3 more lambs

After almost two weeks off from lambing three of our other four ewes have now delivered and we are watching the fourth for signs but can't even find any teats so it may be a few more weeks.   Good Friday started off our latest round of deliveries.

Number 48 looked like her udders were about to burst so we put her in the nursery jug with another ewe and her twins.  That way, if she delivered, we wouldn't have to deal with a barn full  of sheep.  

Sure enough, after just a day or so, we found a newborn lamb there in the afternoon on April 18th.  Another ram lamb.  The other ewe and her lambs were let out so the new mama could have some time with her lamb alone.  This was another uneventful lambing as the lamb seemed a bit wobbly but did just fine with little assistance.  No interventions were necessary and both have been doing great. They joined the main flock a week later. 

Then on Wednesday the 23rd, our small ewe Lucille, who Jay thought was surely not pregnant, delivered in the field sometime in the afternoon.   Lucille has always been very small and a bit odd - she has a strange far off look in her eye and often holds her head at a strange angle.    I looked out the window in the afternoon to see a very white looking lamb being licked by a ewe and went right outside to check.  Sure enough, a new lamb was delivered out in the field with all the other sheep and lambs.   As I have with other field deliveries, I threw some hay in the field to distract the flock.  Unfortunately, Lucille got distracted too.  She had delivered an begun cleaning her baby but the sight of the hay and the other sheep running made her forget her maternal obligation and she ran to get in the mix to get some hay.  I don't know if she was particularly hungry or just got distracted but she abandoned her lamb.  I went in and tried to get her back with her lamb but that proved impossible.  Since it was fairly chilly and windy, I decided to bring the lamb indoors to protect it from the cold and hopefully extract Lucille separately.   

I carried the lamb inside the barn by the house to the lambing jug and turned on the heat lamb.  Aria, our 8 year old agreed to keep the lamb company while I tried to get the mother.  She took the lamb wrapped in a towel onto her lap under the heat lamp.   Meanwhile, I asked my neighbor to come assist with getting Lucille out of the field without the rest of the sheep but we had no luck.  She ran away from me and I couldn't get a lead on her, never mind pull her all the way up toward the house.  Michael Jackson, our punk ram didn't help either as he decided to headbutt me as much as he could.  I gave up and decided Jay could deal with getting Lucille out.  Hopefully she wouldn't reject her lamb after a long separation.  

Back to the barn I went to focus my attention on our newest member of the flock, a little ewe lamb.  We got  fewer ewe lambs than we had hoped so I really wanted to make sure she made it.  We decided to bottle feed her to keep her going until she could be reunited with her Mama.  Thankfully, she had warmed up and was willing to take a bit of colostrum replacer from the bottle.   She was named Jackie. Aria stayed with her for over an hour while I brought Lilah to girl scouts and Jay finally got Lucille into the barn.  Thankfully, she immediately re-accepted her lamb and soon Jackie was nursing like a pro.  Another happy ending after a challenging post lambing period.  

Jackie Bottlefeeding

Finally, our most recent delivery came this past Friday, the 25th.  Once again, we put a ready looking ewe (39) in the pen with another ewe and lamb.  Sure enough, the next morning another ram lamb arrived.  He was discovered shaking and barely able to stand, covered in meconium and amniotic fluids.  The mother was caring for him but also seemed to still be in labor.  We thought perhaps a twin was on the way.  We didn't want to interfere with the two of them but the little lamb didn't look so good and she wasn't letting him nurse.  He needed an enema and after a good poop, he regained his suck reflex and we got  him latched on.  Mama took awhile delivery her placenta but no twin emerged.  After she finished laboring, she was attentive and he nursed.  He has been gaining well ever since.  

We now have only one more ewe who could deliver.  No. 54, who I thought looked pregnant weeks ago, now seems to show no signs.  I assume she is pregnant but must just be a few weeks delayed.  Hopefully she will lamb in a week or so and we will completely done with 2014 lambing.    

Double Delivery

Just when I was wondering when we would have more lambs, two more came. This morning both 77 and Giovanna delivered just hours apart.  Our last little guy has been doing great, nursing, and gaining a ton so we've had a bit of a break.  I knew it wouldn't last for long.

When I went to check the sheep this morning at about  8:30, there was a little lamb standing next to 77.  At first, I just looked at him and thought "you look small."   In my pre-coffee state, it didn't register right away that he wasn't just one of the many lambs in the main barn.  But I quickly realized what had happened.     He looked great though, standing right up with everyone else, already cleaned and dry and nursing - Good job Mama!

We got everyone else outside and let them have some time before moving them into the small lamb jug for their bonding days.  He seems to be doing fine.

77 with her ram lamb

We were finishing up with that when some friends came over to see the lambs so we took them on a tour and did the weighing rounds.  All the lambs were doing great, nursing, and frolicking with each other.

Our friends were just getting ready to leave and we were about to go in when Jay calls that Giovanna is coming!  Our guests decided to stay to see the birth and within half an hour, Giovanna had delivered another ram lam.  She has been another all-star mom and they are doing great too!  

