The first of the spring lambs arrived tonight--triplets!
The Big Guy and Ryan knew they were on the way before supper. At our children's request we had a New York supper tonight--bread, cheese and fruit. While on vacation in New York City a few years ago, we enjoyed fabulous meals out and about, but only one a day. The other meal was simple fare in the flat we rented, gleaned from corner grocers nearby.
The Big Guy (tBG) checked on progress in the barn an hour later. Not yet.
Half an hour ago we went out to the barn and found the mama and babies, safe and sound.
TBG and Ryan transferred the babies from the back corner to a clean, dry stall, holding them close enough to the ground so the mama would follow her "prodigies" who moved at an incredible speed for newborns.
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| The Big Guy instructing Ryan--and to answer your silent question, the rag he grabbed was hot pink.... |
Once in the stall, TBG told her how to extract the wax plugs from the ewe's udder.
Then he told her they'd need "the bucket." "The bucket" has the tools and supplies we've found helpful over the years of delivering lambs. It's resupplied each winter and hung on a horseshoe that's been nailed near the jugs.
With scissors and iodine in hand, tBG and Ryan trimmed and dipped each lamb's umbilical cord.
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This little one got a little dirty. By morning he'll be clean and dry.
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After providing the ewe with fresh hay, water, and grain, Ryan checked on her two caged rabbits while three others hopped past our feet and down warm tunnels.
Hoover, the dog, is always happy to be of assistance. And, yes, do you see the newly-painted livestock trailer? If only I'd gotten pictures of tBG's indoor painting tent and apparel!
So, despite weather outside that's frightful, Spring has arrived at Pine Ridge Farm.
