Well this year's lambing season is officially over. As of yesterday morning, Flo, our 12-year-old ewe had twins. One ewe lamb, named Smartie and one ram lamb, named Dum Dum. You guessed it they are my youngest daughter, Riley's sheep. The ewe lamb was born without assistance from us and Flo started to clean her of right away. Unfortunately, the ram lamb was presenting abnormally and Peter had to assist in his delivery. Poor, Dum Dum had his head out without his front hooves showing first. Peter quickly pushed the head back, while finding the hooves, so the lamb could be delivered with the least amount of trauma to both the ewe and the lamb.
As soon as the second lamb was delivered we left the three of them alone. We watched from a distance to make sure that Flo bonded with both lambs. After about 20 minutes we moved the lambs and Flo into the lambing jug to continue bonding.
Today, the three were let out into the pasture with the rest of the flock. Flo is making sure that her lambs are within sight at all times. She is a seasoned pro when it comes to taking care of her lambs.
While this lambing season had it tragedies there were also many triumphs....both girls learned how to pull a lamb, we were able to save to rejected lambs by bottle feeding, and the girls are spending time every day in the pasture with the flock getting them to trust them.
Saturday, March 17, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Tragic Day
Yesterday was one of the worst days that we have had on our fledgling sheep farm. We have had unexpected losses in the past but this was just too much at once. Our morning started out with finding M&M unable to stand up and ended our day with two lambs that died.
M&M we found out from our vet was severely hypothermic. We took him into the house to warm him up. This was accomplished by using towels, hot water bottles, and a cardboard box. What we did not know at that time was no matter what we were doing it was not going to change the outcome. He was too far-gone and was not going to make it. The vet gave him vitamin E and Selenium, just incase there was white muscle disease. He was also given an antibiotic for a potential infection.
After several hours he was warm again, but there was a new twist ... he was now breathing too fast and was too warm. I made a phone call to our friend Megan and asked a few questions. After talking to her I called another friend Janelle, I knew that she would help us through this difficult time. After explaining, the situation and making another phone call to our vet Janelle came over.
Janelle gave me the look that I knew meant M&M was not going to make it...but we always hold out hope. Unfortunately, he died and he was our second one for the day, which died.
About halfway through the day Gabrielle and her friend, Hailey went out to check on Sunshine and her twins that were born on Friday afternoon. They were in the lambing jug bonding and doing well. When they got to the lambing jug, they saw Sunshine accidentally step on one of her twin's neck. Sunshine immediately turned around and started licking and nudging the lamb. Hailey and Gabrielle with help from Peter removed the lamb from the jug and brought her to the house. She was placed in a box with towels and we tried to make her comfortable...she died within 15 minutes. Gabrielle was heartbroken...there were many tears in our household yesterday. Today we decided will be a better day.
We truly want to thank our friend Janelle for all of the help that she is continually giving us. She is more than a friend to this family and is greatly appreciated.
M&M we found out from our vet was severely hypothermic. We took him into the house to warm him up. This was accomplished by using towels, hot water bottles, and a cardboard box. What we did not know at that time was no matter what we were doing it was not going to change the outcome. He was too far-gone and was not going to make it. The vet gave him vitamin E and Selenium, just incase there was white muscle disease. He was also given an antibiotic for a potential infection.
After several hours he was warm again, but there was a new twist ... he was now breathing too fast and was too warm. I made a phone call to our friend Megan and asked a few questions. After talking to her I called another friend Janelle, I knew that she would help us through this difficult time. After explaining, the situation and making another phone call to our vet Janelle came over.
Janelle gave me the look that I knew meant M&M was not going to make it...but we always hold out hope. Unfortunately, he died and he was our second one for the day, which died.
About halfway through the day Gabrielle and her friend, Hailey went out to check on Sunshine and her twins that were born on Friday afternoon. They were in the lambing jug bonding and doing well. When they got to the lambing jug, they saw Sunshine accidentally step on one of her twin's neck. Sunshine immediately turned around and started licking and nudging the lamb. Hailey and Gabrielle with help from Peter removed the lamb from the jug and brought her to the house. She was placed in a box with towels and we tried to make her comfortable...she died within 15 minutes. Gabrielle was heartbroken...there were many tears in our household yesterday. Today we decided will be a better day.
We truly want to thank our friend Janelle for all of the help that she is continually giving us. She is more than a friend to this family and is greatly appreciated.
