Saturday, April 11, 2009

Orphan HST ewes, oh my.

We helped Kim and Bob at Kimberwood with their shearing all day today. We workers were looking forward to hot baths, had changed out of filthy barn clothes, and then I checked the phone messages. Our neighbors, the ones who are new at raising Shetlands, had left a distress message on our answering machine telling us a ewe had died after lambing, as well as one lamb, and the caller feared for the second.

To make a long story short, guess who's living in our laundry room?

It was true, the ewe did die, a sad shame. Probably a retained placenta. But both lambs were alive and lively, and apparently a few days old. I guess one lamb was sleeping when they gave it up as dead. The other wasn't drinking, but soon came around to the bottle. Spotted moorit and musket ewe lambs. We offered to care for the lambs as our neighbors didn't think they could do it, so they told us they'd be ours if we would.
We fed them little bottles of milk replacer, gave them CDT shots and settled them into our laundry area for the night. I hope they make it, and that we don't go crazy taking care of them.

Tomorrow's Easter! We'll bring lambs to my folks for the afternoon in the city!

8 comments:

Nancy K. said...

How sad that the poor ewe died! And she left such beautiful babies! It sounds like you'll have a very fun and Special Easter this year!

Angela Rountree said...

Oh, dear! I hope the babies make it, looks like they could be beautiful ewes.

Rayna said...

Awww Muskets! i want them! lol. Good luck with your babies, they look lively and healthy now :) I love bottle babies :)

Becky Utecht said...

Oh my what a turn of events! Sorry to hear about the poor ewe. I hope the new babies do fine. I'm sure everyone will enjoy the baby lambs for Easter in the city.

Terri D. said...

What pretty girls! And I mean your lovely daughter, also! She is growing up! It is too bad about the ewe though.

Gail V said...

What a surprise Easter story that was. We had a lot of fun with lambies in my mom's suburban, fenced back yard. The lambies are drinking well and we take them outside to water the grass-- my nephew's new baby surrendered some tiny diapers to use in case we want to let them wander indoors.
I'll like them out in a barn as soon as we can, though. . . they don't potty train! Feeding every 4 hours now, Tuesday it goes to 6 hour intervals.

Claire MW said...

Very sad about the ewe, but my envy knows no bounds on your having bottle lambs in your laundry room. That would be such fun!

Juliann said...

This was so kind of you to take them on. Bottle lambs are such a committment. They are beautiful lambs! Very sad about the ewe.