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00:00And we've fallen for this way of life, hook, line and sinker.
00:08Oh, can you keep this?
00:11Right, Milo, let's get some jobs done.
00:14Farming's a breeze, compared to having four kids.
00:19We're surrounded by the spectacular Peak District.
00:23As far as an office goes, it's pretty good, isn't it?
00:27With ancient woodlands...
00:30What about Dad there?
00:32..and rolling hills as their playground.
00:35Ready?
00:37This year, we've big plans to increase our flock...
00:42No, Mum!
00:45..and herd...
00:47Can I ride on him?
00:49Oh, you can't ride on him, no.
00:51..whilst continuing to diversify.
00:53What about if we've created some sort of farm musical?
00:57Kevin, we've got enough to do, we're not creating a farm phantom.
01:00..and we're excited about what our next chapter might hold.
01:04I can't think of something that would beat this for me.
01:07This is my version of a happy, full life.
01:09Right, let's get some cup of tea, then.
01:11This week on our farm, I'm forced to call in the vet
01:26as one of our expecting ewes takes a bad turn.
01:29Yeah, she's quite unwell,
01:30so it's a good job that I kind of found her when I did, really.
01:33It's amazing how it can become quite serious quite quickly.
01:37I give our pregnant cow, Cherry, a bit of TLC.
01:41Kelvin's a very attentive man,
01:43so, yeah, he's been good to me during my pregnancies.
01:46He's learnt a lot, that's why he knows how to treat the cow.
01:49And our feathered family welcomes its newest member.
01:54I'm very impressed by the cockerel choice.
01:57He looks the part, he sounds the part.
01:59The next thing to see is whether he can deliver.
02:14We're still a while away from living back on the farm,
02:17following the fire in the farmhouse.
02:20Until then, our days start in a rented house down the road.
02:24Right, who wants some jam and toast?
02:26Me!
02:27Good answer.
02:29And as soon as the kids are fed and watered...
02:32Yee!
02:33Who's going in the front?
02:35..we all head straight to the farm to do the rounds.
02:42The first job of the day is enticing our Lincoln Reds
02:45back to the barn ahead of a visit from the vet.
02:48Hey, hey, hey, hey!
02:50Liz, do you want to get some feed?
02:53And just put it in the trough.
02:55It's a big day for the herd, especially our new bull, Crowther.
03:00We've got the cows in, we're going to pregnancy test them.
03:03A little bit nerve-wracking, whether it's worked,
03:05whether he's done his job,
03:06or whether he's just been roaming around the field having a nice time.
03:10I hope he's been busy.
03:12Arriving to see if Crowther has performed is our vet, Hugo.
03:17Good evening, Calvin. How's it going?
03:20I'm very good, thanks, mate. How are you?
03:22All right.
03:24Here for scanning day.
03:25Yes.
03:26Hopefully you'll be bringing some good news to us.
03:28I hope so. What are you trying to do?
03:32Well, they're all in.
03:33Get them in the crush and then we get started.
03:35Come on, then.
03:37Who's coming first? Come on.
03:41Cherry is first up to be scanned by Hugo.
03:45It's a bit nerve-wracking, yeah.
03:46So, I'm just scanning around both sides of a uterus
03:49and there is a calf in there.
03:53Yes!
03:54So, you've got one pregnancy there.
03:56Very good!
03:58All looking healthy.
04:00But, yeah, lots of healthy calf there.
04:02My little guess what?
04:04She's having a baby.
04:06There's a baby in there.
04:07Sonic's going to have a brother or a sister.
04:11This calf, I would say, is just not quite seven weeks.
04:14It's about three centimetres.
04:18Babe, have you heard that, guys?
04:19You know this baby calf inside this cow?
04:21What?
04:22Guess how big it is at the minute.
04:23How?
04:24It's only that big.
04:26What the...?
04:27Is it a boy or a girl?
04:29We don't know yet. Can we tell if it's a boy or a girl?
04:31Not just yet.
04:32Not just yet.
04:33And then what happens is, as it's in its mummy's tummy,
04:35the calf probably gets to about that big in mummy's tummy
04:39and then it comes out.
04:40But at the minute, it's just that big.
04:42I'm glad I'm not a cow.
04:44Right, you have a quick look there, guys.
04:47And what a special moment to share with the kids.
04:50Can you see a black...
04:51It's like...
04:52A black circle or something?
04:53It's like, yeah.
04:54Might have to have a look.
04:55You can see, like, a water.
04:57Ruby's up next.
04:58What do we think...?
04:59Ruby!
05:01Come on, let's do it.
05:02Right, let's have a look, Ruby.
05:05OK, not quite so good news now, girl, I'm afraid.
05:09Strangely, she actually seems to have a uterus infection.
05:16Oh, no.
05:18Which is most likely that she has been pregnant and she's restored that car.
05:25She's had a miscarriage.
05:27Oh, no.
05:28So we're going to have to give her an injection to clear that out.
05:32So the longer you leave these untreated, the, you know, increases the chance of them not getting in car, basically.
05:41So I'll go and get the injection for her now.
05:43Oh, right, OK.
05:44All right, cool.
05:45Wait a minute, sir.
05:46I just feel that's...
05:47I mean, it's disappointing.
05:48So, yeah, it's, erm...
05:50It's a shame.
05:51The main...
