The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: brookdale on March 28, 2016, 09:51:05 pm
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I sadly found a dead lamb in the field this evening from ewe's that weren't supposed to be in lamb. It must have been born last night in the storms and being they are in a large field I missed it this morning as they were at the other end of the field.
I bought the sheep on the 29th November and the seller said they had not been tupped, so I was really shocked to find this lamb. My concern is if any of the rest are in lamb, is it likely ? Looking at them now with that in mind, it could be possible.
Theses ewe's have not been fed as if they were in lamb, although they have had free access to hay and pellets over the last few weeks as I have been so concerned about their condition. I only had the vet out to them last week because they are in such poor condition, but blood tests, worm count / fluke test and skins scrapes all came back fine.
Question what do I do now?
15 sheep in v. Poor condition in a field about 2 miles away, possible in lamb. I really don't want to loose ewe's or lambs. I have only lambed once before and I was throughly prepared and it was only 2 ewe's.
I will go to the field late tonight to check, but can I leave a ewe and lamb in an open field, should I set up some small pens with straw?
Any advise greatly received. Thanks
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Sheep with lambs will be fine in field if weather is decent. Could it be that the rest are thin because they are in lamb also? They usually get a bit of an udder before they lamb too so might be a tell tale sign to look out for.
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I had a similar case last year, I bought in sheep which had been run alongside wethers, turned out they were in lamb. I am sorry for your loss. Are you able to bring the sheep in at all or closer to your house? It might be worth getting them in to check them to see if they're in lamb. When mine are in lamb I give them some sugarbeet and ad-lib hay, which they love. I hope this helps and all the best with them :thumbsup: Please do keep us updated? I am sorry that I cannot be of more help
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Ewes and lambs are fine in an open field under normal conditions. But bearing in mind the recent strong winds and torrential rain, I would take some straw and hurdles for emergency shelter, and to make the odd temporary pen in case of problems. A few hurdles tied up at right angles to the fence, (assuming a solid fence), or tied together in a u shape so they will stand by themselves, will provide a wind break on a foul day. Some small bales of straw arranged 3 together like a T, are even better as the sheep can get shelter on whichever side is away from the wind.
When I used to lamb outside with no buildings I used to have an old livestock trailer that I left in the field and sometimes the ewes would go inside to lamb, or failing that I always had somewhere to enclose anyone that had a problem.
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Doesn't op need to find the ewe that has lambed so it can be monitored for the milk drying up and not causing mastitis especially if food it about to be offered.
On a plus, I would have thought they vet might have commented if a lot of them looked pregnant - I know it's hard with lambs but even so.
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SORRY but you are in a very difficult situation , you need to pen up your sheep and check for udders as a first move , as said I'm surprised the vet didn't check to see if any were in lamb . While yes normally sheep will lamb in a field ok you are not in a normal situation ,from your post the ewes are very lean so the lambs if carried to term will be small so will get chilled very quickly and the ewes may have no milk , SO you need some form of shelter , heat in some form , colostrum , milk powder / bottles/ tubes / . For the ewes you may need calcium borogluconate / twin lamb remedy / multi vit shelter and up their pellets little by little , the good thing is you know that any in lamb will lamb in the next month . KEEP ASKING QUESTIONS
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Some high energy blocks, the red crystalix or red Maxx bucket. Also ad lib haylage. Plus all what shep saysgood luck x
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Is there any chance of fencing part of the field off? (How big is the field?), and at least bringing them in there at night so you can check easier? Have to say I don't think udders are the best guide, my girl is in lamb but no udder yet, she can't be far off.
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When you say ewes do you mean sheep that have had a lamb before or ewe hoggs carrying a first lamb ? What condition score are they ?
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Hows it going
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Thanks all for your replies.
Little bit more prepared now. Luckily no more lambs to date although a couple look due any time.
Keeping a real close eye. Visiting last thing about 12.00 at night and then at 5.30 / 6.00 at first light, not ideal but our fields are so water logged here have decided to leave them rather than the stress of moving again.
Have sectioned off a section of the field with hurdles and put in shelter with straw bales. Have put down high protein blocks, not that they seem that fussed by them.
All are still feeding well on the pellets and grass and have good appetites, I'm ready with colostrum and various other bits, just need a bit of luck now and no more torrential rain.
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You've been busy :-),
Don't know whether it was local or countrywide but weather didn't sound too bad until Saturday night, than heavy rain.
Good luck. Is the mum Ok?
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Good luck. They are lucky to have you!
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Have you got someone willing to check on them a couple of times a day? If only to shout for help if worried.
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Checking on them throughout the day too, probable every 3 hrs, starting to think I might as well get the tent out !!!! :)
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For first timers the vulva is often a better indicator of lambing than the udder. It will look longer, larger overall and much softer than usual. If you have any more lambs I'd be inclined to routinely give them good quality powdered colostrum as soon as they're born and again two hours later, as the ewe's milk is likely to come in a bit late and may be of poor quality as she hasn't been fed for pregnancy over the last six weeks or so.
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Sounds like your doing all you can in a difficult situation :fc: for a happy ending. Did you get them in to see how many in lamb?