Charlotte has shown the baby where to nurse after getting him mostly cleaned up. Charlotte is an Icelandic sheep. In Iceland, these sheep were the milk, meat and wool providers for thousands of years and remained unimproved by man. They produce copious quantities of rich milk and are now being investigated for dairy purposes in North America. That is too bad, because when man interferes with a good thing, it always seems something is sacrificed. Charlotte has a little boy lamb. He is only minutes old and she has already cleaned him by licking him and he is standing, looking to nurse. She assists him by gentle nudging and pawing the ground to get him up and moving. But, Charlotte is not done.
In a bit, she has a second lamb, another little boy. He too is strong and robust when he is born and she cleans him rapidly. Even before he is licked clean, he is attempting to stand and nurse. Charlotte has the boys outside and quickly moves them to a shelter. She instinctively births outside, leaving the birthing fluids and materials outside, then moved to a cleaner environment in the shelter where her babies can find their first meal in peace. She is not a first time mother and needs, nor wants any assistance. She could lamb in the barn, but chooses to be outside. Although she tolerates my presence, she is most comfortable with the babies on her own, so I try to keep my distance and not overly intrude. I check the boys over quickly to see they have their parts and find out what sex they are. Charlotte is pure white and the ram is pure white. This does not necessarily mean that the lambs will be, but there is a very good chance that genetics will dominate for pure white. Within a half hour, Charlotte has birthed two babies, cleaned them, nursed them and sheltered them, all without help from me. That is why I love Icelandic sheep, oh , and the fabulous wool they provide. I have yet to try to milk one, but when Jennifer has her babies, I will give it a go. Welcome to the world little boys!
In a bit, she has a second lamb, another little boy. He too is strong and robust when he is born and she cleans him rapidly. Even before he is licked clean, he is attempting to stand and nurse. Charlotte has the boys outside and quickly moves them to a shelter. She instinctively births outside, leaving the birthing fluids and materials outside, then moved to a cleaner environment in the shelter where her babies can find their first meal in peace. She is not a first time mother and needs, nor wants any assistance. She could lamb in the barn, but chooses to be outside. Although she tolerates my presence, she is most comfortable with the babies on her own, so I try to keep my distance and not overly intrude. I check the boys over quickly to see they have their parts and find out what sex they are. Charlotte is pure white and the ram is pure white. This does not necessarily mean that the lambs will be, but there is a very good chance that genetics will dominate for pure white. Within a half hour, Charlotte has birthed two babies, cleaned them, nursed them and sheltered them, all without help from me. That is why I love Icelandic sheep, oh , and the fabulous wool they provide. I have yet to try to milk one, but when Jennifer has her babies, I will give it a go. Welcome to the world little boys!
The first lamb is cleaned and the second is born.
Once Charlotte has given birth, she moved her boys inside and finished cleaning them. The first born is already nursing, while the younger is still being tended by mom. She will move him into place where he will know what to do.
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