A Big Thanks to Elsie

Elsie went into labor Thursday afternoon.  I was surprised because I thought there was no way Elsie would lamb before Cashew.  Although it did seem to take her forever for a ewe who has lambed three times in the past, she had a completely normal birth with twin ewes.  She had them up and nursing in no time.

Elsie & her girls

The first born is Vanilla Bean.  (She was going to be Vanilla but the boys insisted on Vanilla Bean.)   She is  all white.

Licking Vanilla Bean

Next came Cinnamon Bark.  I checked and checked because I couldn't believe it, but Cinnamon is definitely a ewe as well.  She appears to be brown, and she is a katmoget like many of her half brothers.

Cinnamon Bark curled up with her sister.

Elsie was bleeding a little more than usual, so we decided to do a midnight check.  At this time, we found Cashew with a head hanging out but no hooves (a big surprise because we heard nothing on the monitor).  If you're a long time blog reader, you'll remember that this was the position Peat was in.  Henrietta ended up going to the vet hospital, which was not an option for Cashew.  The lamb had been in the birth canal a much longer time, and we were 99% sure Cashew was carrying a twin.

After much struggle, we managed to pull the lamb, a boy we named Fennel.  I went to work on reviving him.  Soon afterward, a tiny ewe lamb (Lavender) was born. She was breech but Scott had no issues delivering her.  Cashew was not able to get up, so we moved the lambs to where she could lick them.  That perked her up, and when she attempted to get up, she staggered.  Nevertheless, Lavender was nursing quickly.

Lavender (the smaller one) and Fennel

We noticed that Fennel was not sucking, even when we placed Cashew's teat into his mouth.  We tubed him and continued to do so.  We knew he lacked oxygen during the birthing process and his head was definitely swollen.  As the swelling went down, we expected him to be able to suck.  It didn't happen and upon further inspection, he had a cleft palate.  It is not fixable in sheep, and he would never be able to nurse, so we had to euthanize him.  We are sad, but we know that had not Elsie lambed Thursday we never would have made it to the barn in time to save Cashew and Lavender.

Lavender and Fennel

Cashew's problems with her back legs are a bruised nerve.  Her legs are getting better already, but she still is struggling.  Having a lamb pulled is traumatic for the ewe.  Lavender seems to be doing well.

Waiting...Yet Busy

Most of the lambs are out running about with their mothers.  I'm having more issues telling lambs apart this year.  ...But I do know this little guy is Mace because his fleece is different from the rest.  It's going to be long like Beryl's. 

Mace

Clove is pretty easy to pick out as well.  His horns are a little bigger than the rest of the boys'.  That's him in the second row in the picture below.  I have no clue to whom all those little white bottoms belong.

Oregano (I think) out in front.

I do know that Pistachio is licking someone else's lamb.

That's not Cilantro or Coriander!

Theresa always has nearly all the lambs with her.  This time it's Cayenne (her own lamb)  and Oregano (Molly's). 

Once a lambsitter, always a lambsitter.

 Oregano or Cilantro...  If I could see his tail, I'd know.  (Oregano has a spot on his tail.)

Mystery white ram lamb

We're waiting on two ewes to lamb.  One is Elsie, who to the untrained eye looks enormous... To those of us who are used to seeing her pregnant, her baby bump looks a little more modest.

Elsie and yet-to-be-seen lamb(s)

Busy, busy: Tricot, Molly, Opal, Marble, and Theresa

It has been crazy around here!  My camera is broken, and has been all week, so forgive the terrible pictures. 

Tricot: Finally, a girl!

