Lambing - A Virtual Tour
by the 6th Graders of Hillel Academy
Our tour was inspired by Kate Lambert of Uptown Farms, and her Flat Aggie tour of her lambing barn.
The Drop Pen
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The ewe or mother sheep give birth here.
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The ewes are separated from the other sheep because if the ewe gives birth in the middle of where all the other sheep are the lamb could get lost with another mother. This is called “miss mothering.”
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The drop pen is a safe spot for many newborn sheep to spend time in, where the barn owner can see them in. This helps so that if there are any problems with ewes while giving birth the barn owner can come help right away.
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You can tell that ewe is going to give birth and when to move it is by (1) the way that they are acting and (2) how the udders fill up with milk. .
The Lambing Jugs
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The Lambing Jug is only for mother sheep and their babies to bond when the lambs are born.
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During the 2 or 3 day period of time that they are here, the lambs receive vaccinations. Tetanus is one of the shots they get. Each sheep gets it at 3 days old, 3 weeks old and 1 time every year after.
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There is food and water here in the lambing jug.
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In emergencies, the Lambing Jug can be divided into 2 or 3 parts for all of the moms and their babies.
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The lambs’ tails are docked. Docking is when a rubber band is attached to the tail and it stops the blood flow causing it to fall off. A stumpy tail is left relieving the sheep of flies laying eggs and burrowing in it’s skin.
The Hardening Pen
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A hardening pen is where lambs and their moms go so that they’re used to being around others.
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Made so they can find their mothers again when they join the flock.
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There is Jackie and her baby lamb Jack so they can bond together around a few more lambs and ewes.
The Lamb Pen
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The lambs nurse from their mothers to get the nutrients they need while they're lambs.
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There is all accessible hay and water for all the lambs and sheep.
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There is a mineral feeder to for all the lamb’s mineral needs.
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The lamb pen is even open to a pasture so they can rome around outside.
The Creep Feeder
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The creep feeder is a small pen that can only be accessible by the lambs.
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Inside the creep feeder is a feeder that has creep feed and alfalfa hay.
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Creep feed is a type of feed that is full of nutrients, medicines, and more of that other good stuff.
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the lambs also eat alfalfa hay because it’s a healthy type of hay, high in protein.
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The creep feeder is like an all you can eat buffet for lambs.
Alfalfa Hay
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The hay we use is Alfalfa hay grass mixed.
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Alfalfa hay is nutritious for the lambs. The hay includes minerals, fiber, and legumes which is sometimes called lucerne.
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The hay storage is close to the lamb pen.
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How convenient!
Our Barn Cameras
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The barn cams let us view the sheep from your own home or you can view it from any place on the world.
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You want to check if they are lambing or nursing.
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You will see one in the lambing pen but, you can move the camera to see the creep feeder.
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There’s one in the lambing jug to see if they are nursing.
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There’s one in south of the barn. It lets you view the whole barn.
Lizzie, The Livestock Guard Dog
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Lizzy is a Great Pyrenees dog
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Her purpose is to protect the lambs that live in this barn
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She lives in the barn 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to protect the lambs and sheep from other dogs, coyotes and people.
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The weather does not bother her.
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The personality of this breed is calm, patient, strong-minded, and friendly.
