Kids playing several silly games of Uno while the turkey cooked, and they ate their chocolate. It involved Tyler (with the beard) getting severely ribbed after bragging that he always wins... He discovered the power of 4. (the power of 4 siblings against one, that is). Tyler is Erin's boyfriend for those of you who are wondering. We like him. He's a very good sport!
After dinner we played a game of Cranium - the youngsters against the oldsters. (Dean, me and his parents were the oldsters). They creamed us, I have to say...
And isn't this perfect timing? Well, not totally... I had arranged to get my meat chicks and my laying chicks at the same time this year so I could be done by the beginning of summer holidays. The layers didn't arrive (2 weeks in a row!) but I still had to pick up these little roasters. Less than ideal because these little monsters will have a really big head start on the chicks arriving next week. They grow faster anyways and I might have to get two brooders going... But I have to admit, having chicks for Easter is pretty fun.
And then, right on cue... Brida went into labour last night. I awoke early this morning to see a little black head protruding from her rear. I was so scared. I thought it was dead. Kaetlyn had been checking on her every two hours all night and when she last checked at 5am, she didn't see anything. I woke up at 6:30. The head is supposed to present with two little hooves. I had to stick my arm in up to my elbow and find those two little hooves and help her out. I thought she was dead but I put my hand on her chest once she was out and there was a little heart beating away. A 10 lb black baby girl. Doing fine now. And before I could turn around there was another head at the opening and again with no hooves. I pulled out one hoof and he came sliding out a little 8 lb brown boy with huge horn buds.
Zeus behaved amazingly. All his natural insticts kicked in. He licked and licked and licked these babies right along with their mama. He chased the other sheep away. He cleaned up Brida. The brown one follows him around like he is his other mama.Isn't this the perfect shot? There they are. Twins. Their wool already so lustrous and curly. Right now Brida is eating some well deserved hay and grain, the lambs are sleeping and Zeus is laying nearby. I'm going to go and have a bath...
9 comments:
SO exciting!! good for you! it worked!! CONGRATULATIONS!
wow, neat! i don't know if i could have dug around for the hooves though..
You do what you have to do, you know? You don't even think about it at the time. I had no idea how long the head had been hanging out there - somewhere between 5 and 6:30. I was afraid it was dead and Brida would die if I didn't get it out as soon as possible. I think it had been awhile, she was much weaker at first than the second one.
Wow! Great shepherding Andrea! How exciting. Any names? Rosemary and Basil? or are these guys going to be part of the permanent flock?
oh Andrea - I am in tears. How amazingly wonderful! Did I tell you I am going to start with sheep too? I can't afford to build a barn this year, so I will build a shelter like yours and get some lambs - dorsets or east friesen - who will start off helping me establish some grassland areas on my little property, and then later when I have a barn I will breed them for milking. I am so nervous about being a sheep midwife, but your story encourages me - that instinct takes over and we do the right thing. Congratulations!!
Good work Andrea. Farm girl stuff is in your genes. You come from many generations of farmers. I'm proud of you.
It warmed me that Zues was the way he was. When you went in to have your bath it seemed that all was right in your little kingdom.
wow I can 't believe you had to dig around. yikes. how brave! They look so cute. I love little lambs.
Amazing...wow! Congratulations on your "twins"!
Sounds like a fun weekend with family too. :0)
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