Kick'n back weekend

Now that lambing is almost over it has been nice to relax a little bit, not worrying about any possible difficult deliveries. 

When I went out to feed everyone this evening.
This little guy found a comfortable place to take a snooze.

 Another ewe resting with her lambs.

As I move about to feed them the lambs start playing.
It's just amazing how fast they grow, already drinking water and eating.

Today it has rained most of the day, leaving a sloppy mess in the barn yard yet with the warm weather everything has turned green today.
Enjoy the lambs wanting to run.

#128 Guiselle

We've had a moment to catch our breath.

Last evening while feeding the bottle babies

(one from the prolapse ewe, Pumpkin and the 

C-section ewe, #103's twins)

I noticed that Guiselle was in labor.

I was really hoping for spots from her.

Everytime she has ever had lambs they 

have had spots, but always faded away by fall.

Guiselle was bred to Gordon, who is spotted.

Not this time!

She delivered twins, solid black lambs with a little spattering

of white on their heads. 

One ram, one ewe.

#168, #110, #107 & #201 Lark

We had a late evening delivery with #168 on 3/22/20.

She was bred to the border cheviot/shetland ram and 

delivered a single ewe lamb.

I didn't realize until I was loading my pics. that 

I didn't get one of her.

 Above, #107 was bred to the B.C.cross ram and delivered

a single ram lamb.

 At the same time #110 (guest ewe) had also delivered her lambs.

a ram and ewe.  She was bred to Black Pearl.

#201 Lark delivered her first lamb, a ram.

She was bred to Two Tone.

We have approximately seven ewes 

to deliver yet.  This is the earliest that 

we have every had almost the whole flock

deliver.  In the past our lambing would

generally begin the every end of March 

and go into April.

I am hopeful that we will have everyone deliver

soon.  In my own mind I just hoped to get 

all these babies delivered before this

covid-19 virus sweeps across our state.

Everyone stay safe.

 

#'s: 137,194,108,167,18,164,194,Lucy,70 &103

I wanted to share my pictures of the ewe's that have delivered late 

last evening and today.

I've been going a little crazy today and missed taking 

a few pictures...sorry about that.

It's been a heck of a day....

So first off I missed getting #137 Marni's pic.

I also missed #194 Gretel's pic.

These girls delivered late last night.

Today:

When I went out a little late, 8am #108 (Dave's ewe)

had delivered a katmoget ram lamb at some time during the 

night. He was completely dry and had nursed.

But I think she squished him and he died.  :(

It was cold last night, many of the ewes dig little holes and 

lay down in them.  The manure pack holds heat and

they want to stay warm.  Well the little guy was in 

the hole and I think she just laid on him.  ...so sad.

 Above, #167 was bred to the border cheviot/shetland and delivered 

this singe ram lamb.

 #18, Dave's ewe was bred to Bian and delivered this single ram lamb.

 #164 Remy was bred to Gordon and delivered twins; black ewe and spotted ram.

The above three were all waiting for me or had just delivered

this morning.

The ewe below was standing off in the corner with tail raised 

and was shaking, I think it was shock.

While I fed everyone I was trying to make the decision as to 

whether I call the vet for a C-section or wait till Monday and 

see what happens.

I didn't want to wait, this ewe was big and had looked like she should

have delivered a few days ago.

I called the vet office. 

 We ended up having the C-section done and glad we did.

Her uterus was twisted, twice and she also had 

some tares.

She is doing great so far and caring for her lambs, a ram and ewe.

#103 Olympia was bred to Gordon.

We got back home about 12:30 and walked into three more 

ewes all showing their water bags and ready to deliver lambs.

 Lucy was bred to Gordon and delivered this ram lamb 

with the cape flecket pattern.

 #70 Laurel was bred to Bian and delivered this single ewe lamb.

 #195 Ginnie was bred to Bian and delivered this moorit ram lamb.

This has been a full day and I don't know that we are done yet.

I think we have possibly 13 more to go.

#129 Willow, #134 Sunniva, #1511, #118 Luna, #131 xbred & #1608 Tessa

So glad it is the weekend so that I can be here and 

keep a close eye on everyone.

Although none needed my assistance in their deliveries

it's just a nice piece of mind knowing that all is well.

#129 Willow delivered these twins, one ram, one ewe last 

evening.  They look identical, just like mom, grey katmogets.

Willow was bred to Bian. 

Yesterday, having extra time in the  afternoon I rearranged the ram pen. 
Making their space in the barn smaller, allowing me to make another

lambing jug for the ewes with lambs.

#134 Sunniva with twins, two ewes.  Sunniva was Xbred with the border 

cheviot/shetland ram.  

Another "guest" ewe, #1511 she was bred to Two Tone.

She delivered a single ewe lamb.

 Above, #118 Luna was bred to the Border Cheviot/Shetland ram.
She delivered a moorit ewe lamb.

#131 Cormo/shetland ewe was bred to the border cheviot/shetland ram.
She delivered this cute ram lamb.

Above #1608 Tessa was bred to Shamus.
She delivered these moorit and white lambs.
Ram on the left, Ewe on the right.

It's been a busy day.

#125 Paula, #132 Xbred, #104, #1811 & #1546

So part of this post is a continuation from last evenings

ewes that delivered after 10pm.

#125 Paula was bred to Gordon.

She delivered this nice sized single ram lamb.

He is a spotted katmoget, it will be interesting to see

if his spots stay and don't fade away.

Gordon is a spotted ram so there is a chance.

 #132 one of my cormo/shetland ewes delivered a

single ram lamb.

The following ewes delivered their lambs today.

I left work early today, I had an appointment this afternoon,

but with all the Covid-19 recommendations that 

businesses close my appointment was canceled.

So I still left early to just go home and catch up on my

sheep duties, preparing for more lambs.

 Above, "guest"(Dave's) ewe #104 was bred to Bian.

She had delivered this single black ram this morning.

 #1811 (guest ewe - Dave's) delivered this single ewe lamb this 

afternoon.  She was bred to the Border Cheviot/Shetland ram.

 #1546 (guest ewe -Dave's) was in labor when I came home.

I assisted her with her delivery, she was so big.

She was bred to Gordon and delivered two ram lambs.

The ram in the above picture is moorit and white.

The below picture is black and white.

Just an interesting bit of info. I'd like to share with other 

Shetland breeders that have registered animals.

Last year while registering some of my sheep.

The registry had called me because I had written down

the color of sheep as moorit and white.

The young lady I spoke with said that the registry didn't 

recognize moorit and white in the color description for registering.

I asked what I was to do?

She said to go with whatever color the sheep has more of.

So in this instance with these two lambs.

The black and white ram can be registered as black and white.....because that is recognized by the registery, BUT the moorit and white ram cannot be registered as moorit and white.

So I guess he would need to be registered as white, since he has more white than black.

...does this make any sense???  Not to me.

Come on NASSA (North American Shetland Sheep Association)

it's time to review this information!

That is for today.

Although I believe we may have more lambs possibly this evening.

#172 & #1553

Two more ewe delivered late this afternoon.

 #172 a shetland ewe that was bred to the Border Cheviot / Shetland ram

delivered this single ram lamb this afternoon.

You can see his horn buds already 

and his fleece looks pretty fine too.

While I was checking on everyone this evening and 

feeding another ewe decided it was time to deliver

her lambs.

This "guest ewe" (Dave's) #1553 actually delivered twins,

but she had the second one after I had already taken this photo.

UPDATED:  The ram lamb is on the right, all is well!!
Ewe #1553 was bred with Bian.