Saturday, March 10, 2012
Another Rough Day
Lambing season is almost over here at the farm. We have had quite the week with not one, but two bottle lambs in the house. We lost one of our twins from Orchid; we think that she might have laid down on him. We have the vet on the way over today because one of Lady Slipper's lambs is sick and not eating. Poor M&M is weak and lethargic and his momma will not take care of him. We had noticed that he was not gaining weight as rapidly as his brother was, but he was eating. Unfortunately, we think that he has an infection on his tail where it was docked. He lost a considerable amount of blood when it was docked. This was because he was slightly older than he should have been when it was done. Sheep tails are docked as lambs to prevent feces from building up on the tail causing fly strike, infections, and other medical issues. Tail docking is done for medical reasons not for aesthetic reasons in sheep.
This year we have an amazing about of twins born, which has its challenges. Some of the twins were born to first time moms that only accepted one of the lambs. Others are seasoned moms that we did not have to coax into feeding or taking care of their lambs. We had one set of triples born to a first time mom that was so enamored with the first one that she did not realize the other two were born. When we came home, it was too late to save one and the other one she rejected. We tried to get her to accept that lamb, but it became obvious that was not going to happen. Luna became our first bottle lamb of the season. About two days later Emily had twins and she seemed to be accepting both of her lambs. Later that day, we found Emily ramming one of the lambs into the wall of the lambing jug (pen). Hedwig became our second bottle lamb.
Luna and Hedwig are currently in our basement in a pen. This is not the ideal situation; however, we do not have enough room outside to keep them safe. On a positive note, it does make it easier to give them a bottle at night. They will be in the pen until they are about 10 days old. At that time, we will bring them outside reintroducing them to the flock. We will still be bottle-feeding them, but they will be able to eat grain, hay, and drink water between bottles.
This year we have an amazing about of twins born, which has its challenges. Some of the twins were born to first time moms that only accepted one of the lambs. Others are seasoned moms that we did not have to coax into feeding or taking care of their lambs. We had one set of triples born to a first time mom that was so enamored with the first one that she did not realize the other two were born. When we came home, it was too late to save one and the other one she rejected. We tried to get her to accept that lamb, but it became obvious that was not going to happen. Luna became our first bottle lamb of the season. About two days later Emily had twins and she seemed to be accepting both of her lambs. Later that day, we found Emily ramming one of the lambs into the wall of the lambing jug (pen). Hedwig became our second bottle lamb.
Luna and Hedwig are currently in our basement in a pen. This is not the ideal situation; however, we do not have enough room outside to keep them safe. On a positive note, it does make it easier to give them a bottle at night. They will be in the pen until they are about 10 days old. At that time, we will bring them outside reintroducing them to the flock. We will still be bottle-feeding them, but they will be able to eat grain, hay, and drink water between bottles.
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Rough Day
Some days don't go the way you want. Yesterday was one of those days. Peter had orchard work to do in the morning, so off he went to prune the apple trees. I stayed home keeping watch over the flock while getting ready for a meeting that I had early in the afternoon. We still had six sheep to lamb and knew that it could be anytime. Therefore, before I left for my meeting I went out to check on the pregnant ewes. None of the ewes were in labor; they were out eating hay...so with a quick call to Peter giving him an update I left for my meeting.
Peter came home, checked on the ewes, had lunch, and then went to get water for the flock. In the 1/2 hour, that he was gone and the hour since he had last checked two of the ewes gave birth. Usually this is not a problem the ewe just has the lamb without difficulty and starts to take care of it. However, this was not the case...Ella a first time mom, had triplets the first one she bonded with immediately, cleaning it off being a good mom. The second one was born and she didn't even notice, that one didn't make it because the sac was still around its head suffocating it (had we been here we could have saved it). The third one was born and Ella ignored the lamb. We found it in a pile of hay, wet, shivering, and cold. We took it into the lambing jug where Ella was trying to get her to accept the lamb. We even put the lamb up to her teat to drink, but were unsuccessful. This little lamb would die if we couldn't get it cleaned off, warmed up, and fed. Therefore, we made the decision to bring the lamb into the house to bottle feed. Peter had to milk Ella for her colostrums so that lamb could get her mom's immunity. We had never needed to do this before and it was frustrating. Thank goodness for our friend Janelle. I called her, explained the situation and she came over to help us out. Well, she really helped Peter, because he learned how to milk Ella and feed her lamb. Janelle also brought us over some frozen colostrum to supplement during the feedings.
I am happy to say that this adorable lamb so far has made it through her first night in our basement in a pen with fresh hay as bedding. My wonderful husband was up every two hours last night to feed the lamb. Gabrielle fed her once last night before she went to bed and once this morning before she left for school. Gabrielle hasn't named this one yet...but she will!
