Monday night as I was getting the sheep in, I noticed Birdie, Gerty's twin, lying in the hay off by herself. When I went out to investigate, it was easy to see that she was in labor. I moved her into the barn in a large pen to have her lamb. The air was chilly and predictions of snow and rain mix prompted this decision. (I don't like to be out in the cold either.)
I ended up needing to help pull the large lamb. (Was I ever happy that I had been able to get her in a jug?) Birdie was following in her mother's footsteps, having large babies and needing help. Birdie is the daughter of Bonnie, a large Oxford ewe that I got from the Almond's flock. Bonnie had a beautiful silky fleece and she has passed that good fleece trait on to all of her off-Spring. She has been the foundation for our breeding program of spinning fiber sheep.
This is Liam's first off-spring. He was young last fall but I gave him a small group of ewes that were related to White Knight.
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| 3/4 BFLand 1/4 Oxford ewe lamb born Monday night about 11 PM. Trying to stand up for the first time and Mom hasn't got her all cleaned up yet. I don't jump in and do a bunch of cleaning on a lamb. Mother licks them and they are bonding at the same time. Since the wind had got up and the temp was down to 32, I hooked up the heat lamp. The lamb was sucking by midnight and I walked out into a light snow. Time to go to bed so I can do checks on the other ewes in 3 hrs. |
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| Same ewe lamb today, less than 48 hrs later. I let Mom and lamb out to enjoy the beautiful sunshine this afternoon. |
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| Was she a happy camper or what? |
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| This lamb takes everything in and has fun doing it...I have the feeling she is going to be a fun sheep to have around. |
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| Lady and lamb are just getting to know each other. |
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| The little girl is walking with Uncle Teddy, a wether of Bonnie's and followed by her mother, Birdie Danny and I just sit in the sun and enjoyed the moment and gave thanks for all our blessings and prayed for Angie & Wayne, and Evan. Angie's doctor started induction of labor this morning at about 8 am so we know we will have baby Evan soon. One day a baby is born wet and helpless and in a very short time they are jumping around everywhere and leading you along by the strong ties of the heart... I almost forgot to tell you what I have named our new little girl...I named her after her grandmother Bonnie that died a couple of years ago after giving birth to Birdie and Gerdy. The little ewe's name shall be Bonnie Blue. |
