The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: princesslayer on March 21, 2015, 09:49:08 pm
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Me again! Can you tell it's my first time lambing? What would I do without you all!
So, I have a ewe with twins (ewe and ram) and a ewe with a single ram. Singleton is thriving, been gadding about the garden with mum today, born at 5pm yesterday, so not worried about him.
Twins bit more of a concern. I've kept them penned up so far, they were born yesterday lunchtime. She's very attentive but I haven't seen them doing a lot of feeding. They must be getting some milk, but they're clearly not doing as well as the single (maybe I shouldn't expect them to?). The ewe lamb had a good tube feed yesterday a couple of hours after birth as she seemed to be making less feeding effort than the ram lamb. They're up and about, but not exactly zingy! They're lying down quite a lot, not bleating (good sign?).
What's normal behaviour for a day old lamb? Ewes udders are milky but not distended or lumpy.
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Have you checked the ewe has milk both sides by milking her?
Check to see if the lambs are full. Hold up by front feet so lamb is dangling, then put fingers and thumb on either side of chest and run them downwards over the stomach. If the stomach is wider than the ribs lamb is full. if stomach is same as ribs then its ok esp if inside,, if stomach is slimmer than ribs more milk required. Get into the habit of doing this test often it will save lives. Good luck.
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We pop lambs up on checks, we like to see a good lambie stretch, sign of a rested lamb, also that they're not hunched in back.
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Thanks both, I've been trying the hanging technique but that is a good explanation, I've got a better idea now. They're up crashing about outside this morning, will keep a close eye.