Triplets

Triplets are not beneficial for sheep.  Why?  Ewes only have two teats; resulting in one lamb being excluded from the chow wagon.

pregnant ewes - more triplets?

The number of lambs that will arrive per ewe cannot be entirely predicted.  A mature ewe respectably births two lambs; a younger ewe, one.  Any additional lambs and survival becomes questionable.  Less, and the ewe may be placed on the ship list.

Today, we stand at 11 lambs; six from yesterday, five from today which includes a set of triplets.  Lamb #3 of the triplets is being rejected by his Mother.  She is pushing him out of her space.  He keeps coming back.  He wants food, and love.  He is getting neither.  So, Becky intervened with a serving of ‘kid colostrum’ and a serving of hugs.  Being smaller than most stuffed animal lambs, we feel we need to provide an extra boost.  We hope he survives.

By late evening, he was hanging out with his siblings and the mother ewe looked to be confused as to who was lamb #3; maybe she will eventually accept all three.  And, the lambs will have to learn to share the two milk taps.

Also, a ewe in the midst of labor kept walking up to us.  Cows like privacy, ewes…I guess not.  She would squat, push, and reveal a bit of a little hoof.  So, by morning, the numbers will be increasing.

As mentioned before, our first lambing season should prove to be quite interesting and challenging. Together, we could keep track of six lambs; eleven, is much more difficult.  We still have about 65 ewes to give birth.  Glenn and I conceded that there is no one way to adequately follow 11 lambs, let alone 100 +/-.   We will do our best.  We will certainly be quite busy with baby patrol for the next month or so.

After one day of said lamb season, I have observed several consistencies.

-        Ewes will leave one lamb sleep and wander off her other lamb.  When the sleeping lamb wakes, we all hear it - loudly wailing for its Mom. 

-         Little lambs like to jump straight up into the air as if they are on a trampoline.

-         Lamb tails always seem to be in motion; back and forth, back and forth.

-        Ewes are most vocal during the actual birthing; as if they are announcing the arrival  of their lambs. Otherwise, they are pretty quiet unless they are calling for a stray lamb.  And,

Are you my Mommy?

-          All newborn lambs are undeniably cute.