Archives for sheep

Donatella’s Lamb Birthing – video

Donatella’s Lamb Birthing – video

April 13, 2011 | 12 Comments

I shot this with my iPhone (that's why the image is the size of postage stamp, sorry 'bout that) shortly after my last post. Donatella did a beautiful job of birthing her first lambs – a super-cute pair of ewe-lings!  Help us welcome our newest apples: Gala and Paula Red. Donatella and her lambs are doing well. For a friendly ewe she has turned into quite the fierce mother. She didn't want me or Holly anywhere near her lambs. I have a nice bruise on my hand to prove it. This video shows Gala's first words (she's actually having a
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Donatella’s in Labor

Donatella’s in Labor

April 13, 2011 | 6 Comments

Some action in the barn this morning. Donatella's getting ready to birth her lambs as I type this so I'll be brief. The above photos show her about an hour ago, having her first contractions. She's transitioning now to pushing mode. If you come back later I'll show you what her lamb(s) look like.  Wish her luck!
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Sunday’s Lambs

Sunday’s Lambs

April 10, 2011 | 7 Comments

We have a new set of twins! Meet Jonathan and Pink Lady. Bailey delivered them at dinnertime last night. These are Bailey's first lambs and also the very first lambs out of our black fine-wool ram, Cinder. We had hoped for a Moorit lamb (brown like momma) out of this crossing. PInk Lady has one little spot of brown on her back, but that's it. We love her pink little nose. Bailey has a beautiful udder and (so far) gets a gold star for mothering skills.   Happy Sunday to all.
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Sleepless nights

Sleepless nights

April 5, 2011 | 11 Comments

"Check out my wrinkles!" No new developments on the lamb front since the weekend. MacIntosh (above), Duchess and Pippin are mixing it up with each other in the super-sized pen we created for them. Now they can have play dates. Chanel is mellow about her little ones hanging out with the lamb from next door. But Chloe is an overprotective ewe. She doesn't want anyone getting too close to her lamb, including other sheep. It's kind of funny, since her "baby" is twice the size of Chanel's twins. I love watching all of it during barn chores. I am not
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Good News – More Ewes!

Good News – More Ewes!

April 1, 2011 | 13 Comments

An April Fool's Day snowstorm didn't slow things down any in the birthing barn. This morning Chanel birthed this pair of Cormo ewe lambs.With three new arrivals it's time to get down to the business of naming our little apples. This year I enlisted help from my Sheep Shares CSA members to name our first lamb. Pippin was chosen as the most popular name for a ewe lamb. And so we've named our first lamb, born yesterday to Chloe. The second most popular name for a girl was: Duchess .      The most popular choices for a ram lamb was
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It’s a Girl!

It’s a Girl!

March 31, 2011 | 23 Comments

I guess it's true. March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb. Our first arrived late today, a single ewe-lamb born to Chloe, a first time mother. Mike discovered our newcomer when he went to the barn for evening chores. A hefty lamb, she was cleaned up, on her feet and nursing when I arrived. It looks like this little gal may have company before the night is over, so I'm off to get some rest, just in case I'm called to the barn again. Just wanted to quickly share our exciting news! Crackerjack (below) inspects
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Shearing Scenes

Shearing Scenes

March 29, 2011 | 4 Comments

Come on, And bid us welcome to your sheep-shearing, As your good flock shall prosper. The Winter's Tale      We worked all day on Friday, grateful for the mild weather and sunshine. Can you believe, we didn't finish? By 5 everyone was tired and even though there were just a dozen left, it's better not to push. Beautiful fleeces. Lots of Cocoa's daughters (black and speckled) in this group. I'm off to the barn right now to check on the mothers-to-be. No "little apples" yet, but all signs point to any time now. I wish the temperatures were more
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Count Down to Shearing Day

Count Down to Shearing Day

March 23, 2011 | 7 Comments

Keeping dry – waiting for the shearer. Our week got off to a funky start. In the northeast we celebrated spring's arrival with a touch of winter: four inches of snow that's gone slushy since the temperatures are now just above freezing. Because we plan to shear the balance of the flock on Friday, this gave me a headache. Before the snow started at 9 Monday morning,  Mike and I scrambled to get four dozen sheep and two llamas under cover before their wool got soggy. The sheep were the easy part. A pan of grain was all we needed
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The Year of the Apple

The Year of the Apple

March 18, 2011 | 41 Comments

Apples is by far the most popular of our suggested lamb name themes for this year. Thank you, thank you, thank you for voting. It was a lot of fun to watch. We are looking forward to a bushel of new lambs, in less than two weeks from now. I'm thinking of all the fun name possibilties: MacIntosh, Gala, Macoun, Braeburn . . . If you would like to suggest an apple variety to name one of our lambs-to-be,  please leave a comment here. My days have gone from busy to busier in a hurry. Immediately after shearing, we've shipped
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