I'm seeing spots everywhere

Gypsy had her lambs at around 4am this morning when I was out feeding Celebration. 1 ram and 1 ewe, and wow their fleeces are stunning. Sonny (Painted Knoll Suncook) is their sire. Here's RF Xavier who weighed in at a very leggy 6 1/2lbs .

And his sister RF Cinnamon who weighed in at 6lbs on the dot.

Mother and babies are doing great.

Jewel is being a wonderful mother to Crystal who is very friendly and curious (and tall).

And the terrible twins Xeno and Chloe are taking an interest in Celebration (who is doing very well). They want to know when she can join the lamb races.

Now I need to nap lol. Oh and the chicks have decided they can fly! I need to get pictures of them as they grow up so fast.

Lambs born and help needed!

Well Nancy was right and Jewel had her lambs this morning. Twin HST girls' with plenty of flash. The only issue being that she has completely rejected the youngest and violently butts her away. We tried tying her up short so the little one would feed but she would just lie down on her. So we have taken her in and started bottle feeding her.

Here's where the help is needed. I've only bottle fed once, a few years ago, and can't remember much. How much and how often should I feed? I have dried colostrum that I am feeding now and will have milk replacer by the end of the day.

Anyway here is RF Celebration in her lamb warmer. Who could reject this face? She weighed in at 7 1/2lbs.

And RF Crystal who weighed in just over 7lbs and is doing very well with her momma.

Who's first? You tell me

Because I thought Jewel would be first but Amelia has beaten her already. So feel free to guess who's first, when and what they will have :) So here's some backside views. 

Jewel. Well the important bits anyway lol.

Sabrina.

And Gypsy.

In other news I opened up part of the middle pasture and now the boys and non-pregnant ewes are enjoying the grass. This is Ian (my son) and my incredibly wonderful mellow ram Dreamer enjoying the sunshine, I swear he's smiling.

And getting belly rubs from Fiona (my daughter).

And Sunny just because he's super handsome too.

Still no more lambs at Ridgeway Farm but hopefully not long to go. How many will there be? I've no idea.

Outside time, and oh my is that a blimp?

It was a nice sunny day today so after work and my riding lesson I could let the lambs out for their first time when I got home.

The other 3 ewes ignored Amelia and the babies who stuck pretty close to their mamma.

I think Chloe could almost smile for the camera.

After finally looking away from the babies I notice exactly how large the other ewes have become. I swear Jewel's milk looks ready to explode, she reminds me of the Hindenburg disaster.

Gypsy is looking big for a first timer.

And Sabrina is quickly catching up.

Hopefully this means someone will lamb soon....or I will have to start renting out advertising space on their bellies and letting them film sports events :)

They're like popcorn

Today Amelia and her lambs moved out of the jug and into the stable. I don't think Chloe or Xeno stopped bouncing the whole time I was there unless they were drinking.

Here's the best picture I could get of Chloe so far. She was 5lbs at birth which is small in my mind but full of energy now. Here she is bouncing as her mother looks on. Obviously future sheep gymnastic star.

And here's Xeno sporting the latest fashion accessory, soon all of this years lambs will  be wearing them. He weighed a very respectable 5 and 3/4lbs and is very cute despite his unfortunate name (all of this years rams have to start with an X). 

Here they are getting ready for take off and mid-bounce. Their poor momma has her hands (or hooves) full with these two but is doing great.

The other sheep are so far not following Amelia's fine example. But they are getting very large. I expect twins out of Sabrina and Jewel but maybe only a large single out of Gypsy as it is her first year. Hermione is a few months behind (baaaad girl) and not due until the middle of May. 

All of the chicks are doing well. The cats and dogs are interested in the brooder - which is a baby play pen - but at least listen when we tell them to leave the chicks alone. Watching chicks is almost better than TV. 

Hopefully more lambs will grace this blog soon. Until then have a great day.

The chicks arrived!

Well after yesterdays surprise lambs my day old baby chicks arrived today. I ordered from My Pet chicken as you could have a smaller order and they put in heat packs instead of packing peanut roos. Oh and they sex bantams.

So I ordered 2 Buff chateclers but only 1 arrived.

1 buff brahma bantam who is very tired from the trip.

1 buff orpington caught mid-poop.

3 Easter eggers, but only 2 arrived.

And 3 silkie bantams of various colors. They should be black, buff and blue but the blue looks more white. They are tiny compared to the Buff Orpington.

Right now my coop is being finished and looking very nice. The chicks have all eaten, had some water and taken a poop. I'm a little disappointed that 2 chicks didn't arrive but at least so far everyone is healthy and the ones that arrived will have more room in the coop.

Xeno and Chloe are doing very well and hopefully the weather will get warmer and drier so they can go outside and I can get some good pictures. They are both so cute. That's all for today unless more surprises greet me later :)

Amelia's lambs

Well this was a very pleasant shock. I went out to the barn to bring the sheep in from the rain and found two little lambs just born. If I was a betting woman I would have lost money because I thought Jewel would be first.

Instead let me introduce RF Chloe. 

And RF Xeno.

Both babies and momma are doing well. Both are black for now but could be any shade of grey. They are out of Amelia who is light grey and Dream Weaver who is black. They should both carry spots although the markings will most likely fade. Hopefully I'll be able to get better pictures in a few days, and maybe the other ewes will feel inspired now to lamb lol. Oh and if that's not enough excitement chicks are due tomorrow or Wednesday and my coop is almost finished. Things are looking up at Ridgeway Farm!