Baymule’s 4th Lambing

[Baymule]

Several of them have that annoying mat on their backs. It doesn't seem to bother them, but it bothers me. Several also need their feet trimmed, but I will wait until after they lamb. First time mommas, they don't need the added stress of haircut and feet trimmed. Many of them will eat out of my hand, but start restraining them and that's a different story.

 

[Mike CHS]

I'm always amazed at how strong these sheep are when you try to 'force' them to do something they don't want to do.

 

[Ridgetop]

Are your Dorpers still shedding out? Ours finished in the spring and summer and have grown their new covers in now for winter. Or did they keep last year's wool? I pulled out the remnants of one ewe's coat while DS was trimming her rock hard hooves. He was not pleased when she fidgeted so I had to wait for him to finish then did the rest while she was in the headlock. the older ram looks a little patchy although he was a complete shed last summer. Are you going to shear them?

 

[Baymule]

Most of mine shed out, a few kept a shaggy cover. It drives me nuts. I was plucking it out, but they hate that and run from me.

 

[farmerjan]

Most of the ones that do not shed completely, will have some wool sheep in them somewhere in the ancestry. Some of our Dall's have some wool sheep in them. You can tell as they also do not shed out as well. The longer we have them and breed them, we have bred out alot of the wool influence and they shed out much better.

 

[farmerjan]

Love that little ewe lamb... but she isn't so little anymore.... they grow fast.

 

[Mike CHS]

Whether they shed perfectly or not doesn't make a lot of difference.

 

[farmerjan]

Most of mine shed out, a few kept a shaggy cover. It drives me nuts. I was plucking it out, but they hate that and run from me.

The reason that they hate it is that it is actually still somewhat attached. It hurts for you to pluck it out. Like pulling your hair. Shearing/cutting is the only way to get that mat off. A wool sheep does not shed.... we had sheep years ago, bought, that looked like they hadn't been shorn in several years. It doesn't shed out. So if there is some wool sheep in the background, they will not completely shed. Don't pluck; shear, cut or leave it alone.
The wool influence can show up generations later, we have a ewe right now that has been here for 7 years. Bred Dall every year. Have kept 3 different ewe lambs, always bred dall. Got a lamb last year out of a grand daughter.... that has some wool. Oh well.......

 

[Baymule]

Eve, Miranda’s daughter, had twins. One was dead, still in the sack, but it’s little head was out of the sack, Eve was trying to clean it up. I don’t know if it was born dead or if it died after birth. I didn’t dig around on the poor little thing to determine sex, I just buried it. The other one is a ram lamb, teeny tiny, frail and weak. Eve is trying to be a good mom, she keeps calling softly to him.

I hemmed her up in a corner, got a lead rope on her and tied her up. I finally got the little guy to latch on a few times. Eve obligingly moved her leg back to make it easier for him. I milked out maybe an ounce and dribbled drops on his tongue.

I plopped down on my butt to work with the lamb and to try for a little milk. Thanks for the fresh pile of berries Eve. I would hate to think I was sitting in old, dried berries.

We have to go into Tyler today. The good news is that it is not freezing and I have some colostrum in the refrigerator to give him this evening. I’m getting pretty good at Sheep milking!

@Latestarter how do I post that spoiler alert for graphic pictures? I took a pic of the lamb that didn’t make it.

Liquid gold.

 

[Mike CHS]

Fingers crossed for the little girl.