Babies!

[Coolbreeze89]

Thankfully, no one else due anytime soon! Thanks for the reassurance.

They should be good. Keep an eye out if you have any that are going to have their babies in the extreme cold.

 

[Coolbreeze89]

I’ve got every hay feeder filled to the brim, every water container full, and the shelter reinforced to minimize wind (while still some ventilation). Added lots of fluffy bedding, too. Thankfully, we have a generator so will be able to heat water as needed. I just bought a new wagon, so I’ll definitely use your technique! The LGDs have heated water bowls, so they’ll be fine. And yes, everyone is very spoiled!

Congrats on all your babies! That’s a lot of cuteness!

Make sure you and DH stay safe with the ice. None of us needs a fall...

Congratulations on your first lambs! How exciting! Beautiful babies, you are now officially addicted to sheep! LOL

I have 16 new lambs, right with you on the bad weather. Main thing is shelter , plenty of hay and water. I get my wagon, 2 buckets and DH runs the stove for boiling water. I pour it in the sheep water buckets on top of the ice. They can get a drink. I repeat it in the evening. I break ice during the day. Not any fun, but we only have a week of this stuff.

I break ice for the horses, they usually don’t need the boiling water. Dogs, chickens and sheep get the preferred treatment LOL.

 

[Alaskan]

Thankfully, no one else due anytime soon! Thanks for the reassurance.

With new kids (sorry, had goats, not sheep) they can get overly cold if temps are close to 0 F.

I made mine a warming box. Nest made in a large cardboard box, heating pad in a freezer ziplock, covered by a flannel blanket, and some hay.

Also.. the sticky out ears... as long as they are already 3 days old or older (so, better circulation) and out of the wind, AND you do not go below 0... then probably ok.

But if they will have any wind on them... or it gets below 0F, you might want to tape their ears to their heads. I never got frostbite on adult ears... but I think the babies don't have as good circulation.

 

[messybun]

With new kids (sorry, had goats, not sheep) they can get overly cold if temps are close to 0 F.

I made mine a warming box. Nest made in a large cardboard box, heating pad in a freezer ziplock, covered by a flannel blanket, and some hay.

Also.. the sticky out ears... as long as they are already 3 days old or older (so, better circulation) and out of the wind, AND you do not go below 0... then probably ok.

But if they will have any wind on them... or it gets below 0F, you might want to tape their ears to their heads. I never got frostbite on adult ears... but I think the babies don't have as good circulation.

I never thought to tape ears to the head. I have seen baby socks on ears though!

 

[Alaskan]

I never thought to tape ears to the head. I have seen baby socks on ears though!

They do it often up here...

Not sure how you would get the baby socks to stay on.

 

[Baymule]

#17 lamb born a few hours ago!

 

[Alaskan]

#17 lamb born a few hours ago!

Boy or girl?

 

[Baymule]

Boy or girl?

Don’t know yet. I jugged mom and lamb, it’s her first. I’ll check in the morning.

 

[Coolbreeze89]

#17 lamb born a few hours ago!

Congrats! Your herd has grown (and improved) so much with all the work you’ve put in. I’m so happy for you.

 

[Baymule]

Congrats! Your herd has grown (and improved) so much with all the work you’ve put in. I’m so happy for you.

This year I’m selling half my ewes and all but maybe two of the lambs. I’ll take the money and buy as many registered ewes that I can. My mixed breed ewes have taught me a lot and it is time for me to make a move to better genetics. It is bittersweet, they are my pets, they have names, I raised them from babies. But for me to move forward, I have to let some of them go. Then I will be flock building all over again.