Down Mulberry Lane

Lamb struggles...

Just sending out word that this cold weather is hard on our unexpected lamb crop (that came from a jumping ram last summer/fall).   We've already had one freeze to death last night.  And today two more ewes were born with momma having no milk at all... It is 17 degrees out, but blowing snow and a high wind makes windchills 3 below zero and the temp will drop tonight even more to near zero, so the windchill will be even colder.  This is hard on the new babies.  We've got all the sheep in the barn in case we have any more mommas lamb in this nasty weather.  We'd sure love it if you can say a prayer for the little lambs... the older ones will be fine... but the two with no momma milk on cold days... that just is hard... we're trying to get some milk from the ewe who's lamb died last night for them... but that is a struggle... they aren't used to being milked and usually do not like other lambs nursing off them.  But we do what we have to do. 

The weather doesn't sound like it will break for quite a few days... That means alot of cold trips out to the barn to keep the water fresh for the ewe that we pen up that has milk. 

We just feel so bad for the new momma without milk.  If we end up feeding the lambs by bottle, then they will still stay with mom and nurse on mom like a pacifier... but if we have to take them away from her... that is always sad to us.  We had bought this lot of sheep from someone selling out and we knew we got some culls as we saw a few lumpy bags and we knew this was going to happen... but still!!!  UGH!  The girls like bottle lambing, so we didn't mind the bad bags on the few... just didn't plan on lambing the middle of January we had planned on lambing in March when the weather would be nicer. 

For those that wonder why we would have bought culled sheep... well, dh is very good at building flocks... meaning, he likes the challenge of increasing good traits to the new lambs.  We got the sheep at a very good price to make the challenge more agreeable.   These sheep "look" nice... nice long bodies, thick front legs, etc... but it appears their milking may need some enhancing... or maybe the culls were caused by poor sheep husbandry, leaving lambs on too long to cause damage to momma's udder... who knows... but there is room for improvement and I guess that is our challenge for this new flock. 

Thanks for your prayers,  Warmly, ~Melissa

Untitled Comment

4:35 PM, January 29, 2007 .. Posted by BlueApple

Awww poor babies! Praying that you don't lose anymore. Sure wish the weather would warm up a bit for you too!
J