stinkygoat (![[info]](http://p-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif){kind=small} stinkygoat) wrote,@ 2008-02-09 19:57:00 |
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Sunny day in Wales...
...and someone fluffy was really enjoying basking in the sun!
And today our suspicions that Ewenity too might be full of lambs were confirmed.
We thought something might be up when Ewenity stayed in her stable when we went to check on them first thing this morning. Looking at her we noticed her shape:
When those dimples appear in the sides towards the back of the sheep, it basically means that stuff inside has started to move around prior to coming out. We'd been planning to go to Swansea in the afternoon, but seeing her that shape it was clear we shouldn't go anywhere. Giles went to prepare the second "maternity stable" and I sat outside keeping an eye on the existing lambs and Ewenity. You could tell something was up when she wouldn't settle, she kept getting up and sitting down and not really knowing what to do with herself.
After a couple of hours her waters broke and she started having periods of lying down and having contractions (during which she looked like something out of Alien as her contents could be seen all moving about). But for a few hours nothing further came out, and we were just wondering whether we should call for assistance when:
Out popped something white!
The little lamb was breathing and starting to baa even while he was coming out. We helped the lamb out and brought it round to the front where Ewenity started to lick it clean.
In only a few minutes the little lamb was baaing and starting to stand up
and within the hour he was up and walking and had made a successful docking with the Mothersheep.
We stayed with them both for a couple of hours, and really we thought that was the end of it since Mum gave no indication of anything more happening. Sheep often have twins but not always, and Ewenity hadn't looked quite as big as Ginger whilst up the duff. So we came in to have a cup of tea and I posted the above pics in forum.
Then I nipped out to have a quick look across the field to see how they were doing and I was a bit confused, I could see Ewenity's lamb but why was one of Ginger's there looking for the wrong nipple?
But I looked and both Ginger's lambs were elsewhere, which could only mean...
- yep, in the 20 minutes we'd been in for a cup of tea, she'd popped out another lamb on her own }:-).
We went out to check the other new arrival and both the lambs seem to be healthy and fine, and both of them found their way to Mum's nipples, so it's looking like a good start for them both. And a lovely sunny day to come into the world on too.
Of course we hope that they are prepared for the hard life that they have been born into; after all it's hard work being a sheepie on our land. I am sure Ginger's offspring will warn them what to expect...
...all that chillin' in the sun...
...gettin' cuddles...
...chillin' a bit more...
...watchin' the Mothersheep cruise by...
...yep, it's a hard life bein' a sheepie }:-).
It looks like a ram and a ewe lamb in the new pair, so that's three rams, and three upcoming visits to the vet for sure - it's nice that Ginger and Ewenity have been able to fulfil their biological destiny an' all, but really now we are FULL of sheep and we can't really have another generation after this one }:-). The Digestive biscuit bill alone will be significant };-).
Boy are we in for a cute Spring though with four little fluffballs to play with }:-D.
...and someone fluffy was really enjoying basking in the sun!
And today our suspicions that Ewenity too might be full of lambs were confirmed.
We thought something might be up when Ewenity stayed in her stable when we went to check on them first thing this morning. Looking at her we noticed her shape:
When those dimples appear in the sides towards the back of the sheep, it basically means that stuff inside has started to move around prior to coming out. We'd been planning to go to Swansea in the afternoon, but seeing her that shape it was clear we shouldn't go anywhere. Giles went to prepare the second "maternity stable" and I sat outside keeping an eye on the existing lambs and Ewenity. You could tell something was up when she wouldn't settle, she kept getting up and sitting down and not really knowing what to do with herself.
After a couple of hours her waters broke and she started having periods of lying down and having contractions (during which she looked like something out of Alien as her contents could be seen all moving about). But for a few hours nothing further came out, and we were just wondering whether we should call for assistance when:
Out popped something white!
The little lamb was breathing and starting to baa even while he was coming out. We helped the lamb out and brought it round to the front where Ewenity started to lick it clean.
In only a few minutes the little lamb was baaing and starting to stand up
and within the hour he was up and walking and had made a successful docking with the Mothersheep.
We stayed with them both for a couple of hours, and really we thought that was the end of it since Mum gave no indication of anything more happening. Sheep often have twins but not always, and Ewenity hadn't looked quite as big as Ginger whilst up the duff. So we came in to have a cup of tea and I posted the above pics in forum.
Then I nipped out to have a quick look across the field to see how they were doing and I was a bit confused, I could see Ewenity's lamb but why was one of Ginger's there looking for the wrong nipple?
But I looked and both Ginger's lambs were elsewhere, which could only mean...
- yep, in the 20 minutes we'd been in for a cup of tea, she'd popped out another lamb on her own }:-).
We went out to check the other new arrival and both the lambs seem to be healthy and fine, and both of them found their way to Mum's nipples, so it's looking like a good start for them both. And a lovely sunny day to come into the world on too.
Of course we hope that they are prepared for the hard life that they have been born into; after all it's hard work being a sheepie on our land. I am sure Ginger's offspring will warn them what to expect...
...all that chillin' in the sun...
...gettin' cuddles...
...chillin' a bit more...
...watchin' the Mothersheep cruise by...
...yep, it's a hard life bein' a sheepie }:-).
It looks like a ram and a ewe lamb in the new pair, so that's three rams, and three upcoming visits to the vet for sure - it's nice that Ginger and Ewenity have been able to fulfil their biological destiny an' all, but really now we are FULL of sheep and we can't really have another generation after this one }:-). The Digestive biscuit bill alone will be significant };-).
Boy are we in for a cute Spring though with four little fluffballs to play with }:-D.
