I went into the barn this morning and was greeted by a tipped and drained molasses bucket. I was soo peeved and was nattering at the girls (sheep) for getting into things. then I looked up and across the barn and there was something white and black in the hay, laying there and kinda looking around. I froze and went "omigod" then hustled to the house chanting kinda loudly "omigodomigodomigod....". the kids asked "Whats wrong Mommy?" but I kept going for the phone and iodine. Back in the barn I was brought up short by seeing another little gift. I hadn't seen her due to the milling sheep. I iodined thier bellies and determined who was what. The ram is mostly white with black markings and the ewe is much bigger and quite an interesting mottle of black and white. They were still wet but had been licked clean. What a good mommy Eunice is. I picked up the lambs and led momma into the pen in the barn so they'd have some peace and tried to het the babes nursing. They seemed enthusiastic. Later there was meconium so I knew they were getting something and now the ewe lambs poops are orangey pasty gluey stuff so she's cleaned out but I'm not confident of the ram at this point. When they were still kind of wet it was early in the day and today was chilly chilly so I jacketed them in sweat pant leg jackets to conserve body heat. The little ewe is going gangbusters on the nursing and quite alert but the ram lamb seems a little stunned. I guide him to a nipple and he is eager but quits soon and seem either exhausted or satiated but I can't tell which. His mouth isn't cold but he's so puny I worry. He came wandering up to me as I sat in the hay with them and butted me in the breast. Maybe he bonded to the wrong mama???! ha ha ha I'll be glad when he's a couple days old and obviously doing just fine on his own. Of course then it'll be docking time, poor babies. I have another girly ready to lamb any minute. I thought she was going to last weekend because there was some mucous but then nothing.

On tenterhooks here......

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Answers

Alison...congrats!We have a wee orphan lamb here that my daughter is raising on a bottle.Her poop is still mustard colour,and she is eating every 4 hrs.She was born on Monday night.I am used to goats ,but its been 6 yrs since we have had a lamb.She is so sweet but not at 4 am.!!!She is in the kitchen.How many more babies are due at your place?

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

I have at least one more ewe due to lamb this month..possibly 2 if Trinity is actually knocked up. Its hard to tell but I am suspicious that she took.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

( Shhhh...Sheepish - meet me here in Illinois, we'll sneak up to NS and do us some baby lamb rustling.....)

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Polly...I'm closer to N.S. than you are so I'll beat ya there :-)!! Congrats on your new babies, Alison!!!!!

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

Congratulations, Alison. I know nothing about sheep or goats, so I can't comment on any of the details!

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

You know what I love best? When you go down there and they did it all themself...no arm up the butt trying to find legs.

My other doe is going to have hers in another two or so weeks. No free running with the buck next time, that's for sure. I like knowing when it's gonna happen.

-- Anonymous, March 15, 2002

OH, wow! What a miracle! Hope they are doing well.

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

Polly, I'm there!!!!

Congrats you guys! I'm SO jealous.

It's snowing like mad here and I've got to go hustle the old ewes into the barn. Maybe we'll just sit and talk about the good ol' days!

-- Anonymous, March 16, 2002

It is pretty exciting. I am waiting for Violet to explode she's so big. I thought she was going to go last week but no dice so she's still waddling around with an udder as big as my head...well maybe not that big but that suckers pretty large. (oops unintentional pun..sucker= udder). Little rammy boy is pretty perky and I had to unplug his butt last night from the orangey pasty baby poo that had pinned him up. At least I know he's eating but Eeeww... I washed their butts today as best I could (that stuff is like cement when it dries..but flexible) and squirted a bit of vegetable oil on them to see if that will help with the pinning. I re-iodined their navels while I was at it. They are 2 days old now and all seems well so I am relaxing a bit and not hovering like I was. Thanks for all the support, y'all.

-- Anonymous, March 17, 2002