05:52The priority is we want to get her, you know, sorted, treated.
05:55So we're going to give her an injection now that'll treat her.
05:59There is some good news.
06:00The miscarriage does prove that Ruby is fertile, and once recovered, we'll be able to run her with a bull again.
06:08So it's just an injection into her rump now.
06:11Straight in.
06:13Yeah, it's going to set her back a bit, but all we can do is try and get that right.
06:27Good comes with the bad sometimes, and one good result, and one that we'll just take care of, and we'll re-look at it in a few more weeks.
06:37It's not the news we were hoping for, but we'll give Ruby time to recover, and all being well,
06:42she'll fall pregnant again, joining her partner-in-crime Cherry as an expectant mum.
06:48She's in calf! Cherry, you're in calf!
06:53Again.
06:55Oh, that's amazing. That is...
06:58That is brilliant. So proud of her.
07:01Should we have a gender reveal party?
07:03Little reward, you preggers!
07:06How do you feel? You're pregnant!
07:08You're pregnant!
07:09Oh!
07:10Oh!
07:11Oh!
07:12Oh!
07:24Dad, what are we doing for both?
07:25We're going to build something.
07:26Because you're pretty good at building things, aren't you?
07:29Yeah!
07:31Life on the farm keeps me constantly busy, so I really appreciate the jobs that the kids can help with.
07:37And when it comes to building, fixing or mending, Milo's my man.
07:42That's a tractor.
07:45But it needs building.
07:47Yeah.
07:48So I need an apprentice. I need a helper.
07:50So to build this, we need some tools.
07:53So, I'm going to show you a very special toolbox.
07:57Not my toolbox.
07:59Guess who's toolbox?
08:01Grandad's.
08:02Grandad's toolbox.
08:03Come and have a look.
08:04It's a very, very old toolbox.
08:07Is it a big one?
08:08It's massive.
08:09It's bigger than you.
08:12There it is.
08:13You see what it says there?
08:15W.
08:16P.
08:17P.
08:18Fletcher's.
08:19So what does that stand for?
08:22Grandad Fletcher.
08:23Yeah.
08:24Warren Fletcher.
08:25This was Grandad's first ever, because you know Grandad used to fix trucks?
08:30That was his job.
08:31He used to fix big trucks.
08:32And this was his toolbox.
08:35And he had this since he was 16 years old.
08:39So you've got all different...
08:40It's all a bit rusty, but you've got tools there,
08:42and then all these little cabinets.
08:44You pull these out, and in each one is a different type of tool.
08:49Look at those little tiny ones.
08:52That'd be good for you, that one.
08:53I want to see a really tiny one.
08:55Yeah, that's a small one.
08:57Aww, that could be for Max and Taylor.
09:00Yeah.
09:02I learned just about everything I know by helping my dad out.
09:06Now, I'm hoping Milo picks up a thing or two, helping me out around the farm.
09:11We're starting small today, nothing too complicated, and one job that hopefully will put a smile on the twins' faces.
09:17Right, shall we get making this then, mate?
09:19Yeah.
09:20Yeah?
09:21Don't put the wheel there.
09:23Let's start with the seed.
09:25So these are the...
09:28everything that we need.
09:30OK?
09:32Now, we've not got a manual, so we're just going to have to figure this out ourselves, aren't we?
09:36Dad, I know how to do it.
09:38Ready?
09:39Watch and learn, mate.
09:43Need...
09:44Oh, let's take these gloves off then.
09:46Let's take one off.
09:48Need this.
09:51Put it there.
09:52No, I think the washer needs to go on the inside.
09:55Watch...
09:57and...
09:59learn.
10:00OK?
10:01OK.
10:02Now that.
10:03Get the hat on.
10:06And then, you have to put it on.
10:09Oh, wait.
10:10Let me throw another hat off.
10:12Pick a hat.
10:16Well, it does say there.
10:18Look.
10:19Shall we go and get one that's already made?
10:22Yeah, so then we can see.
10:24Here's one that's already made.
10:27This sits on like that.
10:28So this comes on, there, and then turns around like that.
10:36Yeah?
10:37Yeah.
10:38And then we know the axle, let's just call the axle,
10:41it's going to go through.
10:43So that goes through that side, like that.
10:45And now we just need to put the wheels on.
10:48So it is this way.
10:52This is turning out to be a little trickier than I thought,
10:55and I've officially reached the end of my winging it abilities.
10:59Time to admit defeat and go find some instructions.
11:02I've found a manual.
11:05Ah, yes, instructions.
11:08Here we go.
11:11No charge allowed, only parents are allowed to sit.
11:15Yeah, but we'll be alright, won't we?
11:17Yeah, we'll be alright.
11:19Get your steering wheel then.
11:21Steering wheel.
11:22So we've got a plastic washer at the bottom.
11:25So that's in.
11:27The wheel's on.
11:29That's good.
11:31And then get your screw.
11:33You've got two screws here, nice and steady.
11:37That was a good one.
11:39That was a good one.
11:42Now the twins each have their own mini tractor to keep them busy.
11:45As for Milo the mechanic, I don't think it'll be too long before he's using more of the tools from his grandad's toolbox.
11:53That was a hard one but never mind.
11:57That'll do.
11:58Good lad.
11:59Now we're finished.
12:00High five.
12:02You know what we need to do now?
12:03What?
