Lambs and goats and pigs...oh my...

Posted on 2006-Mar-9 at 09:59

Trekking home with our new babies in the van...it was a crowded ride- we picked up ours and 4 for some friends as well.  The poor van will never be the same!

Ahem...excuse me...I lost my head for a minute there.

Yes, I have become mom to 4 little lambs and are they ever the cutest things you ever saw.  They greet me with their sweet little "maaa-aaaaaa!" every time I go to the barn and run up to the front of their stall looking for their bottle.  They are about 4 weeks old now and have to have a bottle 3 times a day for a couple more weeks.  We all had great fun feeding them the first few days, and it's still fun once you get down there- it's the getting down there that is a bit of a bother!  With all the other animals being so low maintenance it has taken some getting used to.

Speaking of the other animals, Penny and Millie, our 2 Oberhasli dairy goats, are in their final month of pregnancy- yay!!!  I am so excited, and more than a little nervous about the births.  I don't know nothin' 'bout birthin' no babies, to quote Butterfly McQueen :)  But this will be the best way to learn I suppose.  Crystal, if you are reading this, HELP!  I have done a lot of reading and I have 1 emergency phone number for someone who might be able to talk me through any problems, but I just feel so unprepared for this.  I'm so afraid something will happen to the moms- I have grown quite attached to them and would be so sad to lose either of them.  If any of you goat folks have some advice for a newbie goat midwife, please comment!!

And speaking of comments, I know I said I was taking them off my blog, but so far I don't see a need for it.  So I'll leave them up for now- I do so enjoy reading everyone's comments.  I just need to find time to go around and read and comment on everyone else's!

And speaking of pigs (I know, we weren't, but I couldn't think of a clever way to fit them in), we also got 2 pigs last Sunday.  Boy oh boy is my barn a busy place!!  They are so cute but so stinky!!  You just never get used to that smell, do you?

I have a bunch of pictures to post but am waiting for my husband to install my camera software, so that will have to be another day.  Until then, happy homesteading!

Lambs are so fun

Posted by spinninggrandma on 2006-Mar-9 at 10:59 - Link

Work, yes, but fun! We only had two, but I can imagine the work for 4. Have you considered a self-feeder? Norm made one for ours ... a frame to hold a bottle at an angle. A larger bottle than a baby bottle. We found a fruit juice jug would hold the nipple. Or you can use large pop bottles for them .. depending on the size of the nipple. The milk only needs to be room temperature. The lambs were trained to the feeder. If you have 4 lambs, you can have a couple of feeders and then hand feed two. Makes it a little easier, I would think.

Good luck!

Oh, pigs .... if your pen is large enough, they will poop in one corner and if you don't keep the pen too wet, it won't smell as bad!

Welcome Back!

Posted by CircleZ on 2006-Mar-9 at 11:11 - Link

I missed you, Leah Peah. Have fun with those lambs! They'll be weaned before you know it! :-)

Amey

how sweet

Posted by Cathy on 2006-Mar-9 at 12:12 - Link

Oh Leah,
Those baby lambs sound so precious.
I hope your kiddos get to feeling better soon. So good having you back on the "Homestead"...we all missed you.
Have a blessed day my friend,
Cathy

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Posted by 4lilblessings on 2006-Mar-9 at 01:57 - Link

Oh Leah!
I have so missed your entries, they always make me laugh, you have quite the way with words my dear! I am so happy to see you with all your animals, just too cute!

Lisa

Little Bo Leah!!!!

Posted by Anonymous on 2006-Mar-9 at 08:12 - Link

I am soooo glad you are not taking your comments off - I need to be able to communicate!!!!!
I played hookie from work today and baked 14 yes, sister, you read that right, 14 loaves of bread and made granola!!!
I have to find some way to be able to make a living from home - I could get so much done!!!
Love ya to pieces!!!
Donna

Welcome Back

Posted by casondrak on 2006-Mar-10 at 08:47 - Link

Hey Leah,
Its so great to have you back. We missed you alot. Oh it sounds like your farm is growing by leaps and bounds. Good Luck.

Casondra

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Posted by Anonymous on 2006-Mar-13 at 03:30 - Link

Great picture, Leah, you all (lambs as well :-)) look very nice. I've missed you! Love reading your blog and your posts at the Homestead.

blessings, Ellen

goats!!!

Posted by goatgirl24 on 2006-Mar-16 at 03:58 - Link

um... I cant tell you what to do{I'm 11} but I have a book called Barnyard in your backyard, and have read the goat section all the way through about 5 times,{I'm a goat freak if you didn't notice.} and they have A LOT of information about what to do if you have problems kidding, kid care, ect. so you could look for it at your library or whatever. good luck, Erin ps. you're so lucky! new babies!