** Disclaimer: Despite the cuteness overload in the cover photo, there are images near the end of this post dealing with the birthing process that some may find off-putting.
My last post featured our three female goats who are super pregnant. Out of all the animals on our farm, I honestly thought Gracie Goat would be the first to give birth. However, I was proven wrong!
As part of my morning routine, I went out feed everybody. As all of the sheep came running to get their first daily ration of grain, I counted them as I always do... 9.
I counted again... still 9!
There are supposed to be 10!!
We haven't had the best luck with our sheep, so far. Perhaps I'll make a full post on that sometime in the future; but, suffice it to say that it has been a learning process! So, when I do my head count and come up short, my thoughts immediately go to, "What now?!"
I quickly scanned the area, and to my relief, I found I spotted number 10... and 11!
Newest Addition
I was so excited! I checked my pockets for my phone to get some pictures, but I couldn't find it. So, I ran all the way back to the house to get it only to realize that it was in one of the pockets I hadn't checked the entire time.
I rushed back out to see how baby and mamma were doing. This little lamb belongs to Triple-0. Next to Michelle Jordan, Triple-0 has been one of the more social sheep in our new herd. While she doesn't particularly like being petted, she can tolerate it as long as grain is involved.
She gets her name, Triple-0, from her ear tag: 0007. You know, kind of like James Bond, but with an extra zero. In fact, that may lead me to a name for her little offspring.
Baby's First Nom Noms
She must have birthed this little one right before I got there, because it was still not very sure-footed. I also noticed that it was shivering, so I figured it best to take mamma and baby into one of our stalls in the barn. I carried the baby there and then lured mommy in with some yummy grain. She seems to be doing quite well, so far. She ate the grain and then shoved her head right into the haystack that I had thrown in for her.
Safe Haven
But, there was some cause for minor concern: Triple-0 hadn't yet expelled the baby's placenta. It was still dangling and dragging the ground. At this point, I really wasn't sure how long ago she had given birth. I figured that it had been recent, but I couldn't be positive.
Had Me Worried
An internet search revealed that most ewes expel the placenta within 1-3 hours after giving birth; however, it is possible that a ewe retains the placenta. This can lead to life-threatening infection.
I was a little worried.
Thankfully, when I went out to check on everybody before we all settled in for the night, I noticed that she had it. I can't tell you how much of a relief that was!
It seemed as if mommy was doing a pretty good job of taking care of her little baby, and baby seemed to be nursing well. I took it a minute to figure out where he was supposed to be looking; but, he eventually figured it out.
More Nom Noms
It was fun watching Triple-0 and her baby getting to know each other, so I hung out for a while and watched. It was a good thing, too! At one point, little baby stumbled into the water barrel. I grabbed it up really quick and took it into the house to dry it off before returning the little thing to its mommy. I also removed the large water bucket and replaced it with a smaller bowl. I'll have to refill it more often, but it will be safer.
You're Looking At The Future
Up until now, our entire herd has been made up of ewes. We bought all of around September, so we really don't know much about their history. The ones that are pregnant were bred before they hit our farm, so we don't know anything about the ram(s) that were responsible for the deeds.
Thankfully, this new little addition is boy! So, with any luck, he will grow up to be our little stud! From what I've read, ram lambs reach maturity at around 5-7 months. That means he'll be ready to go by the end of the year. Since he isn't related to anyone in the herd (except Triple-0), I think we will probably hold on to him.