As for the other ewe that lambed.....Alice
Peter came home, checked on the ewes, had lunch, and then went to get water for the flock. In the 1/2 hour, that he was gone and the hour since he had last checked two of the ewes gave birth. Usually this is not a problem the ewe just has the lamb without difficulty and starts to take care of it. However, this was not the case...Ella a first time mom, had triplets the first one she bonded with immediately, cleaning it off being a good mom. The second one was born and she didn't even notice, that one didn't make it because the sac was still around its head suffocating it (had we been here we could have saved it). The third one was born and Ella ignored the lamb. We found it in a pile of hay, wet, shivering, and cold. We took it into the lambing jug where Ella was trying to get her to accept the lamb. We even put the lamb up to her teat to drink, but were unsuccessful. This little lamb would die if we couldn't get it cleaned off, warmed up, and fed. Therefore, we made the decision to bring the lamb into the house to bottle feed. Peter had to milk Ella for her colostrums so that lamb could get her mom's immunity. We had never needed to do this before and it was frustrating. Thank goodness for our friend Janelle. I called her, explained the situation and she came over to help us out. Well, she really helped Peter, because he learned how to milk Ella and feed her lamb. Janelle also brought us over some frozen colostrum to supplement during the feedings.
I am happy to say that this adorable lamb so far has made it through her first night in our basement in a pen with fresh hay as bedding. My wonderful husband was up every two hours last night to feed the lamb. Gabrielle fed her once last night before she went to bed and once this morning before she left for school. Gabrielle hasn't named this one yet...but she will!
As for the other ewe that lambed.....
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Rose's twins
We were expecting that more of the ewes would be delivering lambs this weekend. However, this morning they were all out waiting for grain. After they were grained, watered, and hayed we went in for our breakfast. Sundays, during the winter/early spring we tend to be more relaxed about our day. We don't have to rush to get chores done to get out the door. After breakfast, we took a quick trip to Middlebury to get a few things. When we pulled back into the driveway less than 2 hours later, Gabrielle went over to the sheep pasture and realized that we had 2 new natural colored lambs.
Rose just delivered the second twin when Gabrielle entered the pasture. What perplexed us was that she didn't go into the lambing jug as she has in the past. She lambed in the middle of one of the upper pastures. It was sunny and in the mid to upper 30's at the time...So, we let her finish cleaning them off and the lambs feeding for the first time. After that, Peter and the girls dipped the umbilical cords in iodine and weighed the lambs. The ewe lamb, Milky Way, was 9lbs. and the ram lamb, Reese, was 8lbs.Then with the girls each holding one of the lambs they slowly backed towards the lambing jug. Rose followed her lambs into the jug where they will stay for 24-48 hours to bond.
Rose and the twins
Milky Way
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Vera's lamb
Vera is one of our natural colored crosses that we bred to our natural colored Romney ram, Marley. This is her second time lambing but, we weren't expecting a lamb from her for at least another week. Last year she gave birth to a single white ewe lamb, Venus.
So far this year, it looks like a single natural colored ewe lamb. Natural-colored is another way of saying a black, brown, silver, gray, or another color besides white.
In the video below, Vera is cleaning and drying off her new lamb. This is how she bonds with her baby and gets to know her scent. The lamb is getting ready to feed for the first time, her first drink will be the colostrum.
Gabrielle doesn't have a name for this lamb. However, she will have one by morning, as her theme this year is Harry Potter.
So far this year, it looks like a single natural colored ewe lamb. Natural-colored is another way of saying a black, brown, silver, gray, or another color besides white.
In the video below, Vera is cleaning and drying off her new lamb. This is how she bonds with her baby and gets to know her scent. The lamb is getting ready to feed for the first time, her first drink will be the colostrum.
Vera and her lamb
Gabrielle doesn't have a name for this lamb. However, she will have one by morning, as her theme this year is Harry Potter.
Snow, but no new lambs!
There is a layer of snow on the ground with more falling as this is written. Looks like we are finally getting a blast of winter, no matter how short lived it may be...spring is just around the corner, with all of its wonders! Spring is a time of new beginnings not only here on the farm but everywhere around us.
Last week was busy here on the farm. We started with a single lamb born of February 20, followed by 3 sets of twins on February 23, February 25 and February 28. There are eight more ewes getting ready to lamb starting next week. Some are first time moms while others are not. We have one ewe named Flo that was not pastured with a ram for breeding because of her age (12). She will however, be gracing us with lambs in the next few weeks. Apparently, the old adage, “where there is a will, there is a way” holds true in this instance.
Each year the girls use a theme for naming their new lambs. Last year Riley named her lambs after the night sky (constellations, moons, and planets). Gabrielle used Greek Gods and Goddesses. This year Riley is using cookies and candy bars as her inspiration. Hence, the names Oreo, M&M’s, Skittles, Twix, and Snickers. Gabrielle on the other hand is going with her favorite book series Harry Potter. Her first sent of twins are Ginny and Harry. With the possibility of up to 16 more lambs it will be interesting to see what other names will be used.
Harry & Ginny
Skittles
Snickers
Ginny
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