After trying to mother four lambs that weren't hers and then pestering the new mothers through the pen walls, we put Smudge in a pen in the other barn. Another ewe, subsequently named Tall Girl - yes, she is very tall - also ended up in the pen which meant Smudge had company. After a few days of no lambing activity both girls were put out with the flock. Smudge behaved herself.
Smudge is truly a character. I named her Smudge due to the Cinderella-like smudges on her face. It looks as if she came upon an ash pit and it blew back into her face. I can see this happening as Smudge is very curious. She's often first and kind of 'in your face' about things. And she likes food which makes me one of her favourite daily attractions; I am the food lady. Her voice is distinctive - and somewhat grating.
At morning feeding time on the morning of April 28th Smudge was observed bleating and looking about for babies, possibly. Then she would butt heads with Maybell... Smudge lambed at about 9:30 that morning. She had twins, a male and a female. The male was about eight pounds and the female just over seven pounds. All of the lambs have been over seven pounds except one tiny female who surprisingly was six pounds. The largest lamb was Tiger at 11.4 pounds.
She's a good mother, is Smudge. When the lambs were a few days old and Smudge and babies were moved to the larger group, Smudge kept close tabs on her babes. She would keep her lambs separate and stay with them. Rarely have I heard her lambs crying for her; she's keeping tabs on them.
And as shy as Sheba is, rarely allowing us to get close enough to touch her, Smudge gets quite close! So do the chickens.
So, Smudge is a happy sheep with happy babies.
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