Stories from the Farm

Violet is one of my favorite sheep, but sometimes I wonder why 🙂 

She was one our first lambs and our first ewe lamb. 

Here she is with her mom, Zettle’s Blackberry.

She has the prettiest blue eyes. 

She has a beautiful fleece, but it is usually too dirty to do anything with because she is the one that is trying to climb on top of me while I am feeding.  Shooing her away doesn’t work because she is deaf!  I discovered she was deaf several years ago.  I called all of the girls into the barn and went out to do my nightly scan of the pasture.  There in the middle of the pasture was Violet.  I walked out calling to her and was afraid that she was dead.  I started clapping my hands and she didn’t even flinch.  When I got to her I bent down and touched her.  She lifted her head and looked around and was quite shocked to see that all of her friends had left her!  She jumped up and ran to the barn.

Her first set of lambs were beautiful little girls.  She has had 4 lilac boys since.  She is an ok mom, I think part of the problem is that she is deaf.  Her lambs learn really quick that they have to stay with her because she isn’t going to come find them! 

Violet with one of her ewe lambs.

She is the only ewe that I have truly had to pull lambs.  Her second set of lambs were very over due and on day 155 she looked like she was going into labor.  A couple hours passed with no progress.  Luckily she is a very laid back and friendly ewe because I was by myself and had to help her.  Her lambs were breech and tangled with each other.  Thankfully I was able to get both of them out and lambs and mom were just fine!

One of Violet’s lilac boys – Sidekick.

She is my husband’s least favorite ewe because she is always in the way and likes to bully her way through anything.  Despite all of this she makes me laugh and will stay here despite my 3 strike rule 🙂