The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Smashy and gang on June 13, 2011, 10:04:59 pm
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Hi there - another question from me - sorry! It's just that there's so much information you all have that I feel I need to make the most of it!
So - we have two ewes who are decidedly swollen in the belly department, but not equally each side. To be fair, one has been like this for many months (to the point where we thought she'd got in lamb accidentally when she was 'on holiday' with our friends) and her belly hasn't changed - she's always seemed well and had lovely lovely lambs this year but is still lopsided! The other ewe has only become swollen and lopsided in the last few weeks, since lambing - again, she's well, eating, running round etc.
Should I worry? I don't think its gas because they're swollen bellies sound solid, not tympanic. Any ideas? Thankyou!
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Yours may be something totally different, but last year we had a ewe who looked as pregnant after lambing as she had before - to the extent that I accused her of having stolen someone else's lamb. She was also lopsided - and remained that way, huge. She lambed again this year with twins and when I watched her walking towards me a couple of days ago she still looks extremely pregnant. I have come to the conclusion that it is just her - that's the way she is. She is perfectly happy and healthy in every other way.
I will be interested in what others have to say - the only advice I have had with mine is to cull her...which I haven't. Very odd ??? ::) :sheep:
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More swollen on the left, where the rumen is? Our older ewes' bellies seem to 'drop' (like the rest of us then :D) and that somehow seems to make them look fatter too.
I'm thinking if they're eating, pooping, running around and feeding their lambs, there's not too much to worry about :)
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We've got one that looks pregnant - and her lambs are 6 weeks old. She always looks like that and seems fine and healthy. I wouldn't worry if all other signs are good. We humans are all different shapes too ;D
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Fabulous, thankyou all! Not partic more swollen on left - swollen both sides but in different places (ie. higher or lower, nearer the front or nearer the back, on different sides) - I'll leave well alone then! Hurrah, no vets bill!!
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The only thing to add is that sometimes it seems to be the lopsided ones that we find 'kessing' - stuck on their backs. They always look lopsided if they've been upside down for a few hours, but with some it doesn't seem to wear off - and the looks-like-a-table effect no doubt makes them more prone to getting stuck with their legs in the air.
(They really are stupid, sometimes, aren't they! But then - they have staff tending to their every need, and we run ourselves ragged looking after them - so just who is stupid in this picture... ;))