Its Spring! Lambing Has Begun !

The Lambing begins in spring when they transport the pregnant ewes from the warmer winter areas to the sheep ranch. Photo by Deborah Moen of Little Utah Farm

The Lambing has begun!

I heard the rattling of the big diesel trucks and stock trailers barreling down the dusty lane towards the sheep ranch. It is just a few doors down. I knew the sheep had arrived and I rushed to grab my camera. I ran  as fast as my legs could go to the ranch to see the sheep unload. My was heart beating fast as I whispered an affirmation to myself, “The sheep are here".

The trucks stopped out in the back field and the drivers opened the back doors to let out the pregnant ewes. I ran to the mound of red clay dirt by the old fence to get a better look.

The ewes leaped off the truck to get some spring grass. The man who owned the ranch was there watching them unload and spoke in a John Wayne-like voice, with a hand on his hip and thumb in his right pocket, “Come on ladies” 


The sheep bells that hung from their collars clanged as they ran over to the tall haystack behind the barn.  They were hungry after their journey. Actually sheep are always hungry. I smiled knowing that within weeks the lambs would be born right here in my own backyard. And soon I would hear their young bleating cries. 

I was practically floating on the way home and took I a shortcut, running through the irrigation ditch that runs near our little farm. I 
 got pricked by the wild rose bushes and whacked in the face by long willow branches. No matter, I was so filled with breathless joy it didn't phase me.

 At home I sat with my husband and animals soaking up the warm bright sun. A beautiful hawk circled overhead and we saw a large V of seagulls, of all things, flying north.

What an amazing and memorable day ! 

Thank you for visiting Little Utah Farm 

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Until Next time here is a quote: 

 “To my mind, the life of a lamb is no less precious than that of a human being.”

― Mahatma Gandhi

Deborah Moen of Little Utah Farm

This is one of the baby lambs just a day or two old. Look at his sweet face. I have photographed him and put the image on a greeting card. Card comes in semi-gloss which we recommend for beauty and sturdiness. The card text inside is Happy Spring ! but you can personalize it with your own message. 

Adorable Lamb Folded Greeting Card
by LittleUtahFarm

COUNT YOUR HENS

Women, you are awesome! When you have to excuse yourself from tending to the home and garden and pets there is a big hole left in the fabric of daily events. If someone is caring for the hens for example, make sure they count them before they close the door to the coop. I do that everyday don't you? Making sure every one of my girls have gotten back inside safe and sound is one of my rituals. Well one evening I did not. I began to count, 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8, 9... and then I got called to duty elsewhere and snapped the latch on the door as I left.

The next day my dentist appointment went well I had a wisdom tooth pulled. When the Novocaine wore off I was surprised how the side of my jaw began to ache. I know how to care for my own pain with no drugs, using some mind body techniques.  I felt relief in a few minutes and continued to rest. There was a storm coming for the big finale of winter. I felt very confident my grandson had all the hens and llamas fed and watered. Well, he did except for one hen, I call Venus.


It was 2 1/2 days after the icy storm. The temps were freezing at night and the day's bright sun melted the ice off the rooftops. I made my way to the coop to feed breakfast and let the hens out to free range. "Oh hello Henrietta, Betty, and all through the flock I greeted and cooed to them until I noticed, "Where is Venus?" She was no where to be found! I Searched high and low, under and over and even asked husband to search with me outside the fence and around the neighbor's yards.

Terrible flashes of Venus' dead body came to mind as we had just witnessed a stray dog killing chickens across the road. I know better than to not allow my imagination to create such a scene so I began to breathe deeply and gather myself back up. "Whoa Deborah" I said to myself. I looked everywhere out there, no sign, no feathers, no Venus. We went back into the yard and I saw my husband look behind a small area behind the dog house. I mean small, no more than 8" wide, if that, between the back wall and fence. Paul said, " "Deborah, come get your chicken." I saw a white mound of frozen tail feathers. Venus was wedged tight in there apparently frightened by the dogs and could not get back out. Paul said he had to check to see if she was alive before he told me. Up above her dripped icy snow and melted ice water and froze her tail feathers solid. Poor dear Venus. How could I? Well what is done is done and we wrapped her in a towel and took her in. Venus thawed out quite nicely. She is really a healthy strong bird. We fed her warm oatmeal which she gobbled in a hurry. I swooned to think she had not eaten for days. We blow dried her feathers snapped some pictures and took a pair of pliers and cracked the ice off her tail. She was looking really good and bright eyed so we took her back to the coop with her flock. In about an hour you would never know what had happened. She was OK! Yeah ! Man do I ever count everyone of my hens, even the dogs when they come in through the back door at 3 in the morning. I remember once it was so dark when I accidently left Decker out and he... Well that is a story for another time. Here are some pictures of the star of this story, Venus....

Paul feeding Venus

Harley McFarley, our cat,  looks over the scene as Paul feeds Venus her oatmeal and spinach. Windy our dog is in the background. Here is a short clip of Venus in my lap. You can see how good she looks after she thawed out.

Thank you for stopping by Little Utah Farm. Remember, count your hens! (smile*)
Until next time,
this is Deborah signing off here from Cedar City, Utah