We (my sister, Carol, and I) set up the breeding pens the week of October 18th and breeding began in a rush. We may have up to 18 lambs born within the first 24 hours of the 2022 lambing season!!! Let the coffee brewing begin…
Here are the pairings for the 4 rams. Each listing will begin with the ram and continue with each of his girls – including estimated numbers of lambs (based on history – the ultrasound vet did not provide any info on numbers this year), expected due dates (based on breeding behavior and ultrasounds), and statistical probability of various colors of the lambs.
** Reservations are open for spring lambs! Click here for details >>> https://prairieplumfarm.com/babydoll-sheep/reserving-a-lamb/
Click here to skip to the purebred Babydoll Southdowns.
HIRAM – Brown Finn x Doll Ram (75% Finn + 25% Babydoll)
Hiram is no longer the babe in arms shown here, but this gives you an idea of his lovely coloration. Brown is the perfect ram color because whatever color the ewe is can be expressed in the colors of the offspring. If she is carrying brown, 50% of the lambs from that cross could be brown.
He has a troublesome trait of possessing tiny horns – not strong ones as they frequently break off, but horns none the less. Where these came from I don’t know. Neither Finns nor Babydolls typically have horns and his sire’s breeder had not experienced the presence of horns in his flock. I’m thinking it must be a recessive trait for it not to show up when apparently present in the genes = I am expecting his sons will not grow them.
Daria (BLK-carrying-BRN) 75% Finn + 25% Babydoll (4 lambs?)
Daria is one of my prize triplets and grows an awesome fleece – more Finn-like than her sisters. It is less crimpy, more silky, and more prone to felting. She is fine-boned and very friendly. She raised triplets in 2021 and only sweet Hannah was supplemented from time to time (mostly ‘cuz we loved to hold her). Although her triplets were only 3/8 Finn they have a very strong Finn appearance in face and build. Her boys are now wethers here at Prairie Plum Farm. I am excited to see what their first year fleeces will be like.
Daria is due to lamb in the first cluster – right around March 11th. She’s borne quints and triplets in the past, so I am guessing maybe quads (4) is likely. She is carrying brown, so 50% black and 50% brown is statistically predicted.
Dazzle (WHI-carrying 2 BRN) 75% Finn + 25% Babydoll (4 lambs?)
Dazzle is Daria’s brilliantly white-fleeced sister. She consistently conceives more babies than is advisable – 4 in 2020 and 5 in 2021. Three of these from 2021 survived. I kept her lovely white mini-me, Hermione, for the Prairie Plum flock. Her fleece has incredible sheen in addition to the nice crimp and pure whiteness.
She is expected to lamb around March 24th and I’m guessing 4 lambs for sure. Since she is carrying 2 copies of the brown gene(allele), they should be a mix of white (50%) and brown (50%).
Daphne (BRN; both color genes BRN) 75% Finn + 25% Babydoll (4 lambs?)
Triplet number three and a real sweetheart – she loves her ear scritches! Her fleece is often the first to sell due to it’s lovely gradations of brown and its softness. She’s done a better job of marshalling her reproductive resources than her sisters. In both 2020 and 2021 she had 3 lambs, they all survived, and she nursed them herself. She’s carrying a spotted (piebald?) gene, as we found out with her daughter, Heather (below, right).
Daphne is expected to lamb around March 11th and I’m predicting 3 lambs once more. It will be interesting to see the colors and perhaps patterns of coloration from this pair. They are MOST likely to be just brown, but time will tell.
Deone (BLK- carrying BRN + HST) 50% Finn + 50% Babydoll (3 lambs?)
Deone is a half-sister to the preceding triplets, but is only 50% Finn. She grows a most wonderful fleece. The one I just recently skirted (12 month fleece) yielded 3.5 pounds of over 3.25″ long wool! Strong, long, beautiful and soft!
She is expected to lamb around April 10th and will probably repeat her pattern of triplets. She did a great job of nursing all three ewe lambs in 2021. She is carrying brown and also HST patterning (white on head, socks, and tail). Statistics would indicate 50% chance of being black and 50% brown.
I’m keeping her daughter, Heliana (a.k.a. Sunshine), for my flock. Going against usual Finn shepherding practice, I am not breeding Heliana her first year.
Emlyn (BLK carrying BRN) 50% Finn + 50% Babydoll (3 lambs?)
Emlyn is a beautiful ewe that led off 2021 lambing with a three-some. I’m keeping Harriet, her white daughter (and fairy princess). She has a thick and soft fleece that is fading to a gorgeous dark gray.
She is expected to lamb around March 11th and 3 lambs are anticipated. Each lamb has a 50% chance of being black and 50% chance of being brown.
Francesca (BLK/HST) 75% Finn + 25% Babydoll (3 lambs?)