Giovanna and her ram lam just after delivery

I think that the ewes that have seen all the other lambs nursing understand about mothering better than the ones who delivered weeks ago and had never seen a lamb before.  I think next year, we should make sure that the experienced mothers lamb first so that the younger ewes can learn from them.

It was a good morning.  Two successful deliveries without complication, a beautiful day, and a morning with friends.    There are only 4 more ewes that haven't lambed.  At first we thought one or two of them weren't pregnant but we're pretty sure they all are now.   Lambing season continues . . .

some lambs sunning themselves

On another note, Jay tried his hand at shearing yesterday. We have one shorn sheep - she was not a happy camper.  Now he just has to do the other 15!  Oh - and we need to figure out how to do something with all that wool.

Jay's first shearing job (64)

Back to the Teat

While I had almost given up on our newest little guy feeding from the teat - last night he did it for the first time!   That means we might not have to milk his mom or bottle-feed him anymor.    All day today, he has been nursing properly.  The only problem is that it seems he doesn't do it on his own.  We've been getting him up and helping him find the nipple every few hours all day.  At least it's a start.  The La Leche League leader in me is so excited for him to nurse the way he is supposed to instead of from a bottle!  The lazy shepherdess in me is just glad I don't have to do more milking and bottle feeding.  Win-win!

51 with her ram-lamb

Our first bottle baby

Well we were wrong about Giovanna.  She still hasn't lambed but 51 did.  I got very lucky once again yesterday.  Maybe St. Germaine really is looking out for me.   I was out for the afternoon and when I went out to check the sheep, one was just starting to show a hoof coming out.  She was in the barn with the rest of the sheep since the weather was crappy and we'd kept them all in for the day.  One of the other sheep was seemingly trying to kick the baby as it emerged so I cleared all the other sheep out of the barn.  The baby was born soon after.  I had to clear his face of mucous as its mother didn't do so right away but then she started licking him.  He was soon up and trying to nurse but she was walking away.

We let them stay in the barn to bond for about an hour before moving them to the lamb jug by the house.  51 is a very skittish sheep and really didn't like us being so close to her.  Once she was in the other pen, she continued to shy away from her lamb whenever he got near the teat.   Unlike some of the others that did the same thing, she flipped out whenever we got close to her so we couldn't help the lamb latch on like we had.

After a bit of this, we decided to just milk her and give the lamb some milk in a bottle.  Jay pinned her against the wall as she ate and I milked as much as I could.  It is not easy to milk a sheep that really doesn't want you near her.  We did get a good bit of milk though and thankfully, the lamb sucked on the bottle and drank a good bit.  At least we didn't have to tube feed him.   We fed him a bit more a few hours later using the rest of the milk along with a bit of the powdered colostrum replacer.  Then we milked her again.

Today, we tried to get him to latch on himself several more times but he didn't seem interested so again we milked and bottle-fed.   He got plenty from the bottle but would only take a few ounces at a time so we had to feed him often.  After a longer stretch without eating, he was very hungry this evening.  We gave her some grain and he actually latched on with help and suckled from the teat!    Hopefully we can get him to do that a few more times and the two of them might actually get the hang of it.

Otherwise, he has to be bottle-fed and she has to be milked to relieve pressure in the udders so she doesn't get mastitis.  Without proper equipment, milking is a real PITA so I really hope they get the hang of nursing as Nature intended.

No one else had a baby today so far and I really have no idea who will be next.  Giovanna, 77, and 54 all look ready to go and have for days so we'll see.  That may be it for spring lambing.

Could be another late night

Jay is out in the barn.  Giovanna, our black sheep is not interested in eating which is very unusual for her.    She has looked ready to go for at least a week now.   He says she has her tail up too.   If we're lucky she'll show us for sure and we can move her to the lamb jug by the house before she gives birth.  This will make our life a lot easier after she lambs.

Another set of twins

Last night, Jay went to check the flock at about 10:30 and found a lamb already up and trying to nurse in the main barn with the flock.  It was pouring.  All our lambing jugs were full so he just took the ewe and her lamb out into a section of the barn where we store things, next to the main pen and one of the lambing jugs.   When I got outside, the ewe was on her side straining.  She was obviously still in labor and unable to really care for her firstborn ram lamb at the same time.  We watched concerned and checked the clock -11:06.  She had been straining for awhile with no progress so Jay put on gloves and lube just in case.  Thankfully she stood up and after a few pushes we saw hooves.  We decided to give her more time since she was making progress albeit slow.   By 11:15 the breech lamb was delivered without intervention but the ewe was exhausted.  

She wouldn't stand up to feed her lambs.   We toweled off the second lamb a bit since Mama couldn't reach to lick her without moving and then placed the lamb near the ewe's nose.  She went to work licking both lambs but wouldn't get up.  Soon both lambs were crying.  Jay gave her some nurtri-drench and I brought her a bucket of warm water with molasses and put it right next to her head and she drank almost a gallon I'd say.    As we were discussing what we should do and whether or not to start bottle feeding the lambs, she finally perked up a bit and we got her on her feet.  I checked the teats for milk and then ran in the house to get a container, a funnel, and a bottle.  After trying to get the lambs to nurse, I milked a couple of ounces out and put it in the bottle just in case.   

