Sextuplet lambs surprise Vermont farm

Vermont farmer Anne O’Connor expected two lambs from Teemu, a Finnsheep at Clover & Bee Farm in Underhill. Instead, the ewe delivered six healthy lambs, turning an ordinary spring lambing into an unusually large birth for the small wool-focused farm.

The sextuplets arrived earlier this month after a check-up had suggested Teemu was carrying twins. O’Connor, who runs the farm with her husband, Gunnar, had suspected the ewe might be carrying more because of her size and the timing of labour, but the final count still came as a surprise. Mother and lambs were reported to be doing well, an important detail given the risks that can accompany large multiple births in sheep.

“Six is great, but it’s definitely — it’s plenty,” O’Connor said, after watching the lambs keep arriving one after another. The birth also added a light-hearted twist to a familiar nursery rhyme: Mary may have had a little lamb, but Teemu produced half a dozen.

Teemu had already shown strong maternal productivity before this lambing, having previously delivered quadruplets. That record, combined with her Finnsheep background, helps explain why the birth was biologically plausible even if still rare. Finnsheep are known among breeders for high fertility and frequent multiple births, with twins and triplets common and larger litters possible. Sextuplets, however, remain exceptional and require careful monitoring in the first weeks of life.

Farmers and sheep specialists place the odds of such a birth across a broad range, from roughly one in 1,000 to as rare as one in a million, depending on breed, flock genetics, maternal history and farm conditions. Large litters can place added pressure on the ewe because milk supply, lamb weight and early feeding become critical. Smaller lambs from large births often need more time to reach full body weight, though many develop normally with close care.

The lambs have been given Finnish number names from one to six, a nod to their breed background and to Teemu’s name. The ewe is named after Finnish ice hockey great Teemu Selänne, whose career made him one of Finland’s best-known sporting figures. The naming choice has turned the lambs into a local talking point beyond the farm’s usual agricultural audience.

Clover & Bee Farm, located in Underhill, raises sheep mainly for wool and also grows herbs and berries. The farm is entering its fifth summer raising sheep. With Teemu’s six lambs and two other newborns, the flock has grown to 21 animals. Five more ewes are pregnant, meaning the spring lambing season is not yet over for the O’Connors.

The farm plans to keep the four female lambs and find new homes for the two males. That approach reflects both flock management and the practical limits of a small holding, where breeding plans, pasture space and long-term animal care must be balanced carefully. Teemu is expected to get a break before any future breeding, though O’Connor has indicated the ewe remains in her reproductive years.

Large lamb litters require more than curiosity and celebration. Farmers must make sure each lamb receives enough colostrum soon after birth, gains weight steadily and is not pushed away by stronger siblings. In some cases, supplemental feeding or bottle support may be needed. The first few weeks can determine whether a large litter thrives or falls behind.

Teemu’s case has drawn attention partly because it is cheerful at a time when many farming stories focus on costs, weather stress and labour shortages. Small farms across the United States continue to face pressure from feed prices, veterinary expenses and unpredictable markets. A healthy sextuplet birth does not erase those challenges, but it offers a rare moment of public fascination with everyday livestock work.