Lambs are on their way

Lambing time is just around the corner. Eleven ewes were exposed to two rams. Winston and Jacob were our two rams this year, breeding the longer-fleeced ewes primarily to Jacob (4) and the shorter-fleeced ewes to Winston (7). The flock was sheared on March 3rd and they have all made it back out to the fields and are adjusting to the snow without their coats.

The bred ewes are getting especially friendly, as they tend to do just before lambing. It's hard to get photos when they're following you around the paddock looking for a good chin scratch. It's always amazing to me just how friendly they become, even the timid ewes who, for most of the year, would rather be at the opposite end of the paddock from me. Poa (pictured left) is a prime example of a mood-changer. Then, as soon as the lambs arrive, the skepticism will return and these once-friendly girls will revert to their shy ways.


Kira (age 7) and her daughters, Ella (3) and Madeleine (4). All three were bred by Winston. I'm expecting at least two sets of triplets from the three. These lambs will be primarily gray or musket.

Poa (9) and her twin daughters, Claire (4) and Annie (4). Poa was bred by Winston, while her girls were bred by Jacob. I anticipate all three to twin.



Maggie (5), her daughter Myra (2), and her half-sister Mary (2). Maggie was bred by Jacob and the two 2-year-olds were bred by Winston. It's still unclear if Mary was bred, but if she was she'll single. The other two should twin.


Cali (3) was bred by Winston and Edna (4) by Jacob. Although Cali is another first-time mom, I think she'll twin. Edna tripled last year but looks like she'll twin this time around.

 

I'm anticipating 24 lambs +/- 2. Though they could start lambing in 10 days, from the looks of the udders I'm thinking we won't really start to see lambs until Easter. Once they start coming, I expect we'll be pretty busy for a week, much like last year's lambing.