The Belles

Here we are with two of our newest lambs. These twins were born to a ewe that went blind during the early stages of her pregnancy. Luckily we had researched the possibility of breeding a blind ewe and knew how to handle the situation.

When it came time to turn the ewe and her lambs into the mixing pen we put bells on the lambs. The mixing pen is a small area where we put several ewes and their lambs at a time so they can figure out how to find their moms in the herd. After several days we usually send a mixing pen group to join a slightly larger band which we call kindergarten. Out kindergarten had some dirt mounds and logs where the lambs love to play games. Sometimes they are having so much fum, they ignor their moms.

We knew that our blind ewe and her little "Belles" would need longer to adjust so we held them in the mixing pen for almost a month. Eventually, they ewe would listen for the Belles and could find them anywhere in the small enclosure. Then it was time for kindergarten.

For a couple of daystThe blind ewe stayed in the barn and her Belles ran off to play. Eventually she was able to figure out where she was and started following her Belles around the field. The lambs thrived and mom seemed content. We finally took the next step and sent the little family to join the main flock.

The lambs were happy and their mom finally learned to call the Belles to her side. She only went after them when they wouldn't come to her or when we moved the flock to a new field. Once when we moved the flock the lambs didn't make a corner and mom got really confused. She ran and hit a fence with her nose and tore part of her lip on the wire. She needed her would flushed frequently so it was back to the barn for her and the Belles.

She was confined in a large stall that had openings to let the Belles join the current kindergarten class to feed and play. After she healed it was time to wean her lambs. They weighed about 50 pounds each. She is a champion ewe even if she's blind.