12:04Test drive.
12:05Test drive?
12:06For Max and Matthias.
12:07Make sure it's safe and it's working.
12:09Yeah.
12:10Give it a little drive down there.
12:11I might pretend I'm in a four.
12:12I might pretend I'm in a four.
12:14Give it a little go.
12:15Okay, right.
12:22Right, let's get some cup of tea then.
12:36Our farm sits on the edge of the Peak District National Park at around 900 feet.
12:43This year, we're learning that farming at altitude comes with a whole host of problems that affect the soil quality.
12:50But that's not putting us off having a go at growing our first crop.
12:54The scarecrow's still standing. I mean his pants have, oh, pants have fallen down a little bit.
12:59But other than that, it's looking alright.
13:01And our scarecrow's Esmeralda and Simon Cowell are a great new addition to the farm.
13:05I must add, doing a cracking job because I cannot see a single crop.
13:11We're growing oats.
13:14These fields haven't been used for arable farming in over 20 years.
13:18So we're learning as we go.
13:20But the prospect of growing an edible crop here is incredibly exciting.
13:24The difference a week makes.
13:27I mean, we're not quite at a sea of green yet.
13:30But now you can kind of, you can see the shoots.
13:32They're quite well established.
13:34We've had some amazing weather.
13:35It's been really warm.
13:36A lot of sunshine.
13:37We haven't had any rain.
13:39But at the minute, the transformation visually is just incredible, really.
13:47I guess we'll see what Ben says.
13:50I'm happy.
13:51We'll see what Ben says.
13:52He's the expert.
13:54Ben is the agronomist, or soil expert, advising me on how to nurture our first crop.
14:00Hiya Ben.
14:01How you doing?
14:02Big difference, eh?
14:03There's a crop.
14:04There is a crop.
14:05There is a crop.
14:06There is a crop.
14:07Is that the official, there is a crop?
14:08Yeah, there is a crop.
14:09It is established.
14:10It's here and we can see it.
14:11It looks a little bit patchy up on the top.
14:13Yeah, it does look a little bit patchy in areas, but it's still, it's still there.
14:17It's 99% there, really.
14:19It's Ben's job to cast his expert eye over our oak crop and spot any threats that might affect its growth.
14:28We call this, like, growth stage 12.
14:30Growth stage 10 and up is, like, how many leaves it's got.
14:34So, if it's a growth stage 12, it's got two leaves.
14:36Right, OK.
14:37I can't see any slug damage either at all.
14:39I would imagine it will be slightly capped by the lack of moisture.
14:43At the moment.
14:44Right.
14:45Because it needs it just to, well, it just needs it to move around the nutrients.
14:48Yeah.
14:49It's like human.
14:50Yeah, yeah, yeah.
14:51So, once we have a bit of rain, then that will transform things again.
14:54It'll really take it up.
14:55Good.
14:56Now, before we move on, my scarecrow.
15:00Yeah.
15:01That's Liz and Marnies.
15:03Yeah.
15:04And me and Milo did that one up there.
15:08I think that one's winning.
15:10That's definitely what it is, isn't it?
15:12Yeah, yeah.
15:13It's like a work of art.
15:14But they seem, joking aside, they actually seem to be doing a job because I can't see a single crow.
15:20I've been astonished by the impact that it's had.
15:24And I absolutely really, really enjoyed making them with the kids.
15:27Yes.
15:28I found it quite therapeutic, you know.
15:30They'll be entering competitions soon.
15:31It's a big thing.
15:32Is it?
15:33Oh, yeah.
15:34What, scarecrow competitions?
15:35Scarecrow competitions, yeah.
15:36Maybe that's one for the future.
15:39With Esmeralda and Simon Cowell potential prize winners.
15:43Anyway, shall we have a look?
15:44Shall we have a wonder?
15:45We'll look at some good bits and then we'll look at some bad bits.
16:00Now this, this is grass weed.
16:04I reckon probably the biggest risk this field has got is if this grass that you ploughed in comes back.
16:15Because if it does, there's absolutely nothing we can do about it.
16:19Yeah, this grass weed is...
16:20Could be a problem.
16:21Could be a problem.
16:22Could be an issue.
16:24But what main, what normally happens is the, especially in spring corn, they will, they'll
16:31get beyond it.
16:33So our oats need to outgrow the grass that's currently competing for nutrients in the soil.
16:39On his last visit, Ben also found a bug called a leather jacket, which could have devastating
16:45effects if they've decided to call this field their home.
16:48This is the problem with the leather jackets, is that this is underneath.
16:52It's not necessarily...
16:53It could also be a good thing because they might just eat this instead.
16:55Right, okay.
16:56But this is going to be attracting them.
16:57Right.
16:58This is, you know, you've effectively left their food source for them.
17:01They will 100% still be here.
17:03If they were here last time, they won't, they won't go anywhere.
17:05Yeah.
17:06But once the crop gets established to a point, it will out-compete them anyway?
17:09Absolutely.
17:10Yeah.
17:11Yeah.
17:12Oh yeah, totally.
17:13Yeah.
17:14The leather jackets I'm not thinking are going to become a problem.
17:19This is good, this is...
17:20Yeah, but there's not...
17:21Again, this is toast.
17:22You're optimistic.
17:23Thankfully, it seems that natural predators have kept the bugs at bay.
