More Lambs

Posted on March 3, 2026 by Robin

As the title indicates, I have already written one blog post about lambing. That described that lambing began on February 22. That’s nine days ago now, and a lot has happened. I started this post yesterday and it’s already outdated. However, I’m going to go with it because these photos are already loaded. Just play along and pretend it’s Monday. I was sharing photos in reverse order. Now I just need to add the text.

This is how I keep track of all the details. The numbers are the lamb ID, each with a 26 in front. Red ones are ewe lambs and blue are ram lambs. The next column is birth weight. The X _ indicates the sire: Hornblower, Clancy (BFL), Elvis, and Hunter.

The last one on the board is Rose with twins. I usually try to have them in the lambing pen area when they are in labor but I missed this one.

Pecan was just before Rose with twins.

Newborn Jacob sheep triplets and the four horn ewe is licking one.

Tranquility lambed the night before with triplets.

Four horn Jacob ewe standing by the wall

This is how Tranquility looked earlier in the day. When a ewe gets that sunken look in front of the hips that is a sign that the lambing is imminent. Maybe imminent isn’t the right word because I put her in the lambing area earlier in the day and she didn’t deliver until about 10:30 p.m.

Woman carrying lamb in the pasture with the ewe following.

Julia is a yearling who lambed in the pasture. One of the Farm Club members who was here brought her lamb to the barn, carrying it low so the ewe would follow.

Sandy had lambed earlier in the morning with triplets. I set up panels to separate Sandy from Eilwen (next photo). This is like having hospital beds in the hall. The lambing pens were full and I already had overflow pens in the alley of the barn.

Eilwen with triplets around 2 a.m.

At night the chickens roost on the wall behind the lambing pens.

This is Carlotta from the previous day. She is a Romney/Lincoln/Corriedale cross. The lamb’s sire is Clancy, the BFL.

It’s Lambing Season

Posted on February 27, 2026 by Robin

Lambing began Sunday night. The first ewe to lamb had twins, up and nursing when I got to the barn. That is how it is supposed to be. The second was a different story, but maybe that will be a post later. After that it has seemed slow, until yesterday.

This is the first ewe who lambed yesterday, Bideawee Billie Jo.

Jacob ewe in straw with two newborn lambs.

Twins.

Nothing in the middle of the day but in late afternoon, Beauty started. She ended up with twins, but it took awhile for the second and there was another ewe lambing in between.

Large black ewe in green pasture, showing huge belly and udder.

Addy is a Jacob-BFL (Bleufaced Leicester) cross. This photo was taken four days ago.

This is not a post-lambing photo. It was taken about three hours before she had the first lamb. Those sunken sides are a sign that the lambs have “dropped” and we’re getting ready for lambing.

Just after Beauty had her first lamb I looked over the fence and saw that Addy had one lamb. It’s not visible in this photo because it’s behind her. It’s black. Jacob sheep are colored sheep with a spotting pattern. When you breed them to most other breeds you get black lambs because the sire doesn’t have that spotting pattern. Addy is a crossbred, bred to another BFL. So genetics are interesting.

Black lamb with a white feather on its head.

Here’s the first lamb adorned with a white feather that looks like a spot.

Big black ewe lying down with newborn lambs, two black and one white.

But there is more! Ultrasound showed twins. I thought that maybe there was another and, sure enough, there was. This one was born hind feet first.

Black ewe lying in straw with four newborn lambs.

But wait! There’s more! Another hind-feet first delivery. These lambs total 32 pounds!

After I’d made sure that all those lambs had nursed I checked in back before I went to the house for dinner with guests. These two I thought required checking again later. This is part of the pen where I used to keep another ram. I have opened this area to the ewes because I have too many sheep for the barn space. Now it’s another space I need to check.

I did not take photos of these ewes and lambs other than this one that shows why sometimes those ram lambs aren’t delivered quite as easily as the ewe lambs. They end up OK but the ewe may have to do a little more work to deliver one with horn buds like this. Those two ewes had a set of twins each and now I have the lambing pens full and one in overflow pens in the barn alley.

A Farm Club member took a screenshot of her view of my barn camera. I knew I had to spend some time at the computer and figured I’d do it in the barn while waiting for lambs. These are all twins except for Addy at the top corner. It was not a cold day but the bugs were bugging me; therefore, the hood.

Stay tuned for more…if I have time.

