I am happy to say we have finally finished the 2008 lambing season as of this morning. Cora gave birth to a moorit smirslet ram lamb during the night. He's such a cutie! I was hoping for twins from her -- maybe a ewe lamb or two-- but I'm very happy with a healthy single. Now I can relax and put the barn cam away. Yes!
I knew Cora was getting close to lambing because she was definitely dropped yesterday and her bag was full. I did a barn check about 10:30 p.m. No sign of labor, but I was suspicious anyway. So I watched on the barn cam around 11:oo p.m. and noticed a couple ram lambs were bugging her. That was enough to get me back out there to put her in a jug. I awoke to the sound of a strange howling dog around 4:30 a.m. and checked the barn cam. Cora was still walking around, back and forth in the jug. I thought I had jumped the gun and shouldn't have jugged her overnight. Then I saw her stick her head through the panel to a dark lump on the ground outside the jug. I thought, "OMG, what is that?" I ran out and sure enough, it was a cute little ram lamb curled up sleeping! He was all licked off and well fed, but he must have crawled out of the jug and not figured out how to get back in.
Thankfully all is well and we have ram lamb #14 on the ground. So this brings our total lamb count up to 22 born this year, 21 live. Eight are purebred Shetlands, six of which are ram lambs. But very nice looking ram lambs!
Congratulations Becky! Now both of us won't have to worry about impending lambs on our trip to WY next week!
ReplyDeleteI know Kim, that's the best part. Now I can concentrate on getting ready for our "Big Adventure" out west to Jackson and Estes Park Wool Market. Should be fun!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations Becky! Thank God you have that barn cam!! That could have been a real SAD story...
ReplyDeleteHe looks like a very nice ram lamb!
I know, Nancy. I was pretty worried about what I would find when I ran out there. The wasted hay built up so much that the closer spaced bottom wires are covered up.
ReplyDeleteHe must have learned his lesson because when I let them out of the jug in the afternoon, he stuck really close to his mom. Very good baby!
The barn cam really has paid its way this year. I think it will come in handy if we ever have any predator issues too.
Congrats! Very nice baby :) Nothing new here yet....*goes back to pacing* :)
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