Circle M Farm

Our boys are looking well and growing nicely, thanks to the excellent care of their experienced and attentive mother. They’ve required very little from me. Rocky took two days of supplemental bottle feeding before he got solid with suckling, and I had to bring Rambo into the garage once to wipe his butt.

Ewes clean up their lambs’ first few soft, messy eliminations by licking them off (which sounds gross until you look at the mothering habits of cats). But for some reason, Rambo’s poop was freezing faster than Karla was licking it off, so he was developing a bit of a traffic jam back there. I carried him inside for a thaw and a thorough cleaning. I also dressed the rams in little coats made of old sweatshirt sleeves, and for my peace of mind at night when the temperature dips below zero, I wired a heat lamp above the pen. But other than that, the family has been self-sufficiently thriving.

Snuggly Rocky cuddles up to his furry mom.

The growth of young lambs is nothing short of incredible, really. I was away from the farm for a few days, teaching woolcraft classes Dec. 29 through 31 at The Festival of Christmas and Midwinter Traditions hosted by Folklore Village, a nearby ethnic dance and folk art school. When I resumed chores here on the morning of the 1st, the lambs I saw appeared to be different ones than those I’d left. They were taller and stronger, with the bends gone from their legs. Busily licking up alfalfa leaves with their tiny tongues, then investigating grain in the feed trough, they’d suddenly jump inches in the air and run off to chase imaginary playmates. Today the twins turned a week old and tried a first taste of mineral salt, which caused them to leap in surprised convulsions, and slurped their first sips of water, front feet planted in the bowl.

Mostly what goes on in the barn now is a lot of quiet eating and nosy exploring.

The munching sound is Karla chewing and the duck sound is a duck. Quacking.

Well hello, Rambo!