Francesca is a headcase and very vocal. Perhaps she was permanently injured from sticking her head through electric fencing too many times. She does, however, have the most intensely black fleece ever . . . and she produces super cute babies. I will be reserving a ewe from her this spring.
She is expected to lamb around March 29th producing 2 or maybe 3 lambs. As she is not known to be carrying brown genetics, I expect all the lambs to be black and probably HST.
Hermione (WHI) 75% Finn + 25% Babydoll (1-2 lambs?)
Hermione is my only first time momma-to-be going into the 2022 lambing season. She has a pretty face and brilliant white fleece. She is from the 2021 lamb crop, but is as tall as the yearling ewes. She is carrying 2 brown genes, because her momma has 2 copies – as did her dad.
Hermione is due around March 11th and I wouldn’t be surprised by twins, given her 3/4 Finn heritage. Statistically speaking, they will be 50% white and 50% brown.
For information on placing a reservation, click here.
HEIN – White Finn X Doll Ram (75% Finn + 25% Babydoll) 50% 1 BRN?
Heinrick was a bottle baby, but I took a chance and left him intact to be my white Finn cross ram this year. So far all the dire predictions of his being aggressive towards me/humans have not come to pass. Looking forward to having his lovely fleece perpetuated in the next generation.
Becka (Black-carrying Brown + HST) 50% Finn + 50% Babydoll (3 lambs?)
Becka has transitioned from “Becka-The-Bitch” to “Becka-The-Boss” this year (more assertive vs. cantankerous). She is a very capable and protective mom and successfully nursed triplets again this year. She carries HST as well as brown genetics. She has a lovely, dense, graying fleece.
She is expected to lamb around March 12th and I expect triplets once again. The lambs have a 50% chance of being white, 25% chance of being black, and 25% chance of being brown. HST markings are probable on the black and brown.
Brea (White; one BLK one BRN gene) 50% Finn + 50% Babydoll (3 lambs?)
Brea consistently has beautiful babies and beautiful fleece. Once again she had triplets in 2021 and successfully nursed all 3. She and her twin, Bro, my loveable senior wether, have great sheen in their fleeces and produce lots of soft wool.
She is expected to be one of the very first to lamb – around March 11th. There was even some speculation by the vet that she had jumped the fence to get a head start (just kidding!). The expected lambs have a 75% chance of being white, 12.5% chance of being black, and a 12.5% chance of being brown. (She is the mom to the D triplets: Daria, Dazzle, & Daphne).
Elly Mae (WHI carrying 1(+?) BRN) 88% Finn + 12% Babydoll (3 lambs?)
Elly Mae is my highest percentage Finn cross but has not gone to extremes in number of lambs per year – producing 1 each pregnancy. She is a very protective momma. She has the best of Finn fleeces – long, lustrous, soft and wavy!
She is expected to lamb April 2nd and I think at least 2, perhaps three lambs. Colorwise they have a 75% chance of being white, 12.5% (or more) chance of brown, and perhaps some chance of black.
Fortuosity (WHI) 63% Finn 27% Babydoll (2 lambs?)
Tuoey had the most precious, jet black, floofy ewe lamb this year. That’s the perfect way for a first time mom to start off. She not only nursed her own baby but was known to allow bumming by one of the other lambs. Maybe she is a big milk producer and that relieved the pressure – or she is just altruistic – I don’t know.
She is expected to lamb April 4th and I’m expecting at least 2. Babies have a 75% chance of being white. The color of the other(s) will let me know what color genes she is hiding under the whiteness. (Her mom, Emlyn, is black).
Flossie (BLK/HST carrying BRN) 69% Finn + 31% Babydoll (3 lambs?)
Flossie is in that sweet spot between 50 and 75% Finn, and she is fading to a beautiful gray. She tried hard as a first time momma but her boys were born premature and didn’t last an hour. (Hence I’m not breeding 2 of my Finn x ewe lambs.) She’s very sweet and lamb-like herself.
She is expected to lamb around April 10th and she may up her game to 3 lambs this time. She has reached full size and should do great. Lambs have a 50% chance of being white, 38% black, and 12% brown.
Fannie Mae (WHI carrying BRN) 75% Finn + 25% Babydoll (2 lambs?)
Pretty Fannie Mae is the only ewe where vet said there were at least 2 lambs seen immediately in the ultrasounds. She was a bit small to be a mommy in 2021 but raised 2 tiny twins successfully. One was Homer who is brown and HST. Notice the lovely sheen on her and her babies’ fleeces!
She is expected to lamb around March 14th and twins would be fine by me, but she is 75% Finn after all . . . Lambs have a 75% chance of being white and at least 12.5% chance of being brown. There may be some chance of black as well.
For information on placing a reservation, click here.
BENNET – Black Babydoll Ram (100% Babydoll)
Bennet came to me from Kari Jovaag, who has another OPP-free flock by Austin derived in part from lambs acquired from me a number of years ago. He was just a year and a half old at breeding time. He is either not full-grown (likely) or will bring some smaller genetics to my flock. No fleece data from him yet.
