Lambing

We strategically planned for our sheep to begin lambing in April. We speculated the weather would be warm, green grass would be growing and our cows would be turned out on summer range. We even added a two week reprieve. Two weeks of lambing, followed by a two week break, before finishing the rest of the ewes. This would give us a chance to catch up, if need be. Rotate sheep, work lambs, bottle lambs mature, etc. It all sounded so easy, a walk in the park you might say. We felt as if we had finally learned after many years of sheep ownership.

Welcome to April 2022. We have had a cold, dry spring. The grass is showing signs of growth, but not the lushness we predicted. The cows are turned out to sagebrush pastures, thankfully. We anxiously awaited Tuesday’s start date of our lambing sprint. Nate & I began the week prior, checking the flock every 4 hours, through the night. Taking turns to bundle up in warm clothes, armed with a headlamp and wander aimlessly thru the dark. Scanning the pen for unusual behavior, lone animals or the faint cry of a newborn lamb.

Big W & Mr. C’s goats followed the scheduled itinerary. New kid goats line the edges of their pen, soaking up any warmth of sun. The busiest day brought four nanny goats welcoming new babies. It was as if a rehearsal for the coming sheep baby wave. Allowing us to have everything in order. Straw bedding, iodine, ear tags, etc.

Tuesday came and went with no new lambs born. As did Wednesday, Thursday, Friday & Saturday. Nate & I began to question our calendar notes. The ewes were definitely showing all the signs of a late term pregnancy. But how could our planning be off, how far were we mistaken? Then today, Sunday, it happened. The sheep began a choreographed, all day, lambing marathon. Right on schedule with a weather forecast threatening winter storm warnings. Everyday for the next week, looms with predicted new snow and strong winds.

Needless to say, the sudden change in weather has added to our excitement involving lambing season. In between penning new lambs and mothers today, we prepped for storms. We sorted the sheep, so all have barn access now. Cleaned out the smaller, individual pens, so each ewe can enjoy a brief stay after birthing. Added extra straw to our orphan goat & lamb pen. Chopped extra firewood for the cold days ahead. Alloted for extra hay feeding, as snowy weather seems to slow down grass growth.

I feel like we are finally ready, somehow. The sheep are all tucked in for the night, content with their new surroundings. The orphan lambs sleep cozy in the extra bedding. Nate & I have extra alarms set, for checking ewes throughout the night. And there is a noisy, blatting, sound coming from our laundry room. A sure sign that the two newest orphan lamb additions are warmed up and doing well. This is to be our new routine for approximately 10 days. Though I think next year, we will plan to lamb in July. Please don’t hate us if it snows during Fourth of July Fireworks. It’s just a sign that our lambing season has begun.