Mama has a surprise for you: FOUR LIVE LAMBS!

You are going to love this. 

The photos are terrible. 

They were taken last night and Mama will not tolerate the flash.

These snapshots, taken within the hour of their birth, under the barn light,  show you really little. 

Except that there are four little lambs in fleecy coats milling about. That they had all had a drink from Mum.

But best of all it shows you that they are all alive and active.

The first lamb was born bottom first and was stuck, so he needed some help but after that they all came out smoothly and the right way around. I had been with Mama almost all yesterday working in and around the barn and waiting – every time I was out of her sight she would cry, she is a funny old thing.

Good morning. I shall take the cute lamb shots today. You would not believe the weather. It plummeted in the night. We have had a mixture of icy rain (that is freezing all the doors shut again as we speak) , blowing snow (that blew right past) and gale force arctic winds. Really awful winds. The barn is noisy with banging doors and rattling panes.

Four times in the night I fought my way out to the barn to get the lambs up for a drink from their Mum. I was afraid of them just going to sleep forever in this cold. The ice would blow in my face and the wind would whip into my eyes but right in the center of the barn was this little oasis of mother and crying babies. A pool of warm light in a pen totally blocked all the way around to prevent drafts. As I approached I could see Mama moving about her charges like an old experienced well rounded night nurse. It is 16F (-8C) now and still going down.

I hung a heatlamp, which makes me very nervous, but if these wee fellas (they are all male) get cold I will never get them warm again in these temperatures. You will remember that Mama has a wonky udder with a teat that has never been good, she does not have enough milk for four, so I know I will have to take over the feeding of two lambs.  These two will gradually be fully adopted and swap over to Daisy milk while remaining with their little family – Mama and I will share their feeding as long as we can. This is how we always do it.

This is the third time Mama has given birth to quads, but previously one has always died at birth, so getting all four through is very satisfying.

It is 5.30am, time to  feed out and milk Daisy. I am tired. My hands are aching with tiredness. But isn’t this good news. All four are on their way.

Have a lovely day.

celi