17:28And the early signs are good for our crops.
17:30All being well, we'll be harvesting our oats before the summer's out.
17:35So this field could literally yield a crop, oats.
17:39Yeah, yeah.
17:40And then the latter end of the year, the season.
17:42You could do sweets or stubble turnips, probably stubble turnips.
17:44That would actually support livestock?
17:46Absolutely, yeah.
17:47Wow.
17:48I could fill my belly with porridge oats.
17:49Yeah, yeah.
17:50And then we could fatten lambs.
17:51Yeah.
17:52Yeah, yeah.
17:53This is a bit where arable farming gets interesting, isn't it?
17:55That sounds great.
17:56Yeah.
17:57That sounds amazing.
17:58As the agronomist there who's come seeing that actor guy who thought he could grow a few oats.
18:03In a field that's not been ploughed for over 20 years.
18:06So all good then?
18:07All good, yeah.
18:08Yeah.
18:09It's amazing to think this one field could produce two crops in one year.
18:14And by rotating the crop, the soil improves and the weeds are kept at bay.
18:19Good, good, excellent.
18:20Brilliant, yeah.
18:21Happy.
18:22In the slightest.
18:23Happy.
18:24Perfect.
18:25Now we just need a bit of rain, you say.
18:26Now it just needs to rain, sadly.
18:28Ben will be back in a couple of weeks to take samples to check the nutrient levels.
18:33This will determine the quality of the crop.
18:37That was really interesting.
18:39I mean, first and foremost, it's established.
18:42Ben's happy.
18:43We could do with a little bit of rain, can't believe I'm saying that.
18:46And that will really kind of transform things again.
18:49As well, can't forget, there's a chance to put some turnips.
18:53So it feels like that one field can really serve us as a family.
18:58That's just music, isn't it?
18:59Here on the farm, we treat every animal with the same love and care we'd give our own family.
19:16And yes, that sometimes means an extra little pampering too.
19:20I'm going to give her a brush down.
19:23She loves this.
19:24She's losing her winter coat.
19:26It makes me just want to get her shampooed.
19:29I know, it would be nice to wash her.
19:30Should we give her a spruce up before she casts?
19:32Should we give her a nice spruce up?
19:33A nice clean, that would be nice, couldn't it?
19:35Well, we could clean her, you know, give the pens a good clean out.
19:39We'll give her a final pamper before she casts.
19:43Oh, that's nice, like...
19:45And it'll be quite relaxing for her as well.
19:51Yeah, Kelvin really compliments the cows, really talks about how beautiful
19:55and majestic they are.
19:58I've not heard him talk about me like that for a long time.
20:02Do you think I'm beautiful and majestic, Kelvin?
20:05Yeah, you are.
20:08Oh, my God!
20:10I've got to ask for it these days.
20:13He used to just tell me, now I've got to ask.
20:15Liz being slightly envious of the attention I give the cows is a new one.
20:19But to be fair to Cherry, after the news of a positive pregnancy test,
20:23she deserves a little extra attention.
20:26There is something calming about a cow, though.
20:29Oh, she has enjoyed that.
20:31Don't stop, it'd be nice on her belly, Kelvin.
20:33Like, when you're carrying and you're all stretched and...
20:37All tight.
20:38Tight and, oh, he's aching, everything's aching.
20:41Kelvin's a very attentive man, so, er, yeah.
20:44He's been good to me during my pregnancies.
20:46He's learnt a lot, that's why he knows how to treat the cow.
20:49You're regretting those shoes now, aren't you?
20:52See, footwear, that is just...
20:55That was like day one of being on the farm.
20:57What are you thinking?
20:58I'd have to wear wellies every day.
21:00Or boots.
21:01Get your wellies.
21:02You're a farmer.
21:04I'm an actor-stroke farmer.
21:06I'm always going to be a little unorthodox.
21:08You don't realise what state you're in until you do the school run
21:10and you think, oh, my God, I've got poo down my jeans,
21:13I've got the wrong shoes on,
21:15and some of the mums and dads are, you know,
21:17suited and booted and looking glamorous.
21:19I just think, I'm just going to do this as quick as possible.
21:22I hope nobody sees me.
21:23That does not bother me.
21:24My appearance on the school run does not bother me one little bit.
21:26I remember going to a harvest show once,
21:29celebrating harvest, watching the kids do a little show,
21:32and I sat down, I'd just been in with the pigs.
21:34And I remember sitting there and the parents next to me
21:38and I could have this smell, this overwhelming smell.
21:41And I'm thinking, what is that? That's horrible.
21:44And I'm watching little Milo, tears in my eyes, so proud.
21:49And then it dawned on me, it's me.
21:51You are the smell.
21:53I don't mind being a bit scruffy.
21:55Can't change who you are, what you are.
21:58Although our sheep and cows aren't always the easiest to handle,
22:17I like to think we are getting a grip on these animals.
22:21But there's one cheeky little group that plays by their own rules.
22:26Our four unruly chickens.
22:28So now, Liz and Marnie are on a mission to find a true ruler of the roost.
22:34Why are we yelling?
22:36Well, you know we've got the four hens, but we've never had a cockerel, have we?
22:45And if we have a cockerel, when the hens lay their eggs,
22:49then they would be fertilised into chicks.
22:53And every morning it would be like, cock-a-doodle-doo!
