in these days close to lambing the ewes seem to “settle”. Filling udders, quickly growing lambs and full rumens are a load for those four thin legs to support. Eating, ruminating, standing up and lying down all takes such effort that the ewes move at a measured pace. Some ewes choose privacy, turning their backs to the flock, gazing out as they rest while others nuzzle up to their favorite flock friends.

As the ewes settle, I’m on alert, watching for signs of labor and good health. Even with a barn camera monitoring the flock, I was out twice last night only to discover, that to her discomfort, one ewe’s lambs were very active and and another didn’t actually have a leg wedged in a fencing panel but I had a distorted camera view.