Tricot & Chamomile

I watched the pregnant ewes in the drop pen very carefully Monday morning.  I knew I had to run an errand, and I wanted to make sure I wasn't leaving just as someone was lambing.  When I returned home, I heard an obvious commotion from the barn.  I found Tricot with a little white lamb (little for Tricot, that is!) and getting ready to push out another.  Sadly, the second lamb was stillborn.
Tricot and her little lamb went into a jug where she could concentrate on getting her living lamb clean, up, and nursing.  I was concerned about the lamb at first, but she is doing great.  Tricot, however, has an infection and is on antibiotics (but seems to be making a speedy recovery.)
Tricot's lamb is a GIRL!  She's white with a couple of very light spots that will probably fade.  We've named her Chamomile, but she's a lot wilder than her name suggests.

Molly: Joining the loud crowd

Multi-talented llama performs midwife dutires

Molly & Oregano

I went to the barn Wednesday morning and found Molly in labor.  I'm not sure how I didn't hear her before I got there--she was one of the loudest I've heard yet!  She had a lot of "help" because it was cold and I didn't want to open the barn doors until she had her baby dried off.
Molly had a normal labor (thank goodness!), and she delivered a single white ram. We've named him Oregano.  He's already nearly as friendly as his momma.

Opal: One crazy mother

Bergamot...He'll be a surprise when I get a good pic!

 I noticed that Opal was in labor a little before lunchtime yesterday (Thursday).  I poked around in the house, figuring that like most first time mothers, it would take her awhile to lamb.  Nope--when I went to the barn, the lamb was out...and blocking the gate to the drop pen.
After I (eventually) made it into the drop pen, Opal alternatively licked me and rammed me.  I moved the pair into their jug, and as Opal continued to ram me, I exited as soon as possible.  Although scary, it's probably a sign that she's going to be a good mother.
Opal had a single ram lamb.  He's katmoget like his momma, although I can't tell yet whether his base color is brown or black.  His name is Bergamot, courtesy of my oldest son.  He argued that he has naming privileges this close to his birthday.  I agreed, and then....

Marble: Not like her mother

Marble & Pepper

Licking baby clean

 Marble's mom, Hazel, always lambs at midnight on her due date and she's always so speedy that I never see a thing--just Hazel with some babies. 
At dinnertime (still on Thursday), I noticed that Marble was in labor.  I hurried, as I thought she'd be like Opal and pop out her lamb quickly.  Oh, how I was wrong...  But although I was wrong, it was a completely normal birth.
Marble's lamb is yet another single ram lamb.  He's katmoget with a few extra spots on his face.  He's going to be some shade of gray.  His base color (legs and belly) is very black.  His name is Pepper.  (Remember I gave up naming privileges for the day?) 
Theresa was helping out, because she was in labor, too!  (Tricot was helping from her jug, but she always does that, even when she's not feeling so good.) 

Theresa shows them how it's done.

Theresa: one down, one to go

Theresa was laboring nearly the entire time Marble was, but was too interested in what Marble was doing to lay down and push.  Finally, she did lay down and push.  The water bag was out in a few pushes and the second lamb was out.  She thought she was done at that point, whether it was because she had only had singles up to this point or she thought Marble's lamb was hers.  Nevertheless, she quickly gave birth to lamb #2.
Theresa's first lamb is a ram lamb.  He's katmoget and is currently light gray with black legs and belly.  His name is Chipotle. He's a little bigger than his twin SISTER.
Forgive me for yelling, but Theresa's second lamb is a ewe!  She's darker gray, but otherwise looks a lot like Chipotle.  Her name is Cayenne. 

Pistachio: Happily Normal

There's not a lot to say about Pistachio's lambing.  Although she did lamb around four in the morning, she was quick in delivering her lambs and knew what to do after they arrived. 

Pistachio & her boys

 The first born is Cilantro.  He's a white ram.  He reminds me of big (half) brother Almond.  He looks a lot like him, and he acts just like Almond did as a lamb.  He's a spunky little guy.  (And loud...he's what woke us up.)

Cilantro

"Get up from your nap!"

Twin number two is another boy.  We've named him Coriander.  He's katmoget, but is darker and browner than Mace and Clove.  

Coriander yawning....

... and taking a rest.