22:57Let's go find a cockerel for our hens, then.
23:00Exactly.
23:02Today's adventure takes Liz and Marnie to a farm on the other side of Cheshire.
23:07Hi!
23:08Hello, you OK?
23:09I'm Liz.
23:11Hi, I'm Emily.
23:12Nice to meet you.
23:15We've been told that Emily is a great local breeder
23:18of a whole variety of feathered friends.
23:21So I've been breeding chickens for over ten years now.
23:26I specialise in the rare and traditional breeds because I love them.
23:31They're hardy and they're robust and they're very pretty as well.
23:36They are pretty!
23:37Look at these!
23:38What are these?
23:39These are silkies.
23:40So, yeah, they make a great pet, actually.
23:42They're very sweet.
23:46We need our new lad on the farm to produce chicks.
23:49And Emily has a special bit of kit to help Mother Nature along.
23:53Would you like to see some chicks?
23:55Yeah.
23:56We've got some chicks.
23:57They came out of the incubator on Tuesday.
23:59East Tuesday?
24:00Yeah, so...
24:01So they're two days old?
24:03Yeah, so...
24:04Oh!
24:05Yeah, so do you want to come in?
24:06Yes.
24:07This is my incubator room and chick brooder that just imitates...
24:11Oh!
24:12Look at that one there!
24:13Oh!
24:14Look at the little grey one!
24:15I know!
24:16And then...
24:17Like the yellow one.
24:18That's a Wheaton Moran actually.
24:19Oh!
24:20Oh!
24:21Oh!
24:22Oh!
24:23That is so cute!
24:25Can I hold?
24:26What?
24:27Oh!
24:28Oh!
24:29Oh!
24:30Oh!
24:31Look!
24:32I know!
24:33These are so cute!
24:34Really cute!
24:35Oh, is this your incubator?
24:36Oh, wow, this is so real!
24:37Are they on a slant on purpose?
24:38Yeah, so they turn every 45 minutes, which, because that's what a broody hen would do, they'd
24:56turn them to make sure they're incubated evenly all around the egg.
25:01And if our hens aren't broody, so that means they've all set on the egg to, you know, help
25:06it grow, we'll incubate them so the children can look after it, and I think that's just
25:10a fascinating thing for them to do.
25:13And they're very clever when they hatch out, they know to go to the food and they're already
25:17eating and drinking themselves, so...
25:18They're so clever!
25:19Yeah, they're really clever.
25:21Oh!
25:22Listen to that!
25:24Oh!
25:26But as cute as these little chicks are, we're after something a little more grown-up.
25:33Shall we take a look at what you think might be good for us then?
25:36Yeah, definitely!
25:37We now need to choose the perfect match for our lovely leghorns.
25:41Marnie, what do you think of this guy?
25:43Yeah!
25:44I love him!
25:45When I take the cockerel home to the hens, how will they work out their relationship?
25:51Like, will he just instantly know to be the boss of them?
25:55Yeah, they'll just, they'll chat amongst themselves about who, yeah, who's this new guy?
26:00Erm, and what is his intentions?
26:03Erm, yeah, so I guess they'll have, might go through a bit of a dating phase.
26:08So they're quite romantic cockerels then?
26:12Yeah, I think so, yeah.
26:13I think some more than others.
26:15If we take him home tonight, what do we do with him?
26:19Do we put him in the pen and let him warm his way up in the day?
26:23I'll be worried about him at night otherwise, or what would you suggest?
26:26Erm, I would put him in the coop where you would ideally like all of your hens to sleep.
26:32Right, okay.
26:33Shall we take him home?
26:34Yeah.
26:35Do you think Dad'll like him?
26:36Yeah.
26:37I think you've got yourself a deal!
26:40Alright, great!
26:41Alright, great, yeah!
26:42He's certainly a handsome chap.
26:45Do you cut his nails?
26:47No, usually when they're free-ranging, they wear the nails down themselves.
26:53And they're feathers.
26:54What?
26:55So this breed, the French Wheaton Moran, he's got feathery feet.
26:58Wait, is this the French?
27:00He's French.
27:01Bonjour!
27:02Yeah, definitely winked then.
27:04Yeah, he understands you.
27:06Come on then little fella, in your new bed.
27:08Where are you?
27:09There you go fella!
27:10Right, well let's get you home to the hens then!
27:13You're gonna love it!
27:14Thank you for that!
27:15Take care, see you later!
27:17Bye!
27:18Today's been amazing.
27:21We wanted that traditional cockerel look.
27:24You know, it looks like he's got something about him.
27:27And it feels like it's something that the farm was missing.
27:32I think Kelvin, you know, two alphas look at each other.
27:35He might square up to the cockerel and be like, who's the boss of this farm?
27:37And he'll know it's the cockerel!
27:39So, this is the next teeny little bit of expansion at the farm.
27:43Just the next little addition.
27:45That's exciting, fun and very good looking.
27:48I mean, look at him.
27:49He's a handsome chap.
28:07With our new cockerel safely back home, it's time to introduce him to the rest of the family.
28:12Right, come on. Let's go and meet him.
28:14So, it's a boy chicken.
28:16It's not a chicken actually.
28:18It's a cockerel.
28:20If you're in America then you call it rooster.
28:22I don't know why but for some reason I call it rooster.
28:25And I've also got a name for it.
