You know what they say about March...

In like a lamb... out like a lion. But seriously, in like a lamb? Is that what that meant all along... lambing season, "that" time of year. How did I become it, before I ever knew it. Is that where the saying comes from?

Ladies and Gentlemen, Windy Knob Farms has reached a milestone - its first lambs. Lisa went into labor late Thursday night, and by 12am Friday the first lamb was born. She went right to work licking and cleaning and drying and checking and licking... I mean I wasn't about to get in her way, the lady knew what she was doing and I was better off just observing and learning myself. But a quick glance revealed that as she was cleaning she had another two little hooves waiting to come out! At that point I needed some sleep before I might as well just curled up next to her or something; so back to the house for an hour I went until my alarm went off (ever set an alarm for 2am? me neither) and with my boots untied, jacket unzipped and hat askew I stumbled back to the barn. Of course she was on her second lamb already and the cleaning was well underway. My first lambing experience - and I might as well stayed in bed. Okay not really, but could have been for all the matter. The ewe had it all under control, she knew what she had to do and delivered two healthy lambs. Women, you all know this already, you're thinking yeah... story of our lives, men only get in the way at this point in delivery. I did wipe off the lambs, weighed them, made sure they were getting milk when nursed, and I sterilized and trimmed their umbilical cords. But make no mistake, Lisa was the hero in this one.

Lisa was important, she was bred to another ram from another farm. I was really hoping for twins, it's like stock in a set of genetics that you won't have access to ever again. When I saw she had twins, it was perfect! Then as they came out I realized I had one ram and one ewe. Even better! Pictured below are the twins. The ewe lamb is in the foreground, while the ram lamb is in the back (also note the cool "racing stripes" on the sides of his face). It's early at this point, but it is looking like they are gray badger face; which means their pattern is variegated, or multi colored. The gray is really unique and a gene that is hard to find and control. And I got twins.

Names? Well lets see, 1001 and 1002. The "10" is for 2010. The 01 and 02, yeah first and second born. Once everyone is born, they will all receive their formal names. Windy Knob will always have a theme, a way to recognize the year that sheep was born (along with the tag number of course). This year's theme is Presidents and First Ladies. My favorite names will be given to the ram and ewes I plan on keeping. Yes some will be for sale for breeding stock, and I will choose according to colors, size and genetics. Some of these sheep are homozygous resistant for codon 271. That's a big deal, it means they are not succeptible to foot rot. Others are at least carriers for the gene. Then you include "moorits" "grays" and the "registered Corriedales" and there is a lot to be found here in adding to or starting one's own dual purpose flock of sheep.

Good ol Nez Perce. Nez quite possibly has the single best fleece in the bunch (she competes with Alaina and Ahgosa for top honors). The crimp, the quality, the luster and the staple length (she is part "bond" - not James, but a special type of Corriedale) all make her the stand out of an already impressive group.

She is also a rookie to lambing so wish her luck. She will be due later this week and she was bred to Dougherty - it's his first lambing too. We shall see how these lambs turn out, but of course I expect nothing short of some serious awesomeness. But really it's her demeanor. There's something about Nez, she is laid back but regal at the same time. She isn't the biggest, she isn't the bossiest and she isn't the loudest of the flock; but she has her way of standing out to me. You take that and the fact that when I looked at Lisa she bah'd at me around 4:30 on Thursday, which then led me to placing her in the stall to prep for lambing which came 8 hours later... I'm beginning to think I speak sheep or something (first sign I need to get away from the farm more). I'm not ready to be labeled as the sheep whisperer or anything but hanging around these guys, it's amazing. I never realized how much personality they have and how I have really picked up on their traits. When I walk my dogs the sheep follow along the fence line and they will call out (wanting food, it's not like they beckon me by name or anything) but really I could pick each noise out and tell you which sheep it was. Months ago, they all sounded the same.

Maybe I am the sheep whisperer.