Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Black Lambs


We've had a run of black lambs being born the past couple days. They are so sweet, not that the white ones aren't - they just look a little different and stand out from the crowd. Most of the black lambs are from black mamas. When we first started our flock 30 years ago, I was into spinning wool and wanted some black fiber. We picked up a little black ram lamb at the livestock auction and named him Sebastian. Then a few years back, we had a black Dorper Ram. That is where the black genes come in. 


We had a snowy day Monday and it is supposed to be messy Tuesday too. Yuck. At least when it is really cold, the ground stays frozen and we don't have to wade around in mud. The Farmer calls it "poor man's cement" and it is so true. I prefer frozen and cold to muddy muck. By the end of the week, it is supposed to be 50 so we will be back to the mud. Best I get photos of lambs before that happens. At least with the black lambs, the mud doesn't show.


I can't believe how fast the lambs grow. After about 3 days, their newborn looks start to change. After 2 weeks, their tails have fallen off.  They start filling out and looking like sheep. They become very athletic.


Someone asked the other day how many lambs we expect. We have about 210 ewes so we are hoping for over 300 lambs. We're at 123 right now so we have a ways to go. There are 5 bottle lambs which means extra work mixing milk, bottle-feeding them. I hope we don't have too many more. 


It's getting a bit crazy at the barns with all the little babies. And the lamb races have started. Maybe I can get a video of it for you all. They are such enthusiastic little animals - running, jumping, flying through the air.

9 comments:

Cherie in EP CO said...

Perfectly wonderful, perfectly busy time. :-)

Kate (KnitsInClass) said...

I love seeing all the lamb pictures - they are too darling! Best wishes to you, your family, and all the mamas and babies getting through the lambing season.

Chantelle said...

Ok, that little black lamb dusted with snow is about the sweetest thing I've seen in a very long time:)

Manise said...

Cute! I love black lambs and the pronging when it starts is darling to watch. Such fun sees lambs reaching skyward to catch some air.

Cathy said...

How can it be?? Each round of pictures are cuter than the ones before!! Thanks again for bringing smiles to our faces.

Loretta said...

Kristin, I just love all your lamb pictures. Every single one of them is so adorable! I hope you are able to get a movie of the lamb races again. My husband and I watched the one from last year over and over last year, laughing every time. It was a treat. Thank you and the Farmer for sharing your farm with us.

christine- kiwistwo said...

Thank you as always for the beautiful photos -they really make my day I feel for you with the mud.
love also that you have a barn and hay for the babies -you care and it shows

Sheep Farm adventures of a Shepherdess said...

It is so the other side of the coin here. We have for many years raised Hampshire and Suffolk sheep. So lambs were always completely black when they were born. Turning white at an older age with black faces and legs. But this year we have 12 Dorset ewes all expecting in February. Half breed to a Hampshire Ram the other half to a Dorset Ram. We can't wait to see the all white baby lambs or the freckled cross breeds. All lambs no matter the color are just cute. I'll try and post picture come on over and take a look. Thank you for sharing yours.

Adaliza said...

Such beautiful lambs - 5 in the kitchen, that's a real handful. I remember my farmer's kitchen, with lambs by the rayburn - they used to follow me around as I fed them - Sian used to come running out of the flock to me when she was full grown - happy memories. Our snow has gone and it's very wet over here at the moment.

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