More New Arrivals 2009
4/03 Well, you can probably guess from these pictures that something didn't go right...
Birch had a normal delivery of a lovely moorit spotted 4.5-pound ewe lamb by Dragon,
and although she didn't expel the afterbirth, we weren't too concerned. The lamb was
very healthy and vigorous (feisty would be a good word), and Birch was her usual
maternal self. Mom and daughter continued to do well through the night, but in the
morning, when we threw hay to Birch, she wouldn't get up. I checked to see if perhaps
she'd retained a lamb, but I couldn't feel anything. Since Birch belonged to my daughter,
Kelsey, I called the vet, and was told to expect him within the hour. Almost 3 hours later,
he finally showed up. I had thought that perhaps Birch needed calcium, but I figured the
vet would IV it to her. Hindsight is always 20/20 - she died as the calcium drip was going
into her neck, and we're still not sure if it was milk fever, or if something else was wrong.
I'll tell you one thing, I'll never wait to treat an animal again! The worst I can do is make
it worse; on the other hand, I might just save a life. SO, now we have another house
guest. Can't leave the baby out in the barn for the 'coons to get! This time, I'm going to
get some diapers!
Birch had a normal delivery of a lovely moorit spotted 4.5-pound ewe lamb by Dragon,
and although she didn't expel the afterbirth, we weren't too concerned. The lamb was
very healthy and vigorous (feisty would be a good word), and Birch was her usual
maternal self. Mom and daughter continued to do well through the night, but in the
morning, when we threw hay to Birch, she wouldn't get up. I checked to see if perhaps
she'd retained a lamb, but I couldn't feel anything. Since Birch belonged to my daughter,
Kelsey, I called the vet, and was told to expect him within the hour. Almost 3 hours later,
he finally showed up. I had thought that perhaps Birch needed calcium, but I figured the
vet would IV it to her. Hindsight is always 20/20 - she died as the calcium drip was going
into her neck, and we're still not sure if it was milk fever, or if something else was wrong.
I'll tell you one thing, I'll never wait to treat an animal again! The worst I can do is make
it worse; on the other hand, I might just save a life. SO, now we have another house
guest. Can't leave the baby out in the barn for the 'coons to get! This time, I'm going to
get some diapers!
4/04 We had some more small, feisty lambs born this morning while we were waiting for
the vet. Privet had twin line-bred Serkur girls out of Dragon - the spotted badgerface ewe
weighed 5 pounds, and her solid moorit sister weighed 4.5 pounds. These lambs are also
pistols, and I wish I had the camera with me all the time, because the little moorit girl
stands up on her mother while her mother is standing! Never seen anything like it, and
don't know how she stays up there without falling. Of course, when I have the camera,
she doesn't do it.
the vet. Privet had twin line-bred Serkur girls out of Dragon - the spotted badgerface ewe
weighed 5 pounds, and her solid moorit sister weighed 4.5 pounds. These lambs are also
pistols, and I wish I had the camera with me all the time, because the little moorit girl
stands up on her mother while her mother is standing! Never seen anything like it, and
don't know how she stays up there without falling. Of course, when I have the camera,
she doesn't do it.
4/04 Right after Privet had her lambs, we had another set of tiny lambs born, this time
out of Olivette and Hokan. Both the white ram lamb and his moorit sister weighed 5
pounds. They are just as active and mischievous as the other small lambs - go figure. The
moorit ewe knows how to escape the lambing jug, and Tom found her wandering the barn
several times when he went to check The Girls. Each time she would see him, she'd jump
into the air, and go tearing back into the jug with her mom. Apparently as soon as he
left, she'd sneak right back out. No Fear. Amazing! Tom has since put a board in front
of the gate to keep her in - we're afraid she could blow away!
out of Olivette and Hokan. Both the white ram lamb and his moorit sister weighed 5
pounds. They are just as active and mischievous as the other small lambs - go figure. The
moorit ewe knows how to escape the lambing jug, and Tom found her wandering the barn
several times when he went to check The Girls. Each time she would see him, she'd jump
into the air, and go tearing back into the jug with her mom. Apparently as soon as he
left, she'd sneak right back out. No Fear. Amazing! Tom has since put a board in front
of the gate to keep her in - we're afraid she could blow away!
4/05 I was expecting Snowberry to have twins this year, but I guess she had other plans!
Instead, she had a 9.5 pound black/grey ram lamb out of Darken Rahl. This boy may
have scurs, but he is a lovely color, and would be great for a fleece flock. So far, all the
lambs have been born unassisted, and you can't ask for much more than that!
Instead, she had a 9.5 pound black/grey ram lamb out of Darken Rahl. This boy may
have scurs, but he is a lovely color, and would be great for a fleece flock. So far, all the
lambs have been born unassisted, and you can't ask for much more than that!
4/05 This lamb was a surprise - Darling looked nowhere near delivery, either by girth or
by udder size, but she knew what she was doing! This crystal white (most likely
homozygous) ram lamb out of Zed is a linebred Dalur boy, and he weighed 9.5 pounds.
These pictures really don't do him justice. He is very long, very tall, and has very heavy
bones; he also has a gorgeous coat and a "pretty" face. Chances are we'll be keeping this
one!
by udder size, but she knew what she was doing! This crystal white (most likely
homozygous) ram lamb out of Zed is a linebred Dalur boy, and he weighed 9.5 pounds.
These pictures really don't do him justice. He is very long, very tall, and has very heavy
bones; he also has a gorgeous coat and a "pretty" face. Chances are we'll be keeping this
one!