Sara (WHI) (100% Babydoll) (2 lambs?)
Sweet Sara has been her name since birth and she has continued to be mild mannered and tamer than most. She can boast that her boy, Ivan, is the white Babydoll ram for this season. Sara is one of my fuzziest-faced ewes.
She is expected to lamb around April 6 and has a 50/50 chance of producing black or white lambs with Bennet. Sure hoping for 2, her usual until last year.
Bashfull (BLK) (100% Babydoll) (2 lambs?)
This lady gave me a set of super cute ewe lambs in early June of 2021. Her fleece is fading to a phenomenal light gray – great for overdyeing!
She is expected to lamb around April 16th. I’m anticipating twins – both black.
Dixie (WHI) (100% Babydoll) (2 lambs?)
Dixie is Sara’s daughter and Ivan’s half sister, so this is why she is also in with the black ram. This current pairing will help me determine if she has two of the “whitewash” genes (only white lambs) or if they will be a mix of black and white. Note well positioned front legs and straight back.
She is expected to lamb around March 18th, so she and Nina can hang out together. Expecting twins – mixed or white.
Dayna (BLK) (100% Babydoll) (2 lambs?)
Dayna is Nina’s daughter and shares her more open face and beautiful fleece, though black. She has borne twins both pregnancies.
She is expected to deliver around April 3rd, bear twins, and both of them should be black.
Doris (BLK) (100% Babydoll) (2 lambs?)
This ewe is one of my wildest. She was purchased from a farm in Wisconsin as a lamb and never warmed up to “the management” here. Her first season with me she was bred to Duffy, a 100% Finn ram and gave me Feebee, one of my best wool producers. In 2021 she eluded the ram, but this year she bred with some of the earliest ewes.
Doris is expected to lamb around March 18th and I expect twins, both black. She’s definitely fuzzy-faced.
Eleanor (BLK) (100% Babydoll) (2 lambs?)
Eleanor was a bottle baby the year I had to cull ewes to eliminate OPP from my flock. Her mom, Adrian, had been one of my best wool producers. Eleanor is on the small side – though I don’t know if it’s due to genetics or being a bottle baby. Dark black wool!
This little ewe is expected to lamb April 1st and I expect black twins from her.
For information on placing a reservation, click here.
IVAN – White Babydoll Ram (100% Babydoll)
Ivan was chosen due to high consumer demand for fuzzy-faced sheep. His mom, Sara, is capable of bearing black lambs, so he may have inherited that trait. We’ll see in March. He’s a plucky little guy, but not aggressive towards me.
LaNina (WHI) (100% Babydoll) (2 lambs?)
Nina is my most senior ewe right now. She has an open (non-fuzzy) face and a long and heavy fleece. As seen in the photo below, she has a history of producing black lambs. She has great conformation, intelligence, and a friendly personality – partly from being my first bottle baby.
I expect Nina to lamb around March 17th with twins. They should be white, but it’s not guaranteed.
Jane (WHI) (100% Babydoll) (2 lambs?)
This ewe was purchased from breeder, Ron Henry, a couple years back to expand my Babydoll genetic diversity. She has a fuzzy face and gave me two fine lambs in 2021. I’ve kept her daughter, Ivy.
Jane is expected to lamb around March 28th with twins. Lambs will probably be white.
Carly (BLK) (100% Babydoll) (2 lambs?)
Carly is a valued wool producer of the fading gray variety, but also pops out some lovely lambs – including 2 darling rams in 2021. Though not many people care, she has exceptionally good ear placement.
She is expected to lamb around March 18th with twins. Given Ivan’s coloration, a 50/50 split on color is probable.
Estelle (WHI) (100% Babydoll) (1 lamb?)
Little Estelle is smaller than most of my ewes and has ended up at the bottom of the pecking order. She now has a buddy, by way of her daughter, Isabelle, who is across the fence with the non-breeding group. Notice her somewhat open face, but still wool on the cheeks and across the nose.
I’m not expecting any lambs from her until April 21st or so. She could have 1 or 2 lambs, and they are likely to be white.
Georgia (BLK) (100% Babydoll) (2 lambs?)
Georgia is from the great fleece line of Claire, mother to Nina. She is the best black fleece producers of the Babydolls right now. She had one friendly little ram lamb her first pregnancy. She is very open-faced, but lambs’ face cover will be moderated by Ivan’s fuzz.
She is expected to deliver March 30th. I expect 50/50 split in color and twins – I hope she gets the memo. . .
For information on placing a reservation, click here.
The non-breeding flocklet
The farm team – literally! Bro has been in with the younger wethers and the too-young-to-breed ewe lambs. They are darn cute so deserve their photos to be posted.
