Day 4 - Lambing and Prep!

Hello Everyone!!
I was reviewing the blog and saw that there are an incredible amount of people that are following our story here in Iceland! THAT IS PHENOMENAL! It means so much to both Scott and myself to have so many people reading our daily adventures!

We did a few different things today:

1) Set up more lambing jugs - with the approaching whirlwind of lambs about to arrive into this world, Scott and I helped set up a new section of lambing jugs! The pens here are set up to have the pens built right into them, so there is no need for extra space! Here's how it works:

 There are 10 pens on each side of the building ( I am almost positive, I will check tomorrow). The first number (in this case the 5) signifies which pen the dividers go into. The second number (4) represents the placement of the divider. The reason we have to use a numbering systems is because some of the pens have different set ups with the feeders, and the direction of the long piece, which is used to keep the lambs from climbing under the feeder and mixing with other lambing jugs, is important and not always the same. These dividers are measured to fit the water source so they have constant access to clean water (I will talk more about the water system at a later date!).







Once we have found the correct dividers for the appropriate pen, we use this super handy fork lift to transport the dividers from the other barn to the lambing barn. It is far more effective, time and labor wise, to use the fork lift rather than carry them by hand. The next step is where the fun comes in.







If you look closely, you can see a hole in the wood just to the left of the lock. These are positioned in specific spacing to accommodate for one ewe while she is lambing! This system is incredibly effective! Although these dividers can be a bit of a pain when installing, they really are quite convenient. Once the gate is lined up with the holes on either side of the pen, the locks are slid into place. At the bottom of the divider there are two more locks so that they can slide into the grated flooring, providing extra stability if the ewe leans against it.







Here is Scott setting up a second divider!










































HERE IS THE FINAL RESULT!!!!! PRETTY SPECTACULAR, HUH?!?!
All of these individual pens are connected by doors either on the front (from the aisle) or the sides of the dividers, so the ewe gets in one pen and then is guided into the neighboring pen through a door. I will post a better picture later!

Lambing is slowly starting to pick up, so the posts may be a bit sporadic, just bare with us! To end this post, here is a couple fun pictures from today's adventures.  

Krüna and Becca =     "Crown" 
she is the sweetest ewe. I will hold my hand out and she will just place her head in my palm. So gentle. So loving. And here is Scott with James, named after James Weber, the wonderful professor who helped get this incredible opportunity all started!!!!!! This rams twin is named Richard, after the gentleman who assisted Dr. Weber in the fall.