Friday, February 22, 2013

Sheepie stuff....

Say cheese!

We're still at it -- lambing that is.  We are probably two thirds done, and now we seem to be in a bit of a lull.  We had a really nice day today, perfect for having babies, but the ewes have not been dropping lambs.  I think we had only three ewes lamb today -- a single, a set of twins and triplets.  

These two bum lambs got a new mommy today -- Dr. Liz, who has eight of their cousins at her place.  She is teaching her bums to drink from a nipple bucket.  Yay! Dr. Liz!  Thank you for taking my chores away (for now).

Here's a fresh-born, wet lambie and her momma.  Her sheepie-mom thinks she looks, smells, and tastes wonderful.  I'm telling you, when I pick up one of these babies to bring it into the barn, it is slimy and wet.  That is partly why you use a crook to bring in lambs. The wetness soaks straight through my gloves.  Thank you sheepie-moms for always licking off your babies.

 Here's a friendly little fella, just two days old.  Isn't he alert and cute?  We keep all the lambs and their mothers jugged up in the barn for a day, sometimes two, to make sure they have bonded and that the lambs have sucked.  Then the set gets turned outside to another area.  All the ewes and lambs are close to a shed and are put in at night due to the chilly night temperatures.  During the day, they are let outdoors.

Sheepie-moms and their littles all soaking in the sunshine today.


16 comments:

  1. Oh, they are SO beautiful! I love the faces!
    My goodness! They ARE slimy! Amazing!
    Hooray, hooray, hooray for lambs, bunnies, and chicks! Take lots of photos of your chicks, too! Will you?
    You are a good rancher.

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    1. No chicks yet, but I plan to order them soon so they will arrive in April. I want it to be a little warmer, you know.

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  2. The friendly little fellow is so sweet. I always calls them (sheep(s)).

    I like learning new things, this is new information, and interesting.

    Thank you for sharing.

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    1. I'm glad you stopped in and left me a comment, Magnolia.

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  3. Ah, sweet sheepies. I love that last picture. Too cute. It must mean spring is on the way.

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  4. SHEEPIES!!! My favorite time of year! That Momma in the first picture looks like "Really? Do we have to take pictures NOW???" That little 2-day old lambie is SOOOO cute!

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    1. They all have such different personalities!

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  5. What great farmers you are, if I was a sheep I'd want to live at your place. :) xxx

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  6. Thank you for sharing your lambing photos and to be able to see the rewards of your hard work at this time of the year. Do the lambs go to be fed manually because they haven't bonded with the mother? At least it gives you a break when you are so busy. Have a good weekend!

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    Replies
    1. The lambs that are hand fed are called "bum lambs." They are usually orphaned due to mothers dying or becoming too sick to raise them. Sometimes a ewe cannot raise triplets, so we take one away and bottle feed it.

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  7. I feel like the cow in the top photo is saying, "Why did you put my picture in here with all these SHEEP?" haha :) The little fella is SO adorable. It makes me cold to see them all outside, so young, but I'm sure they are happy in the sunshine. You all are such good, devoted farmers!

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    1. MK, this is actually a sheep in the top picture. She looks quite fat and different though doesn't she?

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  8. G'day Gumbo Lily. What beautiful photos. Lovely animals. Take care. Liz...

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  9. Cute little buggers. I'm sure lambing is keeping you very busy. Hope all goes well.

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  10. Lovelies photos Jody, the lambkins are too precious Jody,you must all be working very hard.We saw our first lambs this weekend past, on our way down to the Cotswolds. I am sure the mums and their lambs are put undercover for the night here too as it is very cold at the moment. Well, cold for England ;)
    The grandbabies must love to see the little lambs too.
    Love and {{hugs}}
    Ann

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  11. That wee lamb is SO cute!!!

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