One of the few vexing behaviors of Soay sheep is the tendency of a first-born Soay twin to be temporarily “adopted” by a meddlesome “aunt,” another ewe who has not yet lambed but whose hormones are starting to kick in. Let me explain. It is not uncommon for pregnant ewes to be very curious about […]
When last we met here, Otley was a 3-day old, unusually small lamb who already had seen the world and was none too pleased with it. As you will recall, Otley not only arrived at less than two and a half pounds after her mother struggled mightily to deliver her, she also ran away from […]
Some of the indications that a Soay ewe is about to lamb are seen only in an experienced ewe. If she is going to twin, she usually looks like a propane tank. Even if carrying only a single lamb, an older ewe will develop saddlebags and a waddle. The yearling ewes (“gimmers”) who are lambing for the first time exhibit more subtle signs of approaching labor, oftentimes surprising […]