Sheep Motel

Rain or shine, the ewes have their lambs outside in the barn yard.  We let them bond there before we bring them into the barn, and usually place them in jugs; 4'x4' plywood cubicles (numbered to 26) with a water bucket, hay free-choice and grain twice a day; there, they will not be distracted by other sheep.

They stay in the jugs for a day or two where we make sure they're eating well before we release them into a communal pen with other mothers and newborns to begin socialization.  After a day in the communal pen, but only if the lambs are strong and playful, we put them outside to mingle with the other lactating ewes and lambs. 

Between Friday night (with me at market Saturday) and Sunday morning Dominique brought 25 lambs into the barn.  That's a lot of work: the room service bell never stops ringing, "Warm milk for a weak twin in 5, baa..."