How Many Left?

Wild Rose Farm - How Many Ewes Left To Lamb?  Count 'Em!

We have 22 ewes in the pasture group this evening remaining to lamb, so we're half way there.  The young crossbred ewe #135 had a set of twins early this morning and it took a while to get her up to the barn.  First, she kept running back to the birthing spot looking for the lambs.  Then she ran down behind the water tank for some reason.  Mr. WRF had to put up net fencing to funnel her up to the barn - finally!
By the time he had her up to the barn, the feeding and watering was done.  I went out back looking for him, saw what was happening, and then retreated so as not to startle her.    Here she is tonight in the pen with one of her little twins ...

WRF #135 With Twin Lamb - 14 Hours Old

Back in the barn this morning, there was a lot of activity in the "mixing pen".  After the ewes and lambs bond in their individual pen and they've been processed and tagged, we turn them in to a larger group pen.

Dorset Ewe #116 - Hey Mom, Let's Play! 

Dorset Ewe #115 - Are You Sure You Don't Have Any More Treats?

Rambouillet Ewe #406 With Twin Rambouillet Ram & Ewe Lambs

New Wild Rose Farm Twins

Wild Rose Farm #37 With Newborn Twin Ewe Lambs

Look at what came up to the barn this morning at the 5AM pasture check.  Crossbred ewe #37, an old hand at this lambing thing, delivered a set of twin ewe lambs in the pasture.  Mr. WRF carried them up to the barn and she followed right along.  I could see him coming with his headlamp bobbing, so I stood back & waited so that I didn't spook the ewe.  The afterbirth cleared as she walked up, so the lambs are a couple of hours old.   Let's leave them in the barn to settle in ... she knows what to do!


WRF #37 Working On Her Lambs

Yesterday we had 2 sets of twins and a single born.   Meanwhile, in another corner, we have a little nest of the #50 triplets oblivious to their new cousins.  :)    

Wild Rose Farm Sleeping Triplets

2PM Pasture Check

Here's the sequence of what we see when we do a pasture check .... yesterday at 2PM.

Wild Rose Farm - The Approach - What's That Top Center?

Uh-Huh - Do I See Horns?  Is That Rambouillet #401?

Yep - That's #401 Circling & Pawing The Ground

Water Broke - Looking For A Lamb!

Wild Rose Farm Rambouillet #401 Pacing

She delivered the first lamb in the pasture.  We picked up the lamb and she readily followed up to the barn.  She's had triplets in the past and we'd rather not see that on pasture.  Too many chances for someone to wander off or get left out.  The second delivery followed quickly & easily in the barn.  That's it - twins!   This was the ewe with "wool break" who almost died on us last year!  Remember? 



WRF #401 - Moved To Barn

First Lamb Nursing

Morning In The Barn

Wild Rose Farm Barn After 5AM Feeding

Here's a look at the barn after we've done the morning pasture & barn checks.  Feeding is done, water buckets have been changed out, and everyone is settling back in.  If you click on the picture & look closely on the upper left, you can see a ewe standing up & sticking her head behind the plywood sheet.  You've heard that the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence?  Apparently, the hay (same stuff!) is tastier on the other side of the wall ... she's standing on her hay and eating from the back side of another rack.  Goofy sheep!

Twins Born Yesterday - Dorset Ewe #115 & X-bred Ewe #99

 No new lambs today as of 11AM so pens are being cleaned & we'll haul a couple of loads of manure.  And keep checking ...

Nothing Happening -vs- Something Happening

Wild Rose Farm Back 40 Ewes - Nothing Happening Here!

There's been mention in this blog when we've found "nothing happening" during our pasture and barn checks.  For the Wild Rose Farm followers who aren't sheep people or farmers, the picture above is what "nothing" looks like.  The wide angle shows no one separated off, laying down straining, or circling and pawing the ground.  Just normal sheepy curiousity/fear at the approach of friend or foe at 8PM last night.  Meanwhile, when we got back to the barn ...

Wild Rose Farm Barn & WRF Rambouillet #406 - Something Happening Here!

Rambouillet ewe #406 had started into labor at 6:30PM, so we penned her up.  Notice how she's holding her tail head up, the sunken area in front of her hips, and her expression.   She's pawed all of the bedding over into one corner.  When we checked again at 11PM, she hadn't delivered, so we assisted and pulled a set of twins.  Turns out that they were fine and in perfect position, but I didn't want to come back in a couple of hours and discover a breech.  In hindsight, she probably would have delivered on her own, but there's always the "but what if" to consider. 


WRF #50 & The Triplets - WRF #406 & Twins In Background

So now this morning at 5AM we see the #50 triplets and, in the next pen, Rambouillet #406 content with her twins.

Hey!  We Need Another Spigot Here!

And for fans of WRF Dorset "U", here is a family photo!  She's a foot stomping good mother.

WRF "U" & Twins

Triplets At Wild Rose Farm!

WRF #50 With Newborn Triplets

Our crossbred ewe, WRF #50 was looking like she was "close to thinking about lambing" at the 11PM barn check.  At the 2AM barn check, she was pensive ... standing and staring while the others milled about and chewed their cuds.  Hmmm.  Water had not broken yet, so nothing happening. 
At 5AM, we were greeted with #50 happily cleaning off her 3rd lamb!   All three - one ram (the largest front & center in picture) and two ewes are vigorous and nursing.   She seems to have a good milk supply, so after the iodine navel dip and a couple of squirts of the lamb & sheep energy/vitamins liquid drench, we've left them with the ewe to rest & nurse at 8AM.  We'll check back in around 11 to noon. 
Nothing else happening in the pasture ...

Wild Rose Farm Barn Scenes

Wild Rose Farm - #116 Twin Dorset Ram Lambs

Yesterday we had 3 sets of twins arrive.  We just came in from the barn after moving a young Rambouillet ewe #418 into a pen with her large single ewe lamb.  That lamb was "snow white" - no pun intended - and she had really cleaned it off. 
We put up some livestock panels in the barn to allow the llama a section of the shed roof overhang for shade and rain protection.  For now, she is penned next to, but separate from, the expectant ewes and the lambing pens.  She was just as curious as can be today ...

Snow White Says Hmmm, What's This?

Llama And Lamb Check Each Other Out!

Wild Rose Farm - It's Llama, Mama, & Lamb

OK .... now it's time for the 11PM check ... signing out!