Raising a Pet Sheep: The First Year
A true pet story, the only difference is the pet is not a cat, or a dog, it is a sheep. How one lamb was not only lucky to be alive, but also became a pet.
January 11, 2009, it was a cold and windy winter day in Alberta, Canada. Temperatures were below freezing and there was a wind chill. A few days earlier a set of twin lambs had been born and it was their first day going outside in a small pen. My daughter and I had decided to go out and check on them and to take their photograph.
My daughter went out first and immediately knew something was wrong. She heard the familiar baah sound made by new lambs as they called for their mom. It wasn’t the twins we already had, it was another two lambs, both still wet. There was a white one, she was standing, and a black one laying down with the sack still partially on it. Two new baby girls, with no mom to be found.
For a moment we were not even sure which ewe they belonged too as none of our usually good moms was showing any interest. It turns out they belonged to a ewe who we were not even aware was pregnant. Her name was Favorite because of her friendly disposition. Sadly she had earlier suffered a stroke, she was thin and had given no indication of being pregnant. The lambs were smaller than they should have been so certainly the birth was premature. Favorite, perhaps because of the stroke, or the stress on her body, wandered off. We realised these were her lambs because she had some placenta hanging out of her (this is normal for a sheep that just delivered).
We got the two lambs and mom into the barn. It was a rush to get them warmed up and dried off. The one above had ears that were so cold, but she was the stronger of the two. The black lamb had to be taken into the house to be warmed up. All three of us, myself, my husband, and daughter, had jobs to do.
Poor Favorite had no milk. which meant we had two options. One: The vet could give her an injection to help her produce milk. Two: We could bottle feed the lambs, an expensive venture being that sheep powder milk is about $50 a bag, the lambs need regular feedings for at least 2 to 3 months.
We decided to bottle feed the lambs. Favorite’s thin body wouldn’t be forced to tax itself for the sake of saving a little work and money. She still loved her lambs and was talking to them in a sweet sheep sort of way. As such they did not need to be kept in the house.
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Published in: Pets
drelayaraja | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
So cute sheep
drelayaraja | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
So cute sheep
ken bultman | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
Very enjoyable post. We have had the same experience with goats with one additional problem. We were lucky to have frozen colustrom on hand since goats do not produce it in the womb…only in the udder the first 36 hours after kidding.
Sourav | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
Very well written and full of good information!
princess serenity | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
This is the first time I saw a picture of a real black sheep. I wish I could also have a pet lamb. But I think it’s quite expensive especially if like in your case you have to bottle feed it.
lillyrose | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
What a wonderful story! You and your family work so hard, what lucky sheep! The pics are beautiful.
Darla Cooke | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
Excellent story and pics!
Jenny Heart | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
Very interesting and enjoyable to read. Great writing and pictures.
Glynis Smy | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
What a wonderful article, thanks for sharing.
PR Mace | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
This was a wonderful post. I enjoy learning about your farm and your sleep. Loved the pictures.
Inna Tysoe | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
Great story.
Inna
Ruby Hawk | Jan 12, 2010 | Reply
What an interesting story about your pet sheep. Lucky you to live on a farm and have all the joy of pet animals.
martie | Jan 13, 2010 | Reply
I am glad you can save them both.
Karen Gross | Jan 13, 2010 | Reply
Great story, sounds almost like having a human baby – twins at that.
papaleng | Jan 13, 2010 | Reply
Allow me to say, Brenda that you really have a heart for animals. nice article..
AlmaG | Jan 13, 2010 | Reply
That’s a wonderful story and cute also
thuanynguyen | Jan 14, 2010 | Reply
Great write! enjoyed it.
Frances Lawrence | Jan 14, 2010 | Reply
I really enjoyed reading this article.
CA Johnson | Jan 14, 2010 | Reply
This is interesting. I have never raised a sheep and would never know how to raise one.
Themax | Jan 14, 2010 | Reply
Nice share and a beautiful share Thank you friend
R J Evans | Jan 15, 2010 | Reply
What a lovely story! I have blogged this over at http://www.webphemera.com
qasimdharamsy | Jan 16, 2010 | Reply
Nice share…I enjoyed it….
Daisy Peasblossom | Jan 16, 2010 | Reply
Very interesting post! I recognize the picture of feeding the lambs with your old coat from last year. I’ve done the bottle baby routine with a lot of animals: rabbits, cats, dogs, and calves. The littlest ones do take a lot of attention.
standingproud | Jan 19, 2010 | Reply
to cute a piece.
What a grand life you have.
Being around animals and there young.
struggle it is,but very rewarding
J | Jan 21, 2010 | Reply
Feeding is one thing but what about all that poop? Huggies or pampers?
Reza towhidy | Apr 25, 2010 | Reply
I have raised calves before and I kept 2 of them as pets. One is a Hereford that has given me 4 babies so forth. The other one is a Holstein that has her 2nd one now. This year one of my sheep dropped a baby girl and walked away. She turned 22 days old today. The problem with her is that she thinks she is a dog. I have to tie her down at night otherwise she will follows my dogs at night when they are chasing the predators away. I love her very much. She follows me every where. She jumps in the front seat of the car just like a dog. I was interested in watching the video on your sheep there such a think or I misread the article? Anyway, I loved your story. I will probably read it again.
Thanks again.
Reza
coping with pet loss | Nov 2, 2010 | Reply
indeed, you have a loving heart for the animals. this cute little sheep in here is lucky to have a loving master. thanks for sharing this!
Nelson Doyle | Mar 13, 2011 | Reply
Loved the story.
This article has been judged for the Triond Roll Call Contest by Nelson Doyle.
Maria | Feb 9, 2012 | Reply
We are bottle feeding a baby since last Sunday, Mom doesn’t have milk but she cares about her baby.
Reading your story helped me a lot, thank you so much.
Maria Sommer
Stephenville, Texas