Lobelia, a first time mother, gave birth yesterday to two strapping ram lambs. Their father, Notch, is also a first time parent. Notch is a moorit ram and his first born was also a moorit ram. The second is either black or may turn dark grey like his mother.
Both lambs are doing well. This morning their ears were tagged and tail's done. They also had their first coats put on - the sleeve of a men's medium sweatshirt with leg holes cut out. They are hunkered down in their stall with mom, a heat lamp, lots of straw and wind protection all around - which they need today! Winter in Iowa isn't letting up at all - even though we've had an occasional break of nice weather. Wind chills today are currently -3 degrees and the wind is rattling everything that can rattle - gusts up to 40 m.p.h.
We are so lucky to have the old hip-roof barn for our sheep. The various stalls we've been able to create offer each mother a10x20 foot space of their own, for lambing. The way the lambing is staggered to occur this year, it should work out well to rotate them through their lambing stall and gradually back into the regular flock population.
Next expected delivery - and hopefully today - is Lola. We will keep everyone posted.
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