I was late lambing this year as one ram or another seemed to fall through until we met Charlie, a young Icelandic ram who literally just walked into my life during the last viable month to breed.
So, then began a guessing game of “he had caught the ewes in their last spring cycle?” …and surprise he caught two of them, Shirley (a three year old Suffolk) and Laverne ( 3 year old Dorset ) . Yah!
Slim Shady (ram) was born to Shirley in a textbook birth on a beautiful summer morning. So much better than a cold April night!!
The second one was coming in the middle of a predicted monsoon which was giving 50-75 mm of heavy rain for the next day. Which led to my husband and I to constructing a few hillbilly temporary shelters of baling twine, tposts and tarps just in case.
I went out at midnight and found the lamb, Leonard, another ram, being cleaned off and already nursing. Laverne was trying to tuck him away to the corner of the field but I gloved up and carried him low so she could see him and led them into one of the lambing jugs we rigged up. I got Laverne some molasses and warm water, dipped the little one’s umbilical cord in iodine and made sure he was nursing. Lively little fellow which was great to see.
One all white lamb and one all black-genetics amaze me
It was nice to get a full night sleep last night without having to get up to check for lambs at 1:00am. But I always quickly forget my tiredness, and anxiety over lambing problems once they are out of the lambing jugs (after three days usually) and on the grass.
Vet says this is perfect timing as once they are weaned at 3 months Charlie can go back in with them in December to be breed again.
But first let’s enjoy the sight of lambs again frolicking and nursing. I feel strongly called to be a shepardess and I feel very close to the Creator during lambing.
- Luke 12:32 ESV
“Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
Love Jenn xx