Acacia's Not-So-Big Surprise

Acacia was not the first ewe due, but she was the first to lamb.  Acacia's previous lambs have all been twin ewes (Dove & Swan, Evening & Dusk), so this year I kept waiting for lamb number two to arrive....but she never did. 

Acacia delivered a single ewe lamb.  She looks solid brown with the exception of a couple of white spots on her head.   We've named her Tootsie Pop, but we plan to call her Tootsie.

Cisco & His Ewes

We put Cisco in with his ewes over the weekend.  We're a bit nervous because Cisco is young--born at the end of June.  We've used ram lambs with success before, but they were born in March or April.

Cisco is not so sure about his new roommates.

 Cisco is intimidated by the ewes, maybe because they are some of our bigger ones or maybe because they're not-so-nice to him.   He also misses his ram and wether friends.    Nevertheless, he's at least trying to do his job.  It will be a while until we know if he has been successful or not.  

Barack O'Llama supervising the new living arrangements.

Cisco catches up with the ewes.

Cisco's ewes.

Vanilla leads the pack.

Vanilla is out in front (again)

Getting Ready

It's almost time for breeding season.  Usually, we would have put our first ram with the ewes by now, but there's a bit of construction going on here. 

Cormorant checking out Mimosa, Myrtle, and Acacia.

(Most of) the boys

We spent some time over the weekend getting ready for our fence improvement.  It was a lot like driving through a drive through zoos, the kind where there's always a crazy llama getting in your business.

At least they (mostly) get out of the way.

Official crazy llama

Also this weekend, four of our sheep were sheared at the Fulton Fall Folk Festival.

Pawlonia

Storm

Celsius, with his mom and siblings

Celsius sticks out of the crowd!

Blizzard of Babies: Sequoia, Acacia, & Theresa

On Wednesday, there was even more snow, and of course, there were more lambs.

Sheep in the snow on Thursday.

Sequoia started things off late Wednesday afternoon. She had twins: a black ewe with white spots on her head and a solid black ram.  We've named them Aurora and Eclipse.

Aurora & Eclipse

Eclipse & mom Sequoia

Acacia really annoyed Sequoia when she was lambing, and we soon found out why.  About an hour later, we were headed back out to the barn.  Acacia had twin ewes.  Both are black gulmoget.  Dusk is a little bigger and has a few more white spots on her head.  Evening is a little smaller.

Evening, enjoying her blow dry

Dusk

Dusk, Evening, & mom Acacia

Thursday afternoon, Theresa lambed.  She's an experienced mom and has always had easy lambings.  She struggled for awhile to push her lambs out, but managed it without any extra help from me.  Theresa's lambs are two big white ram lambs.  We've named them Blizzard and Avalanche. So far, I'm having issues telling them apart!  (Ear tags will solve that problem.)

Theresa cleaning lamb number one.

Theresa, Blizzard, & Avalanche

Snow Ewes

Mimosa

Mimosa, Pistachio, & others

Cayenne, Peanut, & Pistachio

Vanilla

Vanilla, Tricot, Swan, Acacia, Sassy, & Theresa

Theresa

Vanilla & Tiffany

Shearing, Coating, & Confusion

About a dozen of our sheep were sheared yesterday.  Nearly all of the sheep are in their coats now.

Sheep coating always causes a little confusion, but Wren does not recognize her mother, Pawlonia, at all.  She started baaing as soon as Pawlonia was done being sheared and coated, and she hasn't stopped yet. Pawlonia has been trying--following Wren around--but Wren still has no clue. 

Wren

Pawlonia after

Pawlonia (and Wren) before

Molly

Czadas

Henrietta

Tiffany

Elsie

Sassy & Budgie

Eagle & Mimosa

Sandy, Hazel, & Opal

Elvira & Acacia

Dove

Waiting for their turns

Just Pictures

Acacia & Swan

Cinnamon

Dove (with Budgie and Molly)

Cashew

Elvira

Marble

Chamomile

Cayenne

Opal, Mimosa, & Eagle

Henrietta & Theresa