Last night around 10:30 I started having a funny feeling.  A feeling like maybe I shouldn’t wait to do my normal midnight check.  That I should do it now.

I don’t know where that feeling came from, but I am glad I went with it.  I found Piper laboring out in the field, struggling to deliver a large lamb (maybe I fed them too much grain???).

Maddie, Emily and Oona came out with towels and other supplies and stood back to watch.  The only real difficulty was that Jerry and Orzo were very curious and kept trying to sniff and lick Piper and get in the way.

I am not sure how long Piper had been trying to push that lamb out, but once it was born she put her head down on the ground and closed her eyes.  On the one hand, I knew exactly how she felt.  On the other hand, it worried me.  But, once I got the baby up to her face and rubbed her nose a bit she did a fine job cleaning off her new ewe lamb.  We had some trouble getting her to the shelter, and then some trouble getting her to nurse, but once we got her going, she was fine.  As of this afternoon mama and baby look great.

Say hello to darling little Beatrix!  She is jet black like Darby, but has white splotches on her head, nose, and under her chin.

Neve is hooked.  I never have to ask twice for her help with the sheep.

Orzo loves her, too.  Thankfully she is safely penned in with her mama so he can’t hurt her in his enthusiasm.

I’ll do a check on Fairfax and Wren this evening at feeding to see where they stand lamb – wise.