Yesterday we were surprised to see twin black lambs hobbling around. Most of the sheep are pregnant and due soon, but the black sheep wasn't one of them. We thought.
But this morning, there they were.

But over the day it looked like the mother had decided she didn't want two, and was favouring one. And ignoring the other. By the end of the day it was clear she was deliberately moving on when the less favoured child tried to feed.

So this morning I got up early and went to check on them, with the intention of removing the unwanted twin and hand feeding it. I couldn't see it. It wasn't with the mother and sibling.
I walked around the paddock, expecting to find a cold lamb huddled in a hollow somewhere. But no. No sign of it. And down by the river I startled a big, old fox. And I know where the lamb went.

It was a disappointing outcome. We could have done better.