Farmers in Vermont expected a sheep to have twins — she ended up having rare sextuplets

Clover & Bee Farm in Underhill, Vermont, recently experienced a rare and heartwarming event when one of their sheep gave birth to sextuplets. Anne O’Connor, who co-owns the farm with her husband Gunnar, was pleasantly surprised by the arrival of six healthy lambs from their ewe.

This particular ewe had previously given birth to quadruplets, so when a recent checkup indicated she would have two lambs this time, O’Connor had a hunch that there might be more. And her intuition was right – on the big day, the lambs just kept coming. The new additions to the farm are a mix of Finnsheep breed and are named in Finnish numerals one through six. The mother sheep, named Teemu after Finnish hockey player Teemu Selänne, is taking great care of her brood.

While the birth of sextuplets is rare, O’Connor believes that the odds are around 1 in 1,000, though some sources claim it could be as rare as one in a million. The Vermont Sheep & Goat Association, with whom O’Connor has been in touch, confirmed that such multiple births are uncommon in the sheep farming community.

Managing a large litter like this can be challenging, as the lambs may take longer to reach full body weight and require extra attention to ensure they are all getting enough to eat. Kristen Judkins of Gilead Fiber Farm, who had a ewe that gave birth to sextuplets three years in a row, emphasized the importance of monitoring the newborns closely in the initial weeks.

At Clover & Bee Farm, the O’Connors plan to keep the four ewes and find suitable homes for the two male lambs. The farm, now entering its fifth year, also grows herbs and berries alongside raising sheep for wool. With the addition of the sextuplets, the total number of lambs on the farm has reached 21, with five ewes currently pregnant.

Teemu, the proud mother of the sextuplets, is expected to have more lambs in the future, as she is still in her reproductive years. O’Connor expressed her admiration for Teemu’s mothering skills and looks forward to seeing her continue to thrive on the farm. The extraordinary birth of six healthy lambs has brought joy and excitement to Clover & Bee Farm, marking a special milestone in their farming journey.