Lambs! Now we Wait

Posted on February 1, 2026 by Robin

Two rams got in with the ewes on September 1. One ewe was cycling and was bred (as confirmed by the vets on ultrasound day. We knew that she would lamb in the week between Shearing Day and the Farm Club Retreat. I went to the barn the morning that we were going to leave and found lambs!

Lambs up and nursing, just the way I like to find them! Good job Hailee!

acobI brought the lambs and ewe to the barn. The ewe lamb weighed 8.3 pounds and the ram weighed 11.2 pounds. Dan was happy because he didn’t have to be on lamb watch while I was gone.

After I brought the ewe and lambs in went out to move the fence and let the sheep into a new paddock.

Even though the sun was up, the fog started to roll in again.

First daffodil, brightening up the gloom of fog!

I was gone from Friday through Sunday. I took this photo Sunday evening. The next lambs aren’t due for three weeks.

Lambing Season is between Winter and Spring

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Robin

I’ve talked about this before–the seasons. Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, and Lambing–right there between Winter and Spring. It’s a busy time. I wrote one blog post at the start and the one about Sparky two weeks into the season. It was an intense two weeks and now things have slowed down considerably. I’m waiting for three ewes to lamb by the end of the month.

March 9 three ewes had twins and one had triplets. This is Janna with triplets and Sandie and Beauty with twins.

The next day Juniper lambed with twins.

It was beginning to feel like the next new season–spring!

Janna and lambs moved into a stall a couple after lambing. This gives the ewes and lambs more space to move around, but it’s easy to keep an eye on them for a few days before they go out with the other sheep. That’s Farm Club member, Lisa, holding the lamb.

More signs of spring.

Flannel Bush is one of my favorites.

Cindy lambed two days after Juniper.

A cloudy sunset.

The rooster and one hen roost every night on this panel between the hay and the lambs.

Jazzie lambed that night with twins, lambs #22 and 23.

Amara seemed the most likely to lamb next and she went into the lambing area. That leads up to the post about Sparky.

Triple Trouble

Posted on February 27, 2024 by Robin

I wrote last time about Seeing Triple and all the triplets that have been born. Eilwen was the last one in that post, but early the next morning Honey had her lambs–more triplets.

When I went to the barn I saw the moon setting in the west…

…and the sun rising in the east.

Here is what I saw in the barn. I had put Honey in the night before because she was desperately trying to claim the lambs of the ewe that had just lambed when I was at the barn around midnight. Now she had her own brood. This is the sixth set of triplets. That’s too many, especially for this ewe who had mastitis last year. I thought it had been resolved enough for her to have lambs again. I was wrong.

The lambs had figured out that they were getting milk from only one side. A ewe can nurse a single lamb one one side, and maybe twins, but it’s asking way too much to raise triplets that way. Its important for the lambs to get colostrum during the first day, so I made sure that they all took turns nursing through the day, but I started to supplement that night.

Jannie lambed later that day with twins.

This is Coco with 10-day old twins. Yesterday I found Coco less responsive than normal. She is not one of the tame sheep and she wouldn’t get up when I wanted her to move. The lambs were trying to nurse while she was lying down. I discussed symptoms with one of the vets at the VMTH (UCDavis Vet Hospital).

No fever and, in fact, lower than normal body temperature, her behavior, and the yellow cast to the sclera led her to think copper toxicity. I have dealt with copper toxicity in the past but not for several years.

I took Coco to the VMTH as soon as I could. This story does not have a happy ending, but this is real life. Coco was euthanized. I know she looks like a normal sheep in this photo, but believe me, her body was shutting down. There is a lot more I could tell you about this — details about copper toxicity in sheep, decisions one has to make about animals whether they are considered livestock or pets, and more. That is what Farm Club is all about. Farm Club members get the behind-the-scenes stories in much more detail than works (or is appropriate for) a blog post. They have had daily updates from the beginning of lambing and have been invited out here to participate as well.

This was the bucket I took to the barn this morning. Two bottles for Coco’s lambs and two bottles for Honey’s lambs. As of the noon feeding I added a fifth bottle. I’ll be feeding four times/day for a couple of weeks I think.

Those are Coco’s lambs on the right. I took two of Honey’s lambs out of her pen this morning. The fact that she didn’t care means she doesn’t feel well. I left one with her but will supplement him.

On the positive side, Jazzie lambed this morning.

The lambing board so far.

Seeing Triple

Posted on February 25, 2024 by Robin

Janna had the first set of triplets this year. That was February 9.

