[JMB]

Hello. Our first lamb arrived today. Cue lots of panic!
She seems fine, Mum is very attentive, but as we are lambing out in the field I'm trying to give them some space and watch with my binoculars (have caught lamb and done navel but that's all).
The problem is- being a newbie- I can't really tell if it's suckled or not. She sticks her head under but I can't see what's happening.And then the ewe moves.
WE could bring them in but I don't really want to intervene if unecessary.
She is quite alert and sprightly so I'm tempted to leave her.
Would we know if she hadn't suckled or wasn't getting enough?
She's a few hours old now (probably 3-4). How long do I wait and see?
Thank you,. Joanne x

[in the hills]

Our first year lambing so please wait for someone else to reply but know how you are feeling.

Our first ever lamb arrived and we were desperate to know that it had suckled, especially seeing that a below zero night was forecast. Could see it going under but couldnt tell if it was latching on. Very wimpy Im afraid and sent for our friendly farmer friend. He took one look and said its fine! 

His advice was to put a finger in lambies mouth and check that it was warm. Also a good sign if lamb lying down content and tummy feels full and not hollow and gets up with a stretch. Be concerned if lamb bleating.

You can see when milk starts to go through them by the lovely yellowy poo!

He said that they took only tiny amounts initially and you may well miss them feeding. He patted lamb on bottom to encourage him under for a feed. Worked a treat!

We just went on the general look of the lambs afterwards.

Hope that helps a bit. I remember the panic of that first lamb. 

[woollyval]

Even if you are lambing out and little intervention its ALWAYS a good idea to pen them for 24 hours so you can check mums udder is working, worm her and do her feet, eartag/tail/castrate lamb and make sure its feeding ok!

So.....go and grab lamb hold by front legs and dangle it in front of ewe and get her to follow you into some sort of pen. Then you can sort out all these things and let them out tomorrow...easy

[Fleecewife]

When she goes under the ewe, does her tail waggle?  That is usually a sign that a lamb is actually getting some milk.

Does she look as if her sides have collapsed in and her back is hunched up?  Then she hasn't fed.

Lambs usually manage to suck so if all seems well then all IS well.  If you are really worried, pick up the lamb and feel if her belly is a bit rounded and she is nice and warm, or if she is lightweight and hunched.  If you think she hasn't fed, put a clean little finger in her mouth and see if she sucks ie that she has a good sucking reflex.

Don't assume that something is wrong - almost always it's all alright 

Ah - in the hills and woollyval have posted while I was typing - how are you  both so quick so two different opinions.

It will to some extent depend on which breed of sheep you have - what are yours JMB?

[woollyval]

  I always catch mine up as I'd need a net to catch a Ouessant lamb after it was about 3 hours old...move like greased lightening!!!!!

[in the hills]

Oh yes, as Woollyval suggests we did pen ours in the field shelter for 24 hrs just to make it easier to check they had bonded and in case there were any problems. One set of twins we left in a bit longer due to one being very teeny and a bit wobbly looking.

They would I am told have probably been fine left out in the field in terms of hardiness but my friend told me that twins were more vulnerable to predators.

And yes, catching the Soay after a few hours is next to impossible!!! A big net sounds worth a try ..... I have to do a bit of ringing this weekend. We are going to be very fit.

[suziequeue]

This is always a time of anxiety and it gets a bit better as time goes on (says - she - this is only our second year lambing  )

We watched mostly with binoculars this year but - because the lambing coincided with a particularly unpleasant spell of weather - we were getting them in at night for a few days so we could have a good look and reassure ourselves that all was well.

[Bramblecot]

Jo, Is she a new mum  If you have a shelter in the field it will put you mind at ease later tonight knowing they are safely tucked up.  I keep all mine in for the first 24 hours if I can.  Congratulations on your first lamb.

[SteveHants]

Even if you are lambing out and little intervention its ALWAYS a good idea to pen them for 24 hours so you can check mums udder is working, worm her and do her feet, eartag/tail/castrate lamb and make sure its feeding ok!

So.....go and grab lamb hold by front legs and dangle it in front of ewe and get her to follow you into some sort of pen. Then you can sort out all these things and let them out tomorrow...easy

I dont do any of that. I take the lamb off the ewe as long as it takes to record gender, tag and iodine it and then give it back to its dam. I do this only when I am sure it is mothered up. I don't routineley foot-trim either......

More than one way to skin a cat, it seems.

[woollyval]

Ah well I only trim /check feet at lambing and when the rams go in.....and at same time I worm/fluke if necessary. Its impossible to capture Ouessant lambs if not caught quickly and then there is more stress! Primitives are much faster than 'normal' sheep! Sometimes I only bring them in for an hour or so, so I can do these jobs esp if an experienced ewe. We are surrounded by woodland so lots of badgers and foxes, and as Ouessant lambs are worth rather a lot i am slightly careful.
The other reason is that I worm and turn out onto clean ground after lambing.....the ewes and lambs always go on to ground that has been sheep free for at least 3 months and that keeps the worm burden down. 

[SallyintNorth]

When she goes under the ewe, does her tail waggle?  That is usually a sign that a lamb is actually getting some milk.

<snip>

It will to some extent depend on which breed of sheep you have - what are yours JMB?

It must depend on breed, yes - our Texel types waggle their tails when they are sucking wool; when they are sucking my finger, my waterproofs, the wooden pen sides...    We definitely can't use a waggling tail as an indication that suckling is being successful!