Tuesday, March 02, 2010

Makin' babies while the sun shines

It's raining now, but this morning was partly sunny and beautiful. Brian and I took advantage of it by going for a horseback ride, and then I took some pictures of the "ladies in waiting."
Katie will be "in waiting" the longest because of her late breeding date. She is such a beauty, and has decided that she loves me, too! What would I like from this Ag/Aa BB/Bb ewe? A polled or half-poll ram with his parents' excellent conformation, breed characteristics and fleece to take his place as flock sire at Boulderneigh; I'm not even be picky about color! And if he had a fully-horned twin brother for Lois, all the better.

Brava (Ag/Aa Bb/Bb) has quite the belly going already; Rick saw twins when he ultrasounded her. I'd take a full-poll moorit ram lamb from her, with Braveheart's structure and her fleece; I wouldn't turn down a nice ewe lamb, either.

Dinah (Aa/Awt Bb/Bb) isn't really showing anything but her usual well-fed frame. Rick only saw a single when he checked her. I would love for that lamb to inherit her proud carriage (see header photo) and conformation and daddy Blackberry's incredible fleece, whether it comes in gulmoget, white or solid. Dinah will be available after weaning this year.

Inky-Ewe (Aa/Aa BB/Bb) is the one who is surprising me. At this time last year she was already a wide load (you can see her here); not this year. When Rick only found one lamb with the ultrasound, I was sure another one was hiding somewhere, as Inky has always had multiples. But I guess the old girl is slowing down in more ways than one; I just hope she doesn't have a large single that gives her lambing trouble. Since she and Braveheart both carry spots, I would be THRILLED with a flashy spotted ewe lamb in either black or moorit!

For the mothers-to-be, a little bouquet:
That's it for now from . . .

7 comments:

Mama Mess said...

Nothing better than waitin' for babies! :)

Michelle said...

Oh yes there is, Goodwife -- the babies' arrivals! That's the "shepherd's Christmas. :-)

Mac said...

Very Pretty!!

HisTek said...

Nice photos and pretty ladies. Where do you get your sheep coats? And this is a stupid question but, a few hundred posts back you had a picture of a ram with a diaper on. What size was the diaper? I need to take one of my sheep to the vet in my car. The tarps just aren't working but a diaper just might!

Jackie

Sharon said...

What sun?

Michelle said...

Hi Jackie,

The coats are Rocky Sheep Suits; they (and Rocky) are great! The diaper was an adult size with adjustable belt, not the pull-on Depends. It was on Katie, a ewe, though. For a male, I'd think you would need one on the back end and one around his belly!

Egghead said...

Can't wait to see those little lambs. One of my favorite things in the spring.