28:28So, the name is Albie Fletcher.
28:31Albie?
28:32Yeah.
28:33That's a great name.
28:34Albie's a nice name.
28:36Why Albie?
28:37Well, I thought that maybe like a fierce name.
28:42Like maybe like...
28:43He's got some gorgeous colours.
28:45So, we're going to leave him in here for a little while.
28:47Just so he can get used to it.
28:49The hen's roosed up here.
28:51So, they have been looking at him but they're not too impressed so far.
28:54But when he's kind of worked out that this is where he gets his water,
28:58this is where he'll get his food, then we can let him out for a little bit
29:01and hopefully he'll come back knowing this is where his food goes.
29:05Do you want to go and get a little bit of feeding?
29:07We'll chuck it in and see if he comes to it.
29:09But just to know that you also feed him.
29:11Do you want me to go and get you some?
29:13Hold my purse.
29:14I'll be back in five.
29:17Bit of a tough crowd with them hens.
29:19I feel like they're giving him evil looks at the minute.
29:23They're like, who is this?
29:25So, we'll see what happens.
29:27He's got to win them over.
29:29It might take about two weeks for him to officially do his job.
29:35So, we can still have scrambled eggs, fried eggs for breakfast.
29:39Good.
29:40Yeah.
29:41But on the upside, we might even get some baby chicks.
29:44We might get some baby chicks.
29:45How long do baby chicks take to...?
29:46About 21 days.
29:48What do you think, Milo?
29:49Good.
29:50The thought of having some baby chicks around.
29:52Yeah.
29:53Would you like that?
29:54Yeah.
29:55You better start thinking of some names because if we have loads of chicks
29:57running around, we'll need lots of names.
29:59Right.
30:00Be very gentle.
30:01Let him know you're his mate.
30:02And then say, come on, chuk-chuk, like we do to the others.
30:05Chuk-chuk.
30:06And then throw some food down.
30:07Chuk-chuk.
30:08Come on, chuk-chuk.
30:09Say, come on, chuk-chuk.
30:10Come on.
30:12Aww.
30:13I made a love heart, didn't he?
30:15I know.
30:16Looks good.
30:17Where is he?
30:18There's my prince.
30:20Come here.
30:21Chuk-chuk.
30:22He's big, isn't he?
30:23Yeah, he's massive.
30:24I think he's handsome.
30:26I think he's very, very handsome, in fact.
30:30And he's a great addition to the farm, and I cannot wait to have some chicks.
30:35He's lovely.
30:36You've picked a very good-looking one there, babe.
30:38Step one is get him to know that this is home.
30:41Step two, let him out.
30:43That's the next step.
30:44Yeah, a couple more days.
30:45And then step three, hopefully, get some eggs that have been fertilised.
30:51I'm very impressed by their cockerel choice.
30:53They've picked a very handsome chappie.
30:55He looks the part.
30:57He sounds the part.
30:58The next thing to see is whether he can deliver.
31:01Has he got the minerals?
31:02Think he can fill a pram?
31:04Can he fill a pram?
31:08Filling a pram won't be his only job, though.
31:10He'll also serve as the farm's very own alarm clock.
31:13Mornings are going to be different now, aren't they?
31:15They're going to be like, yeah.
31:17Maybe, you know how you set your alarm for six every morning,
31:20and it wakes everybody up but you.
31:22Well, maybe this cockerel will wake you up and you'll finally get out of bed.
31:28Right then, Albie.
31:30We'll listen out for you in the morning.
31:35What time are you waking us up, Albie?
31:37Half all right, thank you.
31:39Maybe the reviews of the cottage are going to go downhill now from Five Star.
31:43Yeah, people are the same.
31:44It was Five Star but that cockerel was just a nightmare.
31:46The cottage is amazing.
31:47I had the most relaxing weekend.
31:49Unfortunately, every morning I was waking up at 4.30.
31:51No, they're like, they're like, oh my gosh, guys, we were going to have a great time.
31:54They're chilling in the backyard and...
31:56But then again, like Liz says, you're at a farm.
32:00This is part of it.
32:01You're at a farm, exactly.
32:02It's the farm experience.
32:03It's the farm experience.
32:04You didn't get any sleep because it's the farm experience.
32:09You'll be right, Albie.
32:10Come on, don't let us down.
32:11Give you some space.
32:13And so far, this year's lambing season is off to a great start.
32:31But on today's rounds, I spotted one of our ewes expecting twins had taken a turn.
32:36So I brought her down to the barn and called Angelica, our vet, to take a look.
32:41I just checked the sheep this morning and she was laying on the floor, slouched on her own,
32:46didn't come over.
32:47So when I went over, she just couldn't stand up.
32:50And what happens, you know, probably six weeks pre-lambing and up to three weeks post-lambing,
32:56they can get what they call twin lamb disease.
33:00I think they're just, energy levels are kind of sapped and they've just,
33:04she's looking a little bit red there, isn't she?
33:07So they go in a negative energy balance.
33:11And in order to get, like, still some energy, they will start burning fats.
33:17And the burning of the fats will create what are called ketones' body.
33:22And these ketones' body are toxic, so they are intoxicated.
33:26All right. So that's why she looked a little bit disorientated when I'm trying to get in the trailer.
33:30She is, yeah, yeah, yeah. She's really, really weak but also intoxicated.
