (which is visible from the house anyway). Rocket was put to bed with them into the shed, and horrible as I felt for leaving him there, he settled in wonderfully and is really benefiting from rediscovering his identity as a sheep. He's still on five or six feeds a day, which is pretty intense but it really won't be long before he drops one or two of his day time feeds.
As well as he's doing, I can't help but feel sorry that his mum isn't here any more. He's gone through so many changes in his very short life. He's gone from being a normal lamb, to living in the house and learning to except us as his new flock, to attaching himself to Bambi and spending the day outside with her, to having to readjust to spending the day with a flock of sheep, and now changing to spending all hours with the sheep, and having to accept that he only sees his "mum" (me) at bottle time.
This has been the last change for him, until he is weaned when older, which is entirely normal.

Rocket's first bottle is at six thirty in the morning, which is a rather chilly time to be out in the paddock but has it's benefits in that I get to see the sun rise every morning, even on a Sunday when I'd like to sleep in. Rocket and the other sheep are lucky and get to stay in their warm shed for a little longer until the sun dries the dewy ground, whilst I head back to the house for a warm cocoa (made with Missy milk, of course!) and a little knitting before starting the day.


Subscribe via email and never miss a post again

8 comments

  1. It's a wonderful time for Rocket.

    I have read all your blog, I love it.
    Thank you very much.

    ReplyDelete
  2. So pleased Rocket is doing so well. Thank you for your lovely blog - I enjoy reading it so much, warts and all!

    ReplyDelete
  3. I think your Rocket is so very cute! I have rocket in my garden but it's the kind my native bees love when it's in flower:)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank-you Meg. I realised when I received your comment that the title of this post could be misleading....I forgot for a moment that Rocket was indeed named after a plant! x

      Delete
  4. Such a lucky lamb....and such a lovely way to start each day x

    ReplyDelete

Hello! Please don't be shy - leave a comment, answer a question or tell your own story! I love the conversation and community - it's what blogging is all about x

You don't need an account to comment, simply use the Anonymous option or Name/URL

© Say Little Hen
Maira Gall