Claire, as a lamb in 2005We lost a dear friend yesterday, our 6 year old ewe Claire. She had somehow injured her leg. It was swollen, but not broken. The heat has been really getting to her as well. I brought her plenty to eat and drink as she recuperated. I had also been giving her vitamin therapy, and really anything else that I could think of to ease her pain. The leg improved, but then a bad case of summer pneumonia set in. She was having difficulty breathing in the evening. By morning, she looked worse. I talked to my vet, and picked up a dose of Draxxin for her. I have used this in the past, and one shot has done wonders for sheep suffering from respiratory problems. It was too late. She died in my arms that afternoon.
Claire snuggling with her momma Hazel, 2005Claire and her sister Charlotte are the oldest sheep born on our farm. Really, it was a bit of a miracle that they lived. This was my 3rd year of lambing, and I was still quite inexperienced. Their dam Hazel was a very poor mother, and had nothing but problems. She experienced ringwomb when trying to deliver Claire & Charlotte. If I hadn't intervened, neither would have been born alive. Hazel was depressed after this whole ordeal, so wasn't will or able to nurse her twin girls on a regular basis. I had to supplement them with bottles. If you've ever had a bottle lamb, you know how they steal your heart.
2007 Salem checking out Claire's twins
We didn't breed Claire the first year. She produced a beautiful set of twins in 2007 and was a wonderful, attentive mother. Claire's dam Hazel remained open that year, but enjoyed babysitting her grand-babies. In fact, Hazel never did lamb again, so sadly, was shipped to the butcher.
The puppies are 24 days old and had their first "solid" meal today, Iams puppy kibble mixed with hot water and powdered milk, all blended into a delicious mushy mess. After they were done wallowing in it, growling, slurping and yelping, I let Belle back into the barn to clean them all up. 
They have been in the barn since they were born, in a large baby pool with a red heat lamb. We've had temps near zero, but they seem to be plenty warm. I rarely see them directly under the lamp.
They are such an adorable bunch! All chunky, active and thriving. Belle is doing great as a first time mother. She had the barn to herself for the first couple of weeks, but now it's open and the sheep come and go.
Please inquire if you are interested, we have 1 female and males left, they are $350 each and should make excellent LGD's.
The days are warming up and the grass is growing. With the end of lambing season, I'm breathing a sigh of relief! No more late night visits out to the barn. Lambs have all made it into this world safely. Ewes and babes are doing well!
