Lambing has recently started on Texel, the sheep island par excellence, and approximately 17,000 lambs will be born in the near future. The moving scenes of this baby boom can now be followed live by everyone via the webcam in the stable of Sheep Farm Texel. During lambing, it is hard for the Texel sheep farmers; besides helping with the births they have to check the pregnant ewes every few hours. Many farmers sleep in the stable during this period. Special events take place regularly. For example, a sixtlets was born on Texel a few days ago.
The lambs stay in the stable with their mother for a few days at most, because Texel sheep can't stand being indoors for long. Mother and child(ren) go into the meadow as soon as possible. There the lambs together quickly form so-called crèches and they all perform cheerful antics until they go to 'refuel' with their mother. If a sheep has more than two lambs, the third lamb goes to a sheep that has only one, or it becomes a 'soggie' and gets the bottle. A cute face, but a lot of work for the farmer. Fortunately, there are usually Texel families who like to receive such a soggie. If you want to cuddle a soggie yourself and maybe even give it a bottle, you can visit Sheep Farm Texel.
photo:Mariska Witte.
