Pansy, Petunia and Pepper(mint)
All three of Prissy’s lambs seem to be doing great, though we’ve moved the family to a small pen of their own to make sure we can keep an eye on them until we know for certain nursing is established and that Prissy’s able to feed all three. These lovely first lambs of the spring have been christened in celebration of what’s started as a beautiful growing season.
Pansy re-united with mom after a brief warm-up in the house.
Long-legged Petunia.
Pepper is twice the width and weight of his sisters.
The only sad note in this happy story is that we decided to lock out June, the volunteer mother who helped Prissy clean the babies off this morning. Though she was a very important force in getting the lambs off to a good start, we don’t want any to bond to her because she shouldn’t be nursing them. If she’s pregnant, her lambs will need the milk. And if she’s not, I don’t think she can make any. I was worried she’d be distraught when we locked the babies in with Prissy and she couldn’t get to them, but she gave up calling for them after about 20 minutes. Not too bad. Sigh…
In the meantime, peace has settled over the barn. Prissy lays quietly with her sleeping family, roused only when the week-old dwarf goats sneak out of their neighboring pen into hers. A thunderstorm and heavy rain has started, so the rest of the sheep and goats have come crowding into the barn. That will make for an interesting afternoon should Polly, who is still very much on deck, decide to squeeze her lambs out in the midst of the flock.