33:34It's exactly the same that happens in humans with diabetes.
33:38The ewe is exhausted and has no energy.
33:42Angelica needs to treat her quickly and hopes she responds.
33:46So she's going to have calcium both under the skin and orally,
34:00and that will help her the levels stay constant, like rise steady and reach a plateau and stay there.
34:06She also has a bit of pneumonia starting, so she's going to have a shot of alamycin as well.
34:13All right, all right. Yeah.
34:15Usually when they get to this point that they don't have energy to walk,
34:19they don't have energy to keep their immune system going.
34:23Yeah, she's quite unwell, so it's a good job that I kind of found her when I did, really.
34:27It's amazing how it can become quite serious quite quickly.
34:35I really need to get this ewe back on her feet
34:37if she's going to be strong enough to deliver her lambs a life.
34:41To help, I'm also giving her a much-needed energy boost.
34:47Yeah, this is a bit like Luca's aid for sheep, yeah.
34:49Hopefully, fingers crossed, that's...
34:51We've managed to catch it in time and she can make a speedy recovery.
34:54We'll keep her in the shed now.
34:56I've made a little pen up for her, so...
34:58We'll get her in the shed and keep an eye on her overnight.
35:02Let's see how she's doing tomorrow morning.
35:05My gut feeling is that she will probably need to stay in
35:08for, like, another couple of days.
35:10Right, OK. OK.
35:12All right, thank you, Angelica. No worries.
35:16We'll keep her in the barn until she's finished her course of treatment.
35:20Come on, girl.
35:26There we go. There we go. That's an improvement.
35:29I mean, she's back on her feet, but she's a big improvement.
35:41I didn't actually realise how serious it can be.
35:44I just thought it was the you that was depleted of energy, basically, you know.
35:49I didn't realise that it can lead to pneumonia and further complications.
35:55So, er...
35:56I certainly didn't know the fact that she'd be kind of somewhat delirious
35:59and almost intoxicated.
36:01I've got to give her some calcium and some more medication this evening
36:06and then see you again tomorrow, see what she'd like.
36:14But before I let Angelica go,
36:16there's one more little guy I'd like her to give the once-over.
36:20We'll just quickly check if this...
36:23Yeah, that one, cos we might have to, erm, spleen that one.
36:27It's that old job, isn't it?
36:29Whilst you're here, paid for your call, Elsa,
36:31come on, you can have a right good look round.
36:33So, we've got, er, this little lamb here,
36:35got its front, er, front left foot.
36:38Can't put any pressure on it,
36:39so I don't know if it's broken or anything.
36:44Can you see how you walk?
36:45It's very, very stiff here.
36:52I'm gonna put a splint on that, on that limb over there.
36:56No, it's not broken.
37:03The last time we had a suspected case for a splint,
37:08the vet told us it was irreparable, really, and the little lamb had to be put down.
37:15Thankfully, this time, it's a bit more of an optimistic diagnosis.
37:20Can you hold that one for me, please?
37:22Yeah.
37:23I'm so happy this lamb has got a fighting chance of survival, with help from a short splint.
37:38Once wrapped up, it will give the lamb more stability and help strengthen his leg.
37:44This is just so the splint doesn't get too tight on the skin and it goes down.
37:53We've never had a lamb with a splint before, so this is a first for us.
37:59I mean, you can't get any cuter than a lamb with a...
38:01No.
38:02Can you?
38:04So is he done?
38:06Moment of truth now, let's see if we can...
38:09Too much pressure.
38:11Too much pressure.
38:12You need to get used to it first.
38:14There you go, mate.
38:15As his leg isn't broken, just a week or two with a splint should sort him right out.
38:20.
38:37With the farming jobs done for today, we're finding time to have fun with our own pack of animals.
38:43.
38:48Woo!
38:49Ah! Ah! Ah!
38:51Go on!
38:53Woo! Woo!
38:55Yay!
38:58The kids love being wild and free.
39:01Dad, I found a ladybird!
39:03Wow!
39:04Our farm means we don't have to travel far to find adventure.
39:09Who wants to go look for some bones?
39:11Me.
39:12And then we'll have to guess what animal they are from.
39:15Yeah? You've got my shoulders. Turn around.
39:17Yeah.
39:18After a recent adventure, Milo found what he suspects
39:21to be dinosaur bones in the woods.
39:23So we've got the whole family together to investigate more.
39:27So, who's ready to go and find some bones?
39:29Me!
39:31Right.
39:33You've got you on my shoulders.
39:35I'll find you.
39:36We've got our baskets for bones.
39:38Yeah!
39:39Milo's the park ranger. We've got to follow Milo.
39:42Come on, Fletchers.
39:44Come on, this way!
39:47Stretching over 20 acres of our land is an ancient woodland
39:51with trees that have stood longer than any farm
39:54and a home to many species.
39:56I found a nice flower already.
39:58Oh, yeah, I was looking at those flowers.
40:00Manny, come here.
40:02Put this in your hair.
40:04You ready?
40:05Along with an abundance of wildflowers are the insects, birds and animals
40:09that live off the land.
40:11And maybe, just maybe, a dinosaur once walked here too.
40:16Come on.
40:17Come on.
40:18Let's follow Milo.
40:19Dinosaur.
40:20I think the dinosaur bones are a dusty one down here.
40:25Look at this.
