Ewe Lambs

The first lambs have arrived! After a long day of labor, Poa lambed a single ewe Sunday evening. She appears to be fawn, but it's hard to say for sure. She's much friendlier than Poa's past lambs, which is something I'm working on this year.

Claire also had a single ewe. When I got to the barn, around seven, she was still licking her dry. A very protective mamma, Claire didn't let me get a good look at the little one until I was able to relocate them to a lambing jug. This ewe is a musket blettet, shorter than Poa's lamb, and has a more open fleece. Both lambs were about 7.5 lbs, which is on the larger size for our lambs.

With everyone settled into their new jugs, the lambs were able to meet. 

We still have nine ewes to go. Madeleine and Ella are due in a week, and I suspect Kira and Annie might lamb before then.

Since both Poa and Claire have lambed, I would expect Annie to go soon. Ewes tend to cycle together. She's also bagged up quite a bit in the last 48 hours, so maybe tomorrow or Thursday?

Maggie still looks huge but barely has an udder. Myra has had a large udder for weeks with not changes, which can be typical for first-timers. Mary is growing ever so slowly.

   

Cali and Edna also seem to have stayed about the same. I'm still thinking that next week will be our busy week, but we shall see. 

 

  

Ewes are Due

Tomorrow is the official start of lambing, although I have a feeling we won't actually see lambs until Easter. There may be a ewe or two who lambs before then, but my guess is the week after Easter will be very busy. The udders are growing, but when compared to previous years, most ewes look like they have another two weeks before lambing. Due to past surprises, I'm still anxious and checking the girls daily for signs of premature labor, but so far everyone seems pretty content to just munch hay and soak up the sun.

Kira, Ella, and Madeleine. At least two sets of triplets, maybe three, or perhaps one set of quads?

Poa, Claire, and Annie. Poa may single earlier than Easter, but the other two will twin around the holiday weekend.

 

Maggie, Mary, and Myra. Mary finally looks like she's bred. I think she'll single in mid-April. Myra could be one of the first to lamb, or she could just be a first-timer who has bagged up early. 

Edna and Cali are also starting to fill out. Edna's looking larger than a few of the other girls, and her udder hasn't even started filling out yet, so she may have three in there like last year. Both she and Cali still have a way to go.

I'll post in one week, unless there are lambs before then.

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.