The ram lamb was more vigorous - he may have gotten his first feeding before his sister was born and he got the hang of nursing easier.  The ewe lamb was much weaker from the long delivery and the lack of immediate mama love.  She was interested in nursing but didn't seem to understand about latching onto the teat.  It didn't help that the mother has double nipples on each side - only one of which has milk.  I didn't want to take any chances so I took her aside and tried to bottle-feed her.   I put my finger in her mouth to check her suck reflex and then put the teat in.   I tried to be careful not to pour the milk into her mouth too quick but also tilted it enough so she could get some.  She drank about an ounce and then she seemed to want to be closer to mom so I brought her back to the teat.  Meanwhile, Jay took out the clippers to trim some of the long locks around the ewe's udders so we could see better.   Somehow during all this we also managed to put a little fleece jacket on each one to help keep them warm.  

By 12:30 both lambs seemed OK and had at least nursed a little plus the little one had some from the bottle.   We moved another ewe and her lamb (born Friday evening) into the nursery pen with two other ewes and their lambs and put the newest mama into the lambing jug - gave her some more water and some nice fresh hay and left them alone for an hour or so.  

At 1:30 we went to check on them.  We weighed them, clipped their umbilical cords, dipped in iodine and helped them both to eat one more time before going to bed.   The ram lamb weighed 8.4 lbs and the ewe lamb 7.3 lbs.  We hoped that they would gain over the night and thankfully they did.   

By noon today they had both gained nearly half a pound.  I didn't get a chance to take a picture yet.  

I now have no idea which ewe will be next to lamb.  There are several that look ready but several have completely surprised us so it could be anyone?  

Just in the nick of time!

I am not a religious person but today I really do feel as if a God of Shepherds smiled down on me.   Wikipedia lists several patron saints of shepherds, but only two of shepherdesses, St. Bernadette and St. Germaine.  The Roman believed both Pan and Pales looked after shepherds and I'm sure countless other people throughout history have prayed to various deities for divine assistance with their flock.
Whatever power may be out there certainly looked after us today.

 I was out all day and got home just in time to catch a birth.  After arriving home,  I went down to check on the flock and what do you know, there is a sheep laying on her side straining.   It was warmer today but drizzling and I can't have a  lamb getting all wet and chilled. Thankfully a scan of the area shows no other lambs.

All our lamb jugs are full and the ewe is near the gate to go into the barn.  I have to get the other sheep away from her to leave her in peace so I yell for Aria to throw them some hay, which she does.  They take the bait and run down to the other side of the field to eat.  The ewe in labor gets up and delivers her baby a few minutes later.  She gets right to work licking it and it doesn't seem she will have another just yet.  I want to get the lamb out of the rain but also don't want the mother to abandon it by getting in the way too early.  I let her lick it for a few minutes and then slowly approach the ewe and undo the electric fence.  Using a towel, I pick up the lamb and slowly walk to the gate, keeping it near its mother's nose.  She follows me right in and none of the other sheep seem to notice and come storming the gate - whew!  I bring them right into the main barn and then leave them alone.  It isn't too cold so I want to give them some time.

Meanwhile, Jay arrives and moves the other sheep so that there is an available lamb jug.   I keep watch to see if the lamb will nurse on its own or will need some help.  It soon seems as the though the ewe doesn't understand about feeding the lamb.  Like many of the other ewes, she loves her lamb, licks it, sniffs its butt, but moves away when it tries to latch on to eat.  This is not good when the lambs aren't that good at getting to the teat in the first place.   After a few minutes of this, we decide it best to intervene.  I swear its a miracle any lambs survive without human help.  I strip the teats to check that the milk is flowing and then we bring some grain for the ewe.  Soon she is still enough that I can assist the hungry lamb in finding the nipple.  After a few tries, he gets the idea and has a good long suck.  We repeat the process three times right away.  I am so relieved that he is getting his first colostrum within the recommended hour after birth.   Hopefully this will prevent him from becoming constipated and weak - a bad combination.  

After a few good feedings, we move them into the adjoining lamb jug.  It is our smallest jug and isn't attached to the house where we've had all our other newborns.  64 and her sickly ram lam are still by the house and we want to keep them there.  It won't be too cold so hopefully our newest mama Number 63 and her ram lamb will be fine out in the barn in their own private space.   After awhile, Jason weighs the lamb.  He is our biggest yet, weighing in at 11.4 lbs 1.5 hours after birth.  

63 with her ram lamb just after birth

I just can't believe how lucky we were.  If I hadn't gone to check on the sheep right when I did, we could easily have had a dead lamb out in the mud and rain.   Without our help, the mother wouldn't have nursed and the lamb would have gotten cold and weak outside.   At a minimum, we'd be tube feeding the lamb hours later because it didn't get its first feeding early enough.   It scares me to think how much of the time we are not really watching the sheep.  Checking on them every few hours just isn't enough.  We should probably be out there every hour.  We probably won't be.  I just hope that St. Germaine keeps watch for us.