Nera's First Lamb

After looking like she was about to pop for over two weeks, Nera finally delivered a ewe lamb on Saturday, April 14 at 9:10 a.m.  Somehow I just knew that would be the day that she delivered.  Why?  Because a friend was throwing my daughter, Hayley, a bridal shower that morning at 10:00 a.m.  Fortunately, we were able to get Nera delivered and me cleaned up and off to the bridal shower (albeit 20 minutes late).

At 7:00 a.m. I woke up and looked out the window for a pregnant ewe check.  Sure enough - Nera was pacing around the pen.  I threw on my clothes and went down to my studio to observe her progression.  After about 30 minutes it was clear that she was having difficulties, so I called the vet.  Unfortunately, our vet was out of town at a conference.  So I tried calling several other vets.  None of the vets that I called were able to come to the farm to assist.  They said that we could bring the sheep to them - which we decided to do if we couldn't get the lamb out ourselves. 

The first task was catching Nera.  She has always been a somewhat skittish sheep, but this day she acted particularly stupid.  You'd think that she would realize that we were just trying to help her deliver the lamb whose nose was peeking out of her bottom.  Nope.  Nera thought that we suddenly decided to have sheep kabobs.  When we finally caught her, I did an internal exam and discovered that the lamb was presented head first with both front legs pushed way up under its body.  I was able to grab one foot and bring it around into position, but couldn't get the second leg.  Even though he delivers human babies for a living, Kirk wasn't too thrilled when I told him that we needed to switch positions (he was holding Nera's head).  However, my wonderful hubby stepped up to the plate and was able to deliver the lamb pretty quickly.

We then had the wonderful task of dragging Nera to the jug.  I say "we."  Technically it was Kirk who did most of the dragging.  I was holding the slippery little lamb and attempting to help.  Because we had assisted in the delivery of the lamb, there wasn't a release of oxytocin/hormones to trigger the maternal instinct....so at first all Nera did was run back and forth in the jug - trampling the poor lamb.  However, after I stripped her teats and got a few drops of colostrum into the lamb's mouth Nera started to calm down.  Then it was like a switch was thrown in her head and she started licking and taking care of the baby.  That was SUCH a huge relief.

Due to the fact that her head was stuck in the birth canal for over an hour, the lamb's nose was swollen for the first two days.  That is why it looks a little strange in the following photos.  Otherwise, she is a beautiful little girl and I think that Nera and Keegan did quite well!

Hmmmm....I think I need a little snack....

Mommy is moving to position herself between the crazy lady with the camera and her baby.

The stripe down her back is dried blood from where her mommy dragged the placenta over her.
 Yeah...I know....ICK!

Nap time!!

First Lamb of 2012

I had a surprise this morning when I was doing morning chores....a sturdy little black ram lamb.  The feeding routine is such:  the rams get fed first, then Keilah (who is in a small pen inside the ram pen - I had to separate her from the other ewes because she kept picking on Maggie), then the large group of ewes and finally the chickens.  As I was tossing Keilah's hay over the fence, I turned to check her and say "good morning.  That's when I noticed that she had a little shadow!  He was probably born around 5 a.m. because he was steady on his feet and completely dry.  Keilah had already passed the afterbirth and the lamb was already nursing.  This is especially amazing since Keilah is a first time mom and somewhat of a pea brain (very flighty).  She will definitely be a ewe worth keeping!

For those of you on the waiting list for lambs:  the Gering Family (who bought Chessa in 2011) have first dibs on this little guy.  If they do not purchase him, then I will move down the list. 

Here is the little cutie pie.

Proud mom and her first baby.

Already so steady on his feet that he is trying to climb on the tree stump!

His eye kinda looks blue in this pic, but it's just a reflection.

I think Keilah is pretty proud of her little guy

Half brother, Shaun, checking out the newcomer...and eating some of Keilah's hay.

Ya get kinda dirty when you nap under the hay feeder!

Almost Time for Lambs!

Well, spring is almost here...although with the winter we have had it seems like it has been spring for the past several months. Springtime here at Kellane Farm means several things.

First and foremost - LAMBS! Hopefully five of our ewes are pregnant. As I mentioned in a previous post, there has been quite the demand for black wool so we purchased a black ewe and ram from Jody Fuller last spring. We turned Maggie and Kaia (the two black ewes) out with Kade (the black ram). The three white ewes - Nera, Keilah and Kirby - were turned out with Keegan (our older white ram). Nera and Keilah most definitely look pregnant. Both of these girls come from bloodlines with twins and triplets in them, so I wouldn't be surprised if they have twins. If they do, I hope that they are good mommies because both of them are first timers (maidens).

The second thing spring means for Kellane farm is MUD and MUCK. Over the winter the hay and poo builds up, so it is quite messy out there come spring when the ground starts thawing. The sheep don't like the muck any more than I do. Like their shepherdess, they are happiest in the winter!

I'll leave you with a few pics that I took this past weekend. It was actually snowing...something that didn't happen often this winter. I think it's because Kirk and I finally bought snowshoes!

"Do you have any treats mom?"
Your eyes aren't deceiving you...part of Maggie's right ear is missing. 
Her tag got caught in the feeder and when she tried to free herself it tore off half of her ear!!

Kaia and Kida come running to see if I have any treats

My sweet, beautiful (yet dirty) butterball - Kida

Nice hay wig Miss Kirby!

She doesn't have any treats so we might as well eat our hay...

2012 Babydoll Southdown Calendar Contest: Take Two

One of the winners in my first drawing did not contact me....so I re-entered everyone else into the random number generator. The winner this time is:

kcheryl

The winner of my Facebook contest is:

Lael

Congratulations to both of you! Please contact me before January 15 with your addresses.

Another Contest!

Want another chance to win a 2012 Babydoll Southdown sheep calendar? Well, here ya go! To enter, all you have to do is "like" our Facebook page. If you have already "liked" our page then you are automatically entered!

On Monday, December 12, I will yet again use the random number generator (RNG) to determine the winner. Check back then to see if you've won!

2012 Calendar Contest Results!

EEK! I was supposed to post the results on Friday, but was so preoccupied by something I had to do last evening that I totally forgot. SO SORRY to those of you who checked back here yesterday!

I assigned numbers to everyone who commented - 1 through 12 and inserted those number into the random number generator.

The winners are (insert drum roll here):

Michelle
Rachel

Congratulations!!
Please contact me at kellanefarm@gmail.com and give me your addresses!

In the Spirit!

These aren't Babydoll sheep, but they are cute nonetheless. I just love their scarves!!