Today has been crazy and it isn’t even over yet. Just after Noon Mom noticed the pasture flock acting really weird. She always has a knack for sensing when things are off. So I popped on my denim jacket and just went to see if Mom was crazy. As I got to the Pasture stall I couldn’t figure out what I was seeing. There was a lamb … Lucy was licking on it and Hersey had “stuff” hanging out her backside. I have to admit when it isn’t Lambing season Nothing but confusion sets in when you find a lamb in the pasture stall.
I called Mom and told her about Hersey and to get blankets and any birthing stuff we had and head out to the pasture. When I hung up from the call I noticed that the little one was up and walking and shivering very badly. I think noticed that I was shivering and was cold. If I was cold … the lamb was cold. So In an istant I realized the little thing needed help and it needed it now. I took off my jacket wrapping the little thing up and started running for the house. I know in my mind that trip from the house to the stall is only about 350 feet or so, but when something that small is shivering and you know warmth is waiting in the house It seems so long.
I was so cold when we got to the house. Mom met us at the door with, I don’t know how many blankets and when she saw the shivering lamb she jumped into action. She got it rubbed and wrapped in a blanket in no time. While she worked I set out to get the Momma. Hersey is a first time Mom and we never let first time Mommas birth anywhere but a birthing jug.
The reason we do that is because first time Mommas can have some issues that we try to avoid. The biggest being them not understanding what is going on and rejecting the baby. When I found Hersey another Ewe was cleaning it up. This is not good. It is good in the sense that it is the reason the Baby survived, but it is bad in a sense that Hersey’s baby now has a different Ewe’s smell on it. That means Not only doesn’t Hersey understand but now she thinks the mystery object that just came out of her belongs to someone else.
Well, I got Hersey put in a Jug in the Goat pen and Mom warmed baby. Without that new barn we once again put blankets around the panels that made her stall. Then we hung two red lights in it so that the little one could stay warm no matter where it bed down. Once we got everything set up and the baby warm and dry we needed to get the baby to it’s Momma.
Hersey, confused and dazed was having none of it. She did everything from headbutt the poor thing to step on it as she went in circles. Hersey is Mom’s baby so Mom can handle her easy. Mom calmed Her and I held the baby to a teet and we worked for awhile to get the little one a drink of warm milk. After about 30 minutes we gave both baby and Momma a rest and went in the house to warm up. Baby checks started and went on all afternoon about every 15 to 30 minutes.
With Mom out of the pictures Hersey now seems to allow the little thing to nurse if we are out there. All I have to do is stand at Hersey’s head and she lets it suck. If Mom goes out Hersey works herself into a frenzey. So tonight at chores I stayed with them and made sure the little one had a full belly for the night. The little darling weighed in at 5.8 lbs. And we are pretty sure it is a SHE!!
Now, we did take time to figure out when Hersey got pregnant. According to our calculations are correct (and the internet gestation calendar) Hersey got pregnant the end of July. If anyone remembers Lance came to live with us on July 3rd and we paired Him with Hersey when we got him. They stayed in the goat pen for a bit and We didn’t put them out on the pasture until we finished the Haying season and that was in Aug. So if the math is right This little Girl is Sir Lancalot’s Daughter. If for some reason we are off with the dates we moved things around this could be a Chief Baby.
Okay so Here is as clear a picture as we could get of her as she is a mover and a shaker. She doesn’t stand still for much I tell you … LOL …

And this is a southdown on the left and a Merino on the right. I took these photos off the internet when I did an image search so they are not mine


With faces like those to compare to I have to say I think Lance got the job done. (Although I didn’t think he would get on it that fast … LOL)
Just in case it is Chief and for some reason he got all the open ewes on the pasture the day of the escape, we are clearing out the house pen. The four that Chief could have gotten are Turtle, Fudgie, Carrie and Reba. If anyone remembers last year Turtle had issues so the indoor pen would most likely be used for her if she tries to reject her baby. The others are Second year Mommas that didn’t have any issues so they should be fine. Well, except for Carrie and she had an issue of no milk but that isn’t a rejection issue. If for any reason we do have to bottle feed one we will use the kitchen pen.

Dad and I kind of made a mess cleaning it out though … And lastly the Kickstarter … We are only at 28% and we only have 23 days to go. And as you can tell we need to get it done for the babies sake… Please, Please share, tweet and Plurk it to everyone You know for me … Who knows there might be someone willing to fund it all … Here is the link again in case you need it … http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/277088254/the-qt-yarn-farm-a-sheep-to-yarn-experience
Oh My I almost forgot … We need a convention for the naming of the new Lambing season. Any idea?? We need to get it voted on and in place and quick so we can name the new little girl …
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