April 2, 2008
Our dear Betty started us off this lambing season, just as if she had read the books. (These are her first lambs).She delivered twins sometime during the night - a ram and a ewe. Both are black mouflon. Their sire is Hokan, so they are linebred Serkur, plus Tolkis as a grandsire! Betty had just exactly what I was hoping for, healthy lambs and the bonus is - they are colored! We will most likely keep the ram, and even possibly the ewe. The ram lamb was 7 1/2 lbs. and the ewe lamb weighed 7 lbs. We are keeping both of these lambs.
April 4
Our first VAI lamb is born! HOORAY!!
We have a large ram (a whopping 10 1/2 lb.) out of Iceland ram Dreitill, which we are most excited about. Dreitill was one of the highest scoring rams ever (at 86.0) and so we are very, very pleased to have this ram lamb here. His dam is Viola -- she is a Sponn granddaughter, so this ram adds some great genetics to the farm, as we are keeping this ram. Click here to see updated photos of Dreitillson.
April 6
Nanna, as usual, delivered her twins with quiet grace and dignity. We discovered she had a water bag presenting during a midnight barn check, so decided to hang out and watch the miracle that these births are. It was the first warm spring-like evening we have had this season so it was very pleasant to be outside last night with a sky full of stars and the animals around. Daryl and I sat on a bale of straw and watched, and the barn cats took advantage of our relaxation by climbing onto our laps for attention. The yearling ewes took turns coming in to the barn to see what was going on and Nanna chased them off. Nanna's first lamb is a grey moorit ewe (weight was 5 3/4 lbs.) and her second lamb is a black grey ram (weight was 9 lbs.). They are doing great. I'm actually relieved that she only had twins this year instead of her usual triplets. Twins just grow out better (in my opinion). The sire of these lambs is Rubus. The ram is reserved, the ewe is available.
April 7
Alexa delivered VAI twins out of Iceland leaderram Leifur. The ewe lamb weighed 8 1/2 lbs. and her brother was 9 1/2 lbs. They were very active immediately after birth, as the leader lambs often are. In fact, the ram lamb was so happy to be born that an hour after he entered the world, he was bouncing backward around the barn. Very sweet and funny pair of lambs. We will be keeping the ewe -- the ram lamb is reserved..
April 7
Esmerelda had VAI twins, both rams out of Iceland ram Visir. Unfortunately the first ram was stillborn, but the 2nd ram, who weighed 7 3/4 lbs. is a sweetheart and we are so pleased to have him in the flock -- obviously he's a keeper and is staying here.
April 8
Agatha delivered twin ram lambs - again - unassisted. She's an awesome, protective mom. The sire of these lambs is our Kunningison so they have some great genetics behind them. The first lamb born is a black/grey who weighed 9 1/2 lbs. and the white ram weighed 8 lbs. Both of these rams are available, although watching the black/grey one grow out, ... I am very tempted to keep him myself.
April 8
Agnes had VAI twin ram lambs out of Iceland ram Eldar! The first one born weighed 9 lbs. and the second one was 8 lbs. Both are very healthy and were immediately seeking mama's milk within 5 minutes of birth. We are very excited to add the Eldar bloodline to our flock. We are keeping one ram and the other is reserved.