Friar's group of Babydoll ewes were in the middle pen which has large openings. Friar was alert and is a good breeder. The smallest ewe lambs were in that group, though I did not think they were old enough to cycle. None of the yearling lambs have ever bred in the past, so I was not too concerned. They could get out of the pen and run around in the main pen if they wanted and they did on occasion.
So far 3 of the purebred Babydoll ewes have lambed, one black ewe lamb, one white ram lamb, and twins, one male and one female. Today Lily lambed and she does not have a purebred Babydoll lamb. It seems that the Blue Faced Leicester, who is a tall sheep, twice as tall as Lily, was busy through the fence. Darn! Darn! Darn! Although I am grateful that the lamb is healthy and strong and Lily is a great mother and is doing well, I am a little perturbed with the breeding. It will be interesting to see how the lamb grows and what the fleece will be like. Lily has very short fine fleece and the Blue Face Leicester sheep have one of the finest quality wools possible, not particularly long, but longer than the Babydolls. I am wondering if I should whether the youngster or not. I do not usually do so, but unless he is chosen as a breeding ram for a little backyard miniature flock, the only other fate is lunch. And he is adorable.
This year was not a very successful lambing year with 5 ewes being bred in the fall by ram lambs and then the poor quality feed resulting in lots of singles and tiny lambs, strong and healthy, but very small. And now this! That pen is too close for comfort! I sold Quinn, the ram, and the rest of the Blue Faced Leicesters to a family from the south of Alberta. Good thing!