Oh, those lambs.....how they have taken up my time this week....and how I love them! We have had three lambs born in two days.....and the two births could not have been more opposite!
Spot, my favorite girl, my wonderful mother, popped out two twins in the blink of an eye on Monday afternoon. Shortly thereafter she had quite an audience, and was absolutely unbothered by all the attention. She went on her business of checking the two little ewes, making sure to stand calmly to let them nurse, and stepping over them expertly when they ventured underneath her and all over the place.
Dylan quickly claimed the white spotted one as her show lamb and named her "Snowdrop" for all the snowdrop flowers in bloom right now. The second I got to name, "Blackberry", and I can see us calling her "Berry" for short. Two nice, strong, outgoing little ewes.
The second birth came Tuesday afternoon, and Pepper timed it to start right when I arrived home from work. I found her in the first shed, and she was daintily pushing, and keeping an eye on whomever looked in to see what she was doing. She seemed to want as little fuss as possible. Unfortunately she had quite a time, and it took her awhile, more time than usual, to push out the head. My sister joined me in the vigil along with Dylan.
We cheered her on quietly, and silently pushed when she pushed, and held our breath, and wondered when it was ever going to come out. We realized at some point there was only one little hoof peeking out. We ended up climbing in with her and calling Nicole, my absolutely wonderful, spectacular vet. She coached us through reaching in and trying to find that little hoof.
I will tell you, it was quite an experience. Exhilarating, frustrating, scary, funny......tight.....Megan and I both really, really tried to help her out. At one point, I called Nicole back and asked her to get to the farm as fast as she could.
Megan and I sat with Pepper. We hugged her and talked to her.....talked to ourselves nervously.....held the lamb's head, made sure it was still alive and hanging in there, and watched the time.
Nicole arrived after about 25 minutes. Quite a long 25 minutes.
Nicole came in, calmly sat next to Pepper, donned her gloves and in less than ten minutes guided that little ewe out.
Poor Pepper was exhausted and just lay on her side, breathing, and recuperating. Nicole made sure the ewe lamb was breathing, patter her to dry her and get out the fluid that she had breathed in. I just felt an incredible relief.
After about 5 or 6 minutes, Nicole placed the little ewe lamb, who had been fighting to stand up, in front of her mama. Up to that point, poor Pepper had just been lying there. I can't tell you the feeling it was to watch her pop up her head, nicker to her little one, and start cleaning her. I just can't explain it, but it was something to see.
We stayed watching them for awhile, I can't really tell you how long. It was just nice watching.
Today, when I got home from work, I spent a good long time hanging with the sheep, bonding with all those little lambs, and being so thankful at what I have to marvel at each day.
Oh, those little, little spunky, lambs!
Mama Pepper with "Junie"
"Junie"
"George" at two weeks old, our only boy so far
"Snowdrop"
"Blackberry"
"Blackberry" checking me out
"Snowdrop", with her chocolate circles around her eyes
"Junie" and me
