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« Getting Big | Main | Shearing Day 2012 »
Monday
May072012

The Wonder of Birth

Warning: the following pictures are graphic images of a sheep giving birth!

Our last ewe to lamb, Emerald, cooperated with us last Saturday, April 28, by giving birth at a reasonable hour--9pm! I had noticed her nesting and acting very about-to-give-birth-y, so I grabbed my camera and declared, "I'm sitting in the barn until this lamb comes!"

That was at 7 pm, so I didn't have too long to sit in the cold. She began having contractions around 8, and then things went pretty fast. Morgan, Mike and my mom-in-law, Jude were all present. Morgan is only 7 and handled things very well. She quietly asked questions as things progressed and wasn't phased at all.

Contractions

Bag of water emerging.Hooves and nose emerging through the bag of water in the "diver" position.

The bag of water breaks and things get slipperier (hooves and nose again).

 

Head emerging.Shoulders emerging.Body emerging

Body mostly out. At this point, the sack came off the lamb's face and she started breathing. If Emerald had given birth standing, gravity would have helped finish up.Emerald was finished pushing, and the little lamb more or less kicked her way into the world.

Welcome to the world EmmyLou!

Gooey but alert.Up and searching. She was a little confused about which end had milk for a while. She finally got it.This was the best entertainment in the barn!

Starr (the llama on the far left) had a hard time containing herself; she wanted to help lick Emmylou clean. She kept sticking her nose between the slats of the birthing pen until Emerald finally gave her a strong head butt.


Lick, lick, lickingThe next morning, all clean and fluffy.

Out in the pasture on a foggy Wednesday morning (4 days old).

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Reader Comments (4)

Those pictures were awesome!!! She didn't mind you taking pictures? I am so jealous. I can't wait to start my own flock!

May 14, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterChristopher

Hi Christopher--thanks! She wasn't too happy about the camera if I put my arm through the slats of the jug (she head butted the camera a few times), but otherwise, she was fine. Poor thing had a flash going off in her eyes during delivery though.
Are you planning to get sheep soon? It's a great endeavor!

May 16, 2012 | Registered CommenterWillow Glen Farm

Yes ! My barn will be finished mid-June. I visited Whispering Pines Farm over a week ago (Jen and Rich spoke very highly of you), and friday I am going to visit Wild Geese Farm in Franklinville. I'm starting with two ewes and building my flock from there. PS your scouring class was very helpful!

May 16, 2012 | Unregistered CommenterChristopher

Christopher--very cool! Jen and Rich are wonderful resources and so encouraging. We're blessed to have been able to work with such wonderful people while getting started.
Two ewes will be perfect. We're in the midst of making the hard decisions about how to handle all these boys. Not fun.
I'm glad the scouring class was helpful; goodness knows I managed to make my fair-share of felt over the years! BTW--the fine-wool shetlands will felt easily so watch out!

May 21, 2012 | Registered CommenterWillow Glen Farm

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