40:27A bit squiggly.
40:34Molly, have you found any?
40:36No.
40:42These are called fern plants.
40:45Yeah.
40:46They were in the dinosaur camera.
40:48They were.
40:49They've been around on Earth for so many years.
40:53And that will be older than all the trees, all the plants.
40:59They are so old.
41:01So they've seen everything.
41:15This is kind of a bit of untouched part of the farm, really.
41:24It's like nature's just being left to its own devices.
41:27It's like another world.
41:28It's the way it sounds, the way it smells.
41:37There's something about the woods, I don't know what it is,
41:39it's different to any other landscape.
41:41The beach, the open countryside, however beautiful those places are,
41:46there's something about the woods that's just,
41:49that's just magical, really.
41:58When we came to view here, Kelvin asked to view the whole 120 acres,
42:03and we had flip-flops on.
42:06And it was like muddy.
42:07In fact, it was a bit muddier, wasn't it?
42:09I remember walking up this section in flip-flops and shorts.
42:12And the estate agent was in a suit and really nice clean shoes,
42:17and by the end of it, we were all just filthy.
42:19I could live in the woods.
42:26Look, guys!
42:27Honestly, I could.
42:28Can you imagine just having a little cabin, a little hut here,
42:32making your own fires and there's a little stream at the bottom,
42:36catching the fish and cooking them on a rock?
42:39Honestly, I just, I think that life would just be amazing.
42:43Maybe once we're back in the farmhouse,
42:45I can find some time to build us a cabin in the woods.
42:48But for now, we've got an important task in hand.
42:53Oh, wow!
42:54Look, Daddy!
42:55Little nut!
42:56Oh, my goodness!
42:57That looks like a massive one.
42:59The thing is, if you find one bone, you're going to find more.
43:02Mommy, can I have the red bone?
43:04The skeleton is around.
43:06I mean, look at the size of that.
43:08Yeah, I found that one.
43:10Mommy!
43:11I've found one!
43:15I've just found this one.
43:17Whoa!
43:18I think that's a rat-to-bone.
43:20He's old.
43:21Can we just think of the size here?
43:23Cos that's the same as Daddy's arm,
43:25so it could be an arm bone, no?
43:27Or a leg.
43:29And as soon as we've found one,
43:31the kids find more and their imaginations run wild.
43:35Daddy, I've found a bone!
43:37Pterodactyl.
43:38Pterodactyl.
43:39No, for a fact.
43:40What's that?
43:41Pterodactyl.
43:42For a fact?
43:43Pterodactyl.
43:44Really?
43:45Oh, I know what that could be.
43:47That might be close.
43:49Definitely a pterodactyl, apparently.
43:51I mean, I didn't know this, so on this farm, there's been...
43:55Daddy Bay!
43:56Sheep.
43:57Sheep.
43:58Deer.
43:59Pterodactyls.
44:00Oh!
44:01Oh!
44:02Look at that!
44:03What do you think that is?
44:06I don't know, but...
44:07A bum bone.
44:08It looks like a...
44:09A bum bone.
44:10Looks like the kidney.
44:11A bum bone.
44:12Oh, look, I've found another.
44:14Another one?
44:15Mummy's like David Attenborough.
44:17Yeah!
44:18She's brilliant at finding these bones.
44:21So, guys, we've done well there.
44:24Some good finds.
44:26Who's hungry?
44:27Yeah!
44:28Should we go and have a picnic?
44:29Yeah!
44:30Let's go, then.
44:31Woo!
44:32Woo!
44:33Picnic!
44:34I've made a hot pot in my lap!
44:36Who knows the way back?
44:37Who knows the way back?
44:38Adam!
44:39Adam!
44:40No, I do!
44:41I do, Adam!
44:42Okay, which way?
44:43Adam, this way.
44:44This way.
44:45That way.
44:46Come on, then.
44:47Good job.
44:58Next time on our farm, nerves are shredded as we await some big results.
45:04Big day today, TB results day, so naturally this is where the nerves kick in.
45:09It's a day where you've got everything possible crossed and you're just hoping for a good outcome.
45:16Because, you know, it can be devastating.
45:18Matthias helps me do some heavy lifting.
45:21It's quite heavy.
45:22It's heavy, isn't it?
45:23I'm stronger.
45:24You are stronger.
45:25You are strong, yeah.
45:26Because I eat my dinner.
45:28Yes.
45:29All of it.
45:30All of it.
45:31And I come up with a potentially award-winning idea for the farm's very first West End production.
45:37What about if we created some sort of farm musical and we showcased it on the farm?
45:45That's a good idea, actually.
45:46It could almost be our story.
45:48Two actors.
45:49Two actors.
45:50What?
45:51What?
45:52Kevin, we've got enough to do.
45:54We're not creating a farm band, so...
45:56You're so thoughtfulful.
45:57You're so thoughtful to connect.
45:58You're allѐ of us, we're super comfortable.
45:59You're so proud.
46:00Look at this.
46:01Have fun.
46:02The entsогг対 weather available to us so that we can unpack with us,
46:07we may encourage you and enjoy this change.
46:10That's our work.
46:11As you know, somebody told us about the land that has different things,
46:13we're so proud to guide people,
46:16we celebrate managing that.
46:17Make ourat creeks, we want to beーン Hciones & Vuort
46:21You
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