Lambing season has officially begun

Lambing season kicked off Sunday with 311, who had a nice set of twins, both boys. When I went to feed in the morning, I found 311 in labor. So I prepared her lambing jug - a cozy little pen piled high with straw and outfitted with a hay bag and water bucket where the ewe and her lambs can bond and we can access everyone easily if there are any problems - fed everyone else, and waited for her to deliver the lambs. Both arrived with no problems (yay!). As it turns out, it will be easy to remember who the oldest lamb is this year. Because of the way we number lambs, these guys will be numbers 1111-1 and 1111-2 (eleven for the year, eleven for the dam, and -1 meaning ram-lamb 1 and 2). No way I'll forget who was first!

When we got back from church I took the camera out and got a few photos of the newbies.

Mama ewes are very protective, and she wasn't thrilled about me sticking my camera in her safe little world.

Lots of licking and nuzzling to get these little guys cleaned off, on their feet, and nursing.

A job well done! This ewe is a great mama, so no surprise there. It is hard to get cute photos of lambs this early, but they are out of the jug and into the mixing pen now, so I'll have lots of cute poses to pick from in the next few days.

As is often the case, there wasn't much of a lull in the lambing. Last night while I was filling up the water trough I noticed a ewe "nesting," which is one of the earliest signs she is getting really close to lambing. Only one problem - she wasn't in our close up pen; she was out in the main field. I have been down that road and I know that it is no fun to try to catch a ewe when she has an acre to run around, trees to duck behind, and numerous obstacles she can put between you and her (oh and none of this is on flat ground either). So we've been using a small pen where we can easily observe the ewes that are closest to lambing and relativley easily catch those that need assistance. This ewe was not in the right place, and we didn't have any luck trying to get her there. So we went inside and made supper. Lambing season is a delicate balance of waiting and interveneing quickly, but only when needed.

We went back out a couple of hours later and she was lying quietly with one lamb that was making pitiful cries and another tiny one that didn't make it. This ewe was 11 days early, and both lambs were small. The largest one weighed just over 5 pounds and the other was about 4. We got them all up to the barn, and placed them in a jug. I worked with the lamb to get it some colostrum. He had good suckling strength, but his back legs weren't very strong so he had quite a bit of trouble staying upright. Once he'd had colostrum and a dose of a mineral and energy drink, we tucked them in and went to sleep. I prayed he'd still be alive come morning. Thankfully, he was! I've been helping him nurse and he's much stronger today, but still not super-steady on his feet.

There was also a brand new set of twins this morning out of our new ram Dalton. Both are good sized and have the cutest speckles. Last I checked they and their mama are doing well. So that's 6 lambs born already, and the first due date is officially tomorrow...

Sunday was a gorgeous, spring-like day with beautiful clear blue skies and temperatures in the 60s. Several of my daffodils are blooming now, and with a break in the rain, I finally got some cheery photos.

Seed starting is also progressing. Friday night I transferred the broccoli and cabbage seedlings to the second stage of my system, little cups made of newspaper. They are so green and healthy, and are off to a great start.

Broccoli, looking up into the lights.

Cabbage seedlings.

Black eyed susan seedlings - lots of sprouts. I'm not sure how I will separate these when it comes time to put them in the newspaper pots...I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

Cherry Brandy rudbeckia seedlings - I am very pleased with how many of these sprouted.

The ham project is on-going. Finally they are fully cured and ready to be smoked. Yesterday they both went in the cold smoker, only they were so heavy the dowel rod broke. Brian took one out and we are currently smoking it. Between tending the hickory chips and checking on lambs, we're keeping busy!