Next was Sonata on February 17. Unfortunately the third one died after birth. I thought she was finished with lambs after two. When I came back the third was there with membranes on its face. It may have been that Sonata didn’t even know she’d had another lamb while she was dealing with the first two.

Later that same day Juniper had triplets.

The following day, February 18, Jade had triplets. By this point lambing was intense. These pens were “overflow” in the alley of the barn. I think that Jade had been in labor since the morning–or at least the early stages–with no progress. In the meantime Quartz, Jade’s daughter in the pen next to her, lambed with her first. I decided to palpate Jade and find out what as going on. I found back legs with one bent at the hock. That lamb was blocking the progress of the others. I pulled that lamb and then a second. I found a third, but couldn’t quite figure out the right orientation and it was in pretty far. I left her alone to see if she would deliver that lamb on her own. Eventually I reached back in and pulled it. That was a difficult pull and I wasn’t sure if I had injured the lamb. It sure took a long time to get going. It eventually came around and now you can tell any difference in it although that night I wasn’t very hopeful. I milked colostrum from the three recent ewes and tube fed the lamb, feeding it three times by the end of the night.

Quartz was having her second lamb, but before she delivered I checked her udder as I always do. One half was hard and I sort of remembered a mastitis issue. There is scar tissue in the udder and the teat is not functional. A ewe could raise two lambs on one side of the udder but it is certainly not ideal. I was also worried about her developing a fresh case of mastitis.

Jasmine was lambing at the same time and the ultrasound had indicated a single lamb.I made the decision to give her one of Quartz’s lambs. The Quartz lamb was already up and had nursed, but was still under an hour old. I made sure that she was “slimed” by the lamb Jasmine had just delivered so that they both smelled the same and needed cleaning. It worked and Jasmine had no problem thinking that both were hers.

Then Jasmine lay down and had a second lamb, or is it a third? In any case, Jasmine is now nursing three lambs.

Jasmine in a stall with her brood a few days later.

Tonight there were more triplets. Eilwen had the first out in the drylot. I had suspected triplets because she was so huge, even though the ultrasound had shown two. This lamb was only 4.6 pounds compared to the average of about 7. That was the first confirmation that I was correct.

Lamb #2.

And a third.

Jade’s lambs look much nicer when all cleaned off.

Today on the Farm – February 16

Posted on February 17, 2024 by Robin

Sunrise while I was in the pasture.

This is the opposite view. It looks as though there is a lot of grass but we have to be strategic about grazing right now. The ground is wet and I don’t want to cause compaction. And much of the pasture is not fresh grass, but still-dormant dallisgrass with only a little annual grass growing through. The bulk of the green grass right now is annual, not perennial. There are clovers in here too and we want to maximize their vigor by not overgrazing them.

We first set the net fence up along the lane so the sheep could graze that down before it became so tall all they would do is trample it. The grazed part is where I had the sheep yesterday using a short bit of net fence. This morning I switched to a longer section of net fence and gave them a bit more of the grass.

Ginny came to the barn eventually with a ball. Whose ball is this? Chicken or dog?

Trista was in last night because I thought she was next to lamb. I was right, but she sure took her time with it. It was a long time before this labor became anything that was visible.

Back at the Weaving House, one of the things on the list was to photograph the latest v-shawls to promote the class that I will teach at CNCH in April. There is still room!

On my many trips back and forth between the barn and the house I always admire my daffodils.

It was about 1 p.m. that Trista finally lambed. It took another hour before she had the seccond lamb. Look at the horns on this ram!

Back at the Weaving House. Jacob shawls are on the loom now. I hope to finish these tomorrow.

We have seen a skunk twice in the last week around the shop. It seems to be living under the shop. Ginny has confronted it. I There is a distinct “eau de skunk” in the air, even in the shop. There are many reasons why it’s not a good idea to have a skunk around. Fortunately it was not under the shop tonight we we could deal with it.

Back to the barn. This is Coco with the first of twins.

Jade came in tonight because…well, because she is Jade. She doesn’t look particularly ready but she sure looks as though she should be. She was due yesterday I think.

More Watching and Waiting…Who’s Next?

Posted on February 15, 2024 by Robin

I’ll start with pretty lamb pictures and then move on to sheep rears. She last night’s post for an explanation of that.

I just let the ewes and lambs onto green grass.

Janna and triplets born about a week ago.

These are in order of how they exported onto my list. This is Coco, due 2-17. Farm Club members have the list of due dates. These are mostly based on my observations during breeding season and then confirmed (sort of) by ultrasounds in late November.

