The lambs seldom nurse and have become much more independent; some days spending more time with other lambs than with their mamas. All of the lambs are now over 60 days old. Those precious moments between mama and lamb are over until next spring. It’s weaning day. Each lamb is weighed and given advice ~ “Be brave.” “Be strong.” “Don’t let the bigger lambs pick on you.”
“Don’t worry,” we tell the mamas, “we’ll take good care of your little ones. We love them too.”
As always, barncat Davita is right in the middle of all the action, doing her best to help with the record keeping. One by one we work our way through the lambs and ewes. The ewes out the side door and in to a moving lane, going to the pasture by the knoll. The lambs will go out through the corral and on to the graveyard field. There are two paddocks and four fences in between them. Even so the next couple days are full of separation anxiety and they can be quite determined to get back together.
It is a bittersweet day, but new friendships will be formed, old alliances will be re-kindled. In a few days… all will, once again, be quiet in the pasture.
