Bottle Feeding Rejected Lambs

The Birth of Almond and Joy 

    On a chilly, wet winter morning, our farm welcomed two tiny lambs into the world: Almond and Joy. The day began with a relentless downpour, the rain pounding against the barn roof in a steady, mournful rhythm that drowned out the usual gentle sounds of dawn. The air was heavy with the scent of damp earth and hay, and a biting cold seeped into every corner, making the sturdy wooden beams of the barn feel brittle. Amidst this harsh backdrop, Almond and Joy were born—named after the sweet candy bars in a whimsical nod to their delicate charm. Yet, their arrival brought an unexpected twist to our lives when their mother rejected them, setting the stage for a heartrending yet transformative chapter on our farm.

The Lambs and Their Namesake

    Almond emerged with a white coat speckled with soft brown reminiscent of the chocolate that envelops the candy bar, his small frame trembling as he took his first shaky breaths. Joy followed, with fleece as white as the coconut flakes in her namesake treat. There tiny hooves slipping on the muddy, rain-soaked ground. Their names, though playful, stood in stark contrast to the bitter circumstances they faced. From the moment they bleated their first cries, seeking the warmth and nourishment of their mother, it was clear that their journey would not be an easy one.

A Mother’s Rejection

    Their mother, Muffin, seemed overwhelmed—perhaps by the storm’s unrelenting fury, her own physical exhaustion, or an instinctual disconnect that sometimes afflicts livestock. Her udder hung full and inviting, a promise of sustenance, yet she turned away. With each tentative nudge from Almond and Joy, she responded with a dismissive kick or a shift of her body, pushing them aside. Their pitiful cries grew louder, more desperate, as they stumbled toward her only to be met with rejection time and again. We stood by, hearts sinking, watching this primal bond fail to take hold. Despite our best efforts—whispered encouragements, gentle repositioning of the lambs, and attempts to guide them to nurse—the ewe’s refusal was unwavering.
    Lamb rejection isn’t uncommon in farming. Sometimes, a ewe refuses to nurse her young due to illness, stress, or simply not recognizing them as her own. It’s a natural, if cruel, quirk of animal behavior that we’d encountered before. But each instance carries its own weight, a quiet ache that settles in your chest as you watch fragile lives hang in the balance. For Almond and Joy, it was clear we’d have to step in. Their survival depended on us.

A Heartbreaking Decision

    Watching those fragile little lambs bleat for attention tugged at our hearts in a way that’s hard to describe. Their small bodies shivered against the cold, their voices a plaintive chorus that echoed across the farm. We couldn’t leave them to wither in the damp and chill, so the decision came swiftly: we would bring them into our home. With careful hands, we scooped them up, feeling their tiny forms tremble against our chests as we carried them across the muddy yard to the farmhouse. The warmth of the indoors enveloped us like a balm, and we could sense the lambs relax ever so slightly, their trust placed in us entirely.

A Cozy Sanctuary

    We chose the bathroom as their sanctuary—a practical space with tiled floors and surfaces that could be easily cleaned. There, we set about creating a cozy spot to keep them warm and safe. We gathered old towels, soft and worn from years of use, and layered them in the tub to form a nest that mimicked the comfort they should have found with their mother. The soft hum of the heater filled the room, and a small lamp cast a gentle glow, softening the starkness of their new environment. At first, Almond and Joy seemed bewildered, sniffing at the unfamiliar textures and letting out uncertain bleats. But as the warmth seeped into their bones, their cries softened into contented sighs, and they curled up together, a tiny pair finding solace in each other.

The Spark of an Adventure

    As we sat on the bathroom floor, watching over these vulnerable new charges, a flood of emotions washed over us. There was sorrow for the rejection they’d endured, a pang of empathy for their shaky start. But there was also determination—a quiet resolve to see them thrive despite the odds. And beneath it all, a flicker of something unexpected: excitement. Little did we know, this heartbreaking moment would spark the beginning of an incredible sheep milking adventure. What began as an act of compassion would soon lead us down a path we’d never imagined, reshaping our farm and our lives in ways we couldn’t yet foresee.