A rare surprise has stolen the spotlight ahead of Prohibition Vineyard's grand opening this weekend in Saanich: a ewe named Abigail has given birth to quintuplets – five healthy lambs – on the winery’s peaceful pasture just off West Saanich Road.
Ashley Rice, who owns the vineyard with her husband Mark, still sounds stunned as she recounts the unexpected birth.
“We were completely shocked when she had five yesterday,” Rice said, standing near the ewe’s shaded pen. “She’s had triplets once and twins another time, but never anything like this. We didn’t even think she was that big.”
The odds of a ewe giving birth to quintuplets are estimated to be as rare as one in 10,000 – or even rarer in some circles – and it’s almost unheard of for all five to be born healthy. Abigail, however, made it look easy.
“She’s a great mom,” Rice said. “Some ewes can get overwhelmed and reject a lamb or two, especially when there are this many. But she’s constantly checking on them, making sure they’re fed and safe.”
Abigail’s partner, a ram named Fro – named for the large poof of wool on his head – is the only ram among the farm’s small flock of five ewes.
“We joke that it’s Fro’s fault,” Rice laughed. “We’ve had triplets and twins from the others too, but this is definitely something new.”
The lambs, still wobbly on their legs, are already showing their personalities.
“They’re curious, overly friendly, and just starting to explore the world,” Rice said. “In a couple of weeks, they’ll be bouncing around the fields.”
Ashley and her children were the first to witness the birth.
“One of them shouted, ‘There’s three!’ Then another yelled, ‘There’s four!’ And I couldn’t believe it when I saw the fifth,” Rice recalled. “I even looked around the field to see if another ewe was in labour – it just didn’t seem possible.”
Rice said the lambing process was smooth and fast. All five were born within an hour, without complications. That’s especially rare in multiple births, which can sometimes stretch over days and pose risks to both ewe and offspring.
While the lambs will remain on the farm until the fall, Ashley said they’ve already drawn interest from potential adopters. For now, she’s keeping them close to the house so she can monitor their growth and step in to bottle-feed if needed.
Visitors to Prohibition Vineyard’s opening this Saturday might catch a glimpse of the newborns from the driveway, though Ashley encourages anyone hoping to see the lambs to call ahead.
“We’re not a petting zoo,” Rice said. “But we’re happy to make it work for anyone who wants to stop by.”
Prohibition Vineyard, located at 6130 West Saanich Rd., will open to the public on Saturday, May 3. The boutique winery is releasing barrel-aged wines, with tastings available by appointment on weekends.
