Keeping us on our toes

Ewes certainly do like to keep us guessing. Tuesday morning, I went out with the girls to check on all the lambs, get some weights and change some their cute sweaters to a larger size. We have been waiting since last week for 63 to have her lambs and she has been in the lambing jug biding her time. We have since moved Lucille into the lambing jug beside her and Stella in to share the larger jug with her. We figured she must have cycled again before getting pregnant and would have her lamb or lambs next week.


On my way out to the nursery pen, all three expectant ewes were just sitting chewing - looking relaxed. 40 minutes later when I returned to the house, what do you know but 63 had delivered a newborn baby ewe lamb! They sure can labor quickly. I quickly moved Stella out of her pen to give her privacy with her lambs and put her in with Lucille. I watched and confirmed the baby had nursed and then went inside for a bit. About 45 minutes later I returned to find another baby born - a ram lamb.


Both had a rocky start. The boy was very weak and wouldn't get to the teat. The girl started off great but then showed signs of constipation which can be life threatening. Jay gave her an enema which seemed to solve that problem and after hours in the barn, we both had to leave to go to work.


When we returned home just a few hours later, we found a dead lamb in the other jug. It looked as if Lucille had completely ignored it - she didn't even lick off its face so it could breathe! I just wish we had caught it. We could have saved it I'm sure. This ewe is a little special shall we say. She just isn't right. Last year, she abandoned her lamb after delivery as well but then was a fine mother after being reunited. It is possible the lamb was stillborn but it seems more likely that she just ignored it. The poor little thing was still warm when we found it at about 6:30 pm. It was a girl too. Very sad.


The other two babies are doing well though and we have four other ewes due this week. I hope that is the only sad story I have to tell.

63 nursing her lamb just after birth