Oh boy! I just learned how to put two photos side by side here. This is Pecan from front and rear. She is due 2/20.

Sandie doesn’t count for the contest. Notice what’s behind her. But it does show what I mean when I talk about the lambs dropping and leaving a sunken area in front of the hips. Compare her to her sister, Pecan in the photos above. She has lambed between me taking these photos this morning and getting to the house to do this post.

Quartz is due 2/17.

Anise was due 2/14.

Eilwen is due 2/27.

Hallie on the left, due 2/22, and Lavender on the right, due 2/20.

Jade from the side and rear. She is due tomorrow, 2/16.

Trista is due 2/17.

There are plenty of others that I could photograph but these are the sheep that posed properly for photos.

Today on the Farm

Posted on February 13, 2024 by Robin

I caught the sunrise this morning.

I put this ewe, Sweetgrass Tranquility, in the lambing area the last two nights thinking that she was ready to lamb. Notice the sunken sides. She looked like that yesterday too. This was her official due date based on breeding date. There was still no action.

I did chores and moved ewes and lambs around. This is Meridian Janna with triplets. They moved from the stall where they’d been a few days to the big outdoors. I went to the house to do some computer work. When I came back out Tranquility was straining some, but there was still none of the other obvious signs I expect (mucous, drainage). I gloved up and found a lamb close to being born, but stuck. This could be a long story but I’ll just explain that the lamb was dead and was blocking the exit for the other lambs. When a lamb is dead it is floppy and the legs and head don’t stay in the position necessary for easy lambing.

I pushed that lamb back to where I was able to grab its legs and head and pulled it out. Then I was able to find and pull two live lambs. The meconium staining indicates that the lambs were stressed during the process, but all is well. These lambs were normal size (7+ pounds). I think the first one died at least a few days ago. I have a photo but didn’t think this was the place to share it.

Here are those two lambs up and looking for something to eat.

Lambing isn’t always a pretty sight.

I spent a couple of hours still in the barn working on fleeces. I have a lot of fleeces to skirt and photograph for sale. I will get some on the website tomorrow.

I took this photo earlier in the morning, before Tranquility lambed. This is the BFL X Jacob ewe, Addy. Those BFLs put on much more weight than the Jacobs with the same feeding regimen–she is a tad heavy and has looked round for days. Later in the day I went out and thought that the lamb(s) had dropped. Her sides were more sunken and I figured that I would put her in the lambing area tonight.

When I went back to the barn about 5:00 I found her with a lamb that was 12.4 pounds! Maybe the vet that reviewed the ultrasound and gave a 1+ result was right and there was only one. (1+ means they confirmed one but didn’t rule out a second.)

When I went back to the barn two hours later here is what I found. This is a 9.6 pound lamb and had already nursed. I wonder if I’ll be surprised when I go back out as soon as I finish this post.

Here is the lambing list so far. We’re off to a much slower start than previous years, but it’s been easier that way. There are a lot more due before the end of the month.

I don’t think it’s spring yet, but it felt like it today when the sun was out!

If you want to see lambing videos check out my YouTube channel. This is Bessie lambing with twins and here is Cashew with twins. These are about 6 minute videos.

Surprise Lamb!

Posted on January 26, 2024 by Robin

I was expecting the first lambs in about two weeks so it was a surprise when I saw a ewe who looked as though she was in labor tonight. I put her in a lambing pen and the more I watched the more I knew that she would lamb. I was a bit worried though because lambs can be considered premature and at risk if they are born even ten days before their due date. I put most ewes with rams on September 16 which makes first lambs due February 11. There were two ewes with a ram 6 days earlier which gives us a lambing date of February 5.

All is OK. I went to the house for dinner and pulled up the barn camera feed on my phone.The ewe was definitely in labor. By the time I went back to the barn the lamb was mostly out. The ewe was standing. One more push and the lamb was out.

This is a single ewe lamb out of a 7-year-old ewe, Meridian Dilly.

She was on her feet in about 20 minutes…

…and nursing within a half hour.

So how did we get such a vigorous healthy lamb that much sooner than expected? I sent an email to Farm Club to announce the lamb. One of the members reminded me of an email I had sent in early September in which I said three ram lambs had gone through the fence to where the ewes were. That timing makes sense. One of those is the sire.

Meridian Jacobs' Blog

Life on the farm and at the loom.

Tag Archives: lambing