[mebnandtrn]

Here is another sleep deprived, possibly neurotic lambing question! We sponged our ewes and only left the ram in with them for a week, accepting the possibly reduced success rate but gaining a short lambing. Their "watch for lambs" date was last Sunday based on the day they all got raddled. They were all raddled about 12 hours, after which the ram lost interest! The first lambs were born Sunday night and Monday morning. Then nothing till Wednesday night. Now there is just one left who we are fairly sure is pregnant. But she is showing no signs of lambing at all. Yesterday she ate less than normal, but today she is still not doing anything about lambing. In the night I was worrying that this might be due to a problem with the lambs inside her, possibly a dead lamb / lambs. That got me worrying that we should get her checked by the vet. So can a ewe not going into labour be caused by dead lambs, or will they usually lamb anyway? Should we get the vet today, 5 days from due, or wait till Monday, 8 days from due.? Thanks for all the help.

[SallyintNorth]

I've no experience of AI in sheep, but in general, where I know the date of tupping, I wouldn't be worrying at 152 days unless she's showing signs of being unwell or unhappy.  By 157 days I would be decidedly twitchy!

[Foobar]

Might be worth ringing the vet for advice.  If you are certain she is pregnant and is bagged up then maybe she could be induced.   However if the sponging wasn't as successful as expected in getting them to cycle at the same time then there is still a chance that she's not due until this sunday.

[mebnandtrn]

I should add the ewe in question has had a huge appetite for hay since she came inside for lambing (as did all the ewes before birth). But since yesterday afternoon she has eaten much less hay.

[Foobar]

I should add the ewe in question has had a huge appetite for hay since she came inside for lambing (as did all the ewes before birth). But since yesterday afternoon she has eaten much less hay.

I would say that that might be a sign that she is due v soon.  You could take her temperature just to make sure that she isn't unwell? (also if you were to ring the vet, telling them her temperature would be helpful)

[mebnandtrn]

How do you take their temperature? Its hard enough on our 3 year old little boy, let alone a sheep!!

[ZaktheLad]

Just don't try putting the thermometer in the sheeps mouth! 

[Foobar]

How do you take their temperature? Its hard enough on our 3 year old little boy, let alone a sheep!!

Lol. Yes, you will need to hold onto it whilst it's up her bum .  This is where a fast reading digital thermometer is helpful. 
You could also feel her ears - they are a good guide - hot ears => has temperature.

[mowhaugh]

From someone who knows, taking the temperature of a sheep is a walk in the park comapred to taking the temperature of a small boy!  Good luck!

[trish.farm]

And don't make the "bad mother" mistake I did.  Only thermometer I had was out in the tackroom, very poorly son, my mother tells me to take his temperature, so I did!!  Even after hibiscrub, Dettol and lots of hot water apparently the thermometer has a funny taste to it,  I still cant forgive myself!!!!!!!!!!    (pleased to say my son is alive and kicking 10 years after the  nasty experience)!!

[lesbri]

See absolutely nothing wrong with that!! 

[mebnandtrn]

I would say that that might be a sign that she is due v soon.  You could take her temperature just to make sure that she isn't unwell? (also if you were to ring the vet, telling them her temperature would be helpful)
[/quote]

Still nothing happening but she has not got a temperature! Using the ear feeling method at least. Although she does think I am mighty strange as not only do I keep peering at her back end for discharge but now I feel her ears! I guess I will wait a till Monday then if still nothing happening I will get the vet as something inside me thinks something is not right. Does anyone have any experience with dead lambs and whether the ewe will go into labour on her own if they have died inside her?

[SallyintNorth]

If she has a temperature, that's not a good sign.

If you think she needs the vet, get her to the vet today, don't wait another two days.

[trish.farm]

I had a dead lamb last week. Ewe looked very quiet all morning, kept have little pee, by lunchtime she was pawing the ground, up and down, etc.  By 9pm I was panicing and pulled out a dead lamb followed by a live lamb.  If she is showing signs of labour, pawing ground, taking herself off to a quiet spot, lying down, getting up etc, and not producing then you could have a problem.  But if nothing at all is happening, she might not be ready.

[Marches Farmer]

Not much of an appetite could well indicate that contractions have begun.  Could also indicate an infection which is why taking the temperature is useful.  Some of ours give signals for several days before they settle down to giving birth.  The lambing following the very wet Winter of 2012 all our ewes were nine days late - now that was confusing!