Peanut: We were both pacing

Once again, Peanut lambed on the Monday after Easter.  (Last year, she had twins--Aspen and Acacia.)

Peanut: champion licker

She was restless all of yesterday morning.  She had contractions for a long time, but there was no water bag.  I was worried, and I was about do an exam when I saw something.  To me, it didn't look like a water bag or a lamb--that's because it was a lamb in a completely intact water bag.

Hiding behind mom.  (Peanut's babies always do this!)

Peanut was tired by this time, so I tugged at the lamb (I wouldn't say that I pulled because it didn't have far to go).  I also broke the water bag and cleaned his nose and mouth.  At this point, I could tell it was a little ram--look at those horn buds!

Clove: Look at those markings!

Peanut took over, lick, lick, licking away.  The lamb was up and nursing in no time.  Not only is he adorable, but he is perky.

He's up & playing already.

Peanut's lamb is a single ram lamb.  We've named him Clove.  He is katmoget, but I can't tell yet whether he is black/gray or dark brown/tan. 

Beryl: Full of Surprises

The biggest surprise was that Beryl was the first ewe to lamb.  She was the second ewe due, but her mother has been overdue in the past so I assumed Beryl would be as well.  I must admit, I also hoped that a first time mother (like Beryl) would not be first.  I shouldn't have worried; Beryl lambed like a champ.

Beryl and her boys

First born: Mace.  He was born at about 9:45 on Easter Sunday.  He's gray Katmoget (the same markings Calico and Opal have), but he has a little bit of brown on him, too.

Mace

Sleepy Mace

 Scott thought we were done and could get back to our normal Easter activities, but he was not present for Beryl's birth, so he didn't have first hand experience on twin births that take forever.  (Long term readers might recall that Beryl was born one and a half hours before her twin sister Rhoda.)

Pistachio and Peanut want to help.

Beryl didn't take quite as long as her mother.  Wasabi, another little ram, was born about an hour after big brother Mace.  He's mostly white, although he has a big black spot and a few little brown spots.

Wasabi

It's always tricky when twin lambs have so much time between them.  The first one has been thoroughly licked, is standing up, has had some colostrum, and is, more often than not, a little bit pushy.   Sometimes the mother is tired (Beryl was) or doesn't realize she's had a second lamb (Beryl didn't have this problem).  Fortunately, we were present for the lambing, so we did make sure Wasabi was dried off well and had colostrum.  Nevertheless, we were a little worried about him.  He seems to be doing well, though.

"It's snack time, Mommy!"

Timmy & His Ladies

Timmy with his son Almond.  It looks like he has more progeny on the way!

Opal (dainty) and Elsie (absolutely enormous!).

Beryl enjoying a snack.  She's eating for two...or maybe three.

The pregnant ewes at breakfast time.  Cashew is the one who is huge.

Molly is so excited to see me that she brought her food with her.

Pistachio is getting close to her due date.

 Theresa has a little bit longer to go.

 Colonel Brandon is still enjoying his watermelon.

Lots of lamb coats ready to go. It could be a lot colder when we lamb this year.

Guest Photographer: Shearing Day

I handed over the photographing duties to this guy yesterday.

He did have a difficult task as the light was streaming into the barn--good for shearing, bad for pictures.  Still, I don't think that's why I have more pictures of the rooster than of sheep....

Also tricky: getting the ewes where they needed to go.  They were a little suspicious this year.  The white ewes seemed especially concerned.   Did they guess they were first?

They were right.  Light colored pregnant ewes were first, and that's about where my photographer got distracted.  There were people to talk to!  Chickens to chase!  Fences to climb!

He did get a few more pictures:

The chickens enjoying some watermelon.  It was a treat we gave them to keep them out of the barn.  It worked pretty well.  Not all of them stayed out of the barn completely, but they were less obnoxious than in years past.  (The llamas were also well behaved.  They both haltered easily and enjoyed some alone time in the pasture while their charges were in the barn.)

Theresa, Elsie,  Marble, and Peanut waiting for their darker friends.  The fleeces look good, and so do the pregnant bellies.  (And remember how I was saying Elsie doesn't look as big this year?  I was wrong!  Her sheep coat must have been extra slimming!)

 Pistachio, fresh from shearing.  She looks gorgeous, as always.

Tricot wanted to come back in the barn, but she was a little nervous.

So...no pictures of the boys or the ewe lambs, but I'll fix that as soon as I can.

Gearing Up

Busy season has begun.  That means....just pictures!

The seldom photographed Myrtle!

Myrtle again.  I can't wait to see what her fleece is like!

Theresa & Tricot showing their best begging faces.

Marble..I'm excited about her lamb(s), too.

Czadas & the expectant mothers

Barack O'Llama, concerned about all the action.

Hazel is taking lambing season off...Hopefully.

Yeti, knocking down fences for fun.