Relaxing with the Ladies on Labor Day...

I'm getting back into spending time with my sheep each day.  We had such an awful, HOT summer that I stayed indoors much more than usual and I realized that most of my lambs are still half wild.

:-(

  (Not my Princess though!)

:-)

Isn't she gorgeous? 

She's gonna look just like her dam

(Alice)

This just will not do! (wild lambs)

So, I'm taking the time to sit with the ewes and lambs for a few hours little while each day.  Yesterday, I held down a tree branch for them and they enjoyed a late summer treat...

Destiny's little "Kiss" is going to have tiny scurs, just like her dam:

Destiny shown with Kiss's triplet brother, "Burdock"

Speaking of Mother-Daughter look-a-likes,

check out Alice and Duchess:

No scurs on these two, just dark spots where horns would be.

DREAM says...

"Boy!  Mom's working her butt off today!  She's moving a mountain of dirt with a wheelbarrow and a shovel.  I'd offer to help but  I'm afraid I'd break a nail hoof!"

Dream's right.

I'm using a spade-type shovel  and a wheelbarrow to spread a ton and a half of screenings (clay dirt mixed with crushed rock) around my big barn.  The guy delivered it this morning.  Dumped the whole load in a big pile, near the 'porch' on the barn.  I want to get it spread before it rains!

Can you imagine what a mess that would be if it gets wet???

I better get back at it!

Have a great week!

Silent Saturday (a.k.a. it's TOO HOT to talk!)

Feeding Time at the Zoo...

Since I don't suppliment any of my lambs, I give ewes with Triplets a little "lamb creep feed" every day.  I figure it's got to be pretty nutritious and the lambs always "help" eat it.

 If you click to enlarge this photo, check out the fleece on the cheeks and poll of Duchess!

Her fleece is incredibly soft as well.

Alice, Duke, Duchess and Princess stand at the gate, calling for me every day to remind me to bring them their food.  It gets a little competitive at the trough/er ~ feed bowl.

Of course, Alice isn't the only ewe with Triplets.

Destiny and her gang also come in  for their creep feed.

I need to get another big pan! 

Look how tiny "Kiss" is compared to her brothers! 

And how dark her moorit fleece is!  She may actually be a dark brown...

After lunch, Alice and Destiny take their babes back out to the main pasture.

(look at the tails on those lambs!)

When I open the gate to let Alice & Destiny out,  poor Chance always rushes in looking for anything that was missed. 

I'm afraid it's pretty Slim Pickins'

That's OK.   Chance doesn't look like she really needs any extra feed!

Now, Charm (Bluff Country Lucky Charm) is another story:

She'll kick and drag that dish all over the paddock, looking for food!

Poor baby...

Fortunately, Charm and her beautiful sister, Serendipity, seem to be growing just fine.

DREAM says...

"Mom doesn't think we've seen the last of the triplets for this year!   Stay tuned to see if she's right.  It won't be much longer..."

Triple the Fun...

*As always, click on any image to enlarge*

To ease Destiny and her triplets back into the flock gradually, I first let Alice and her triplets in with Destiny and her brood.

I think it would be fair to say that Destiny was less than thrilled to share her nursery with three "strange" lambs...

Alice was patient with her 3 year old daughter.

She knew that Destiny just needed time and confidence.

While we were waiting, I got a couple of pretty pictures of one of Alice's little girls:

This is "Duchess"

I love the close up with Alice's body as the background.

Eventually, Destiny's lambs decided that they wanted to come out of the barn.

Destiny watchfully escorted them out to meet their Grand dam...

This reminds me of a scene from "The Lion King"

Apparently, Alice approves.

Here, she's meeting her grandson, "Tumbleweed".

This is "Burdock"

And the Oh-So-Precious "Kiss"!

She's so delicate and sweet

Just like a little chocolate Kiss!

Today, both moms and their triplets are out in the main pasture with the rest of the ewes with lambs.  Alice and Destiny get separated, once a day, for their grain ration (it's actually 'lamb creep feed') to keep up their condition while nursing triplets.  I've never had to supplement any triplet born here. 

DREAM says...

"Hey!  I don't think I got any special feed when I had triplets!"

Oh, Dreamer.

  I'm sure you did. 

 I would never not give my precious Dream

extra goodies when she's feeding three babies!

"Hmmmmmmmmmmm"

"Maybe I'll just have to have three babies again!"

Oh, Joy!

Like Mother Like Daughter...

I remember a few years ago, when Zodiak and Dream both gave me triplets.

This year it's Alice and Destiny!

Destiny is the lovely, 3 year old, daughter of Alice.  She surpised me yesterday with triplets when I went out to the barn in the morning.  Actually, it appears that she had the babies in the barn (that's where the placentas were) but all three were outside with their Mom when I went out for my morning visit

Just like her Mama

Destiny didn't need any help from me.

A quick check shows me two black boys with a splash of white on their heads (indicating they carry spotting)

And the sweetest, TINIEST, little dark moorit girl

Mother and lambs are doing GREAT and I hope to let them back outside for a while today.  I'll move the other "ladies in waiting" over to the side pasture so that Destiny and her trips can have the front hill to themselves.  Maybe I'll let Alice and her babies in with them.  That should make for some good photo ops!

:-)

DREAM says...

"Just think, I've got over a month to go..."

Oh, good Lord!

Destiny and Alice...