2011 Lambs are arriving!

We are well into lambing now with seven Border Cheviot and two Romeldale lambs so far.  And all but one ewe has twinned!  The weather has been challenging with temps dipping to 38 degrees Fahrenheit at night and wind and rain during the last few days.  It's a good thing that most of the ewes have chosen to come into the barn to lamb; the bad news is they have been tending to pick the wee morning hours!  But since we are in the barn every 3-4 hours anyway, we've been available to help if needed.  All moms and babies so far are doing pretty well aside from a few bumps in the road...One ewe lamb of twins was very tiny and born to a first-time mom who left her as she delivered her sibling; we happened to find her in time and warmed her and brought her into the barn.  Her mother had already decided she wasn't interested in her and had to be held to let the little gal (5 lbs) suckle for that all important liquid gold: colostrum.  She is now a bottle lamb and struggling to pick up speed.  A second ram lamb twin was suddenly and mysteriously rejected by an experienced mom who decided she did not want him to nurse any longer.  On day three, she simply would not allow him near her udder. Period.  When we held her to allow him to nurse, she twitched and jumped like he was hurting her.  A quick finger in the mouth determined that he had large sharp teeth that must have made nursing painful!  So, he is also relegated to the "bucket."  While we would normally visit the barn every four hours with a warm bottle for each "bottle lamb", this year we are trying out a free-feeding bucket system with this ram lamb; this system is supposed to allow the little tyke to regulate his own intake to a style that would match that of normal nursing.  This is accomplished by keeping the milk chilled but constantly available and the lambs learn to drink smaller amounts frequently, just like they would with mom.  It seems to be working beautifully as he is calm and content when we check on him and no more frantic scrambling and baaing for his bottle from us!  So, only nine lambs but two reliant on us to feed them!  Such are the trials and tribulations of shepherding!:)  

Pictures will be coming as soon as the weather breaks!  Wish us luck for an uneventful night tonight!