The Lambs are Here!!

We had to go out to the barn 50 times or 100 times to check on the sheep! Every time when we go out to check I am hoping there will be some lambs. I cross my fingers every time. When I cross my fingers and therre is none, its o.k.—it's fun to check on the ewes!

We thought maybe "Uno" was going to have her lambs. We saw that she was acting funny. Mom and I ran inside as fast as we could.  We packed lunch, hot chocolate, yarn, knitting, snacks and my DSi game. We thought it might take a long time. When we got to the barn again we saw that she was going to have them really soon! 

She started pushing a lot. It was funny because when we got back we saw she was going to have the first lamb right away! We didn't have timme to do any of the things we brought out to the barn. We did get to drink a little hot chocolate though. 

When a lamb is being born the mama makes grunting sounds and funny faces. She lays down, stands up and lays down again. Sometimes she lays down to have her lamb but usually she stands up. When the lamb is born you have to wipe off their noses so they don't breathe in the yucky stuff. The ewe licks the lamb off and gets enough strength to have another baby.

It takes 50 seconds or more for the lamb to stand up and take a drink. They fall down - sometimes they land on their bums!  Last time my brother saw the lamb tip over onto its head! They make a little 'baaing' sound and the mom answers back with a special grunting sound. The ewe's grunt helps the lamb to know which one is their mama. Sometimes they go to the wrong mama and they get bumped.

Uno the sheep had triplets and I watched them all come out. Even I got to wipe the noses of the lambs as they came out—except one. Sometimes—not all the time—they have orange skin. There is nothing wrong with them, its just the way they are born. A different ewe had twins last night and one was a solid black ewe lamb and we named her "Biddy". We don't know what to name her sister yet. We will be selling the ram lambs once they are bigger so we don't name them.

Here is a suggestion. Read "Mountain Born" by Elizabeth Yates. It is about a boy with a little black lamb named "Biddy". That is why I named our solid black lamb "Biddy". We are still waiting for more lambs to come. I hope you enjoy the pictures.