Tehya looked like this for days. She (and I) spent a lot of time in the sheep shed, waiting. Note the outstretched leg, which ewes do when they are close to and in labor. I kept waiting for the telltale signs of her pushing. A few lip curls, but mostly she just was exhausted from carrying around the lambs and her huge udder. Friday morning, just at dawn, I went out to the sheep shed and heard lamb cries. HOORAY! It was a little confusing at first because Nara, who isn't due for at least 3 weeks, had claimed one of the lambs for her own, and was distraught when I wouldn't let her keep him. Shooing the others out to pasture, I got Tehya moved up to the lambing shed with her adorable ram lambs. Both lilac, the 4-horned little guy on the right is Tucker, and the 2-horned one on the left is Twain. Look at the horn buds on Tucker! We had a scary, frenzied day of Tehya not able to let her milk down. Lamb milk replacer, goat colostrum, and frozen sheep milk got us through the hours, and after massaging Tehya's udder with warm water and peppermint oil (on advice from my dear friend, Rosanna), the milk was finally in and both lambs' tails were waggling as they nursed. Whew! It's always something... But always worth it!
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sheep thrills
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