Jewel and Jezebel are released - for now!

Well, Jezebel and Jewel have spent a few days in their homemade jail in the creep area, and I have begun to feel sorry for them. They stopped calling for their dams on Saturday, and they have been model citizens since then, resigned to their lives in their "jail." So after checking on them again this morning, I decided to allow a sort of 'parole' and let them out to see what happens! As with any parole, I expect them to check in with me - like all the other lambs - when I come out to refill the creep area twice each day. If they are missing for this afternoon's head-count, I will know that they have taken off to find their dams again, and will have to put them back for another few days....

Of the two, Jezebel is indeed the leader: whether it is new food and water or an open pen door with a chance to escape, Jezebel always seems to be leading the way. This morning, when I unclipped the many carabiners that held their pen door closed, it was Jezebel who came to investigate what I was up to - and Jezebel who took the first steps into the creep area to freedom! (see right)

Now, don't get me wrong - Jewel is not a stay-at-home! She was right behind Jezebel coming out of the pen! Jewel just isn't quite as brave as Jezebel when it comes to new things. Like a smart lamb, she would rather watch Jezebel take the risk, and then follow if things turn out well! Jezebel, on the other hand, has very little sense of caution - she will blunder in and face the consequences, hoping that they won't be too bad.... This is something we will need to watch until she gets older, to make sure she doesn't get herself into trouble that she can't find a way out of!

So, at least for the time being, all of our lambs are back together. It is nice to walk among them and see them all frolicking in the sun or filling up on creep feed in the barn. A flock of lambs is always good for a smile - there isn't a time that I go out to see the lambs that I don't come back feeling renewed and happy. It won't be long before people from all over the country begin to arrive to pick up their choices for breeding stock from among our lambs, so I guess I had better enjoy their antics while I can!

Well, a quick head-count at the afternoon check-in told me I was missing two lambs. I took a quick stroll around the grounds and found no lamb out of place or unable to come in for a check, so I had a strong suspicion that I knew who was missing.... Could it be my little escape artists, Jewel and Jezebel?

I took the truck out to the timber on the far side of the property - about a quarter-mile from where the lambs are currently grazing. This is the area where we've hidden the ewes - it has lots of grass, and is far away and out of sight of the weaned lambs. I had hoped that it would be enough to keep everyone where they belonged - I obviously underestimated the desire in these two lambs to find their mothers!

As soon as I got the truck out into the trees on the far side of the property, I noticed two very small ewes running among all of the big girls.... Sure enough, when I got close enough to see faces and read ear-tags, it was just as I had suspected: I could see that Jewel and Jezebel had once again escaped and traveled cross-country to get to their mothers - let me emphasize the AGAIN part! I still can't believe it! Even with that nice pep talk I gave them as they left their jail this morning!

So, I caught them both and put them into the back of the pick-up for the ride back to the barn, and the return to jail (see photo at left). Even though I hated doing it, they are back behind bars tonight for an unknown period of time - until I can be sure that the next time they escape, they will find their mothers dry. It is times like this that all I can do is sigh....