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BIRTH OF OUR LAMBS
In early April the ewes have a choice when it comes to having their lambs.
Bluebell chose to have hers in the field. You can see one of them just getting
to its feet for the first time. Puzzle is an old hand and chose to have hers in
the lambing ark. Faye had hers in the field this year. Notice the electric fence
in the background separating the field from the woods. Last year Faye had her
twins in a steep area of the woodland watched by a fox. While Faye was having
her second lamb the fox grabbed the first one. Then after the second birth, when
Faye went looking for the first lamb, the fox dived in for the second. Faye was
a heartbreaking sight as she spent weeks looking for her lost lambs, so I
learned my lesson and the ewes are now banned from all but a small safe area of
woodland during lambing.
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Shetlands rarely have birthing problems. Unlike many commercial
sheep they are not used for breeding until they are fully mature. As a primitive
breed it has not been selectively bred, like most commercials, to have large and
quick growing lambs. However just occasionally they do need help, as Primrose
did here. This was her first lamb, he was a whopper, and his legs were wrongly
positioned for the birth. As you can see between us we managed in the end and
here she taking a rest while bonding and licking off the membrane.
Leah has Twins.
It is happening in
the lambing ark because It was necessary to reposition the lamb's legs before
birth. First Leah shows the classic sign of a sheep having a contraction. She
turns to meet her new lamb and licks him clean. Then it all starts again! 
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The first lamb looks on as the contractions start again. Soon the
second lamb is born, Leah cleans him up, and they stand together for their first
family photo. Meanwhile out in the field Rose was having Leah's grandchildren!
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Here they all are the next day. Rose relaxes with her twins, and
Leah gets cosy with hers.
Zorro had Zippy and Charlotte in the field on a cold
windy day, and quickly introduced them to the comfort of the lambing ark. Three
months later Zorro has been shorn and the lambs have grown as you can see. See
the main OUR SHEEP
page for Zippy's halter training.
Here are Hilary's lambs newly born and then two months old.
Notice I have started to roo Hilary, taking the fine wool from the neck and
shoulders first. It is removed just a section at a time so as not to upset her
while she is still feeding the lambs. One month later, as the days get hotter,
you can see she is fully roo'd and feels much more comfortable without her
winter coat.
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