The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: bbell on January 30, 2015, 09:25:27 pm

Title: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: bbell on January 30, 2015, 09:25:27 pm
Im going a little nutty with this ewe!! She was bred when we got her, so I do not have a date :(

She has been showing mild signs for about a week now
- udder developing (tight, nipples full and standing)
- I can see her sides have sunk a bit and I can see her rump and tail bone seems hallow (she looks like a triangle from behind)
- Her vulva is swollen, pink and shiny
- she makes faces when she is laying down (lip curling, staring behind her)

but I have not seen any signs of ACTIVE labor. she has got to be getting close right!? lol like I said...I'm going nutty!  I think she is messing with me.  :fc:

Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva
Post by: bbell on January 30, 2015, 09:32:35 pm
Every one likes vulva photos right?  ;)

(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv172/BBell_album/20150129_200247_zpsfhvxxv9i.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/BBell_album/media/20150129_200247_zpsfhvxxv9i.jpg.html)

(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv172/BBell_album/20150128_162540_zpsrlw3ldfc.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/BBell_album/media/20150128_162540_zpsrlw3ldfc.jpg.html)

(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv172/BBell_album/20150128_162532_zpsx1n2xrwi.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/BBell_album/media/20150128_162532_zpsx1n2xrwi.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Azzdodd on January 30, 2015, 10:01:08 pm
I would say she should be soon looking at the pics an your description do you know what she is in lamb too
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: bbell on January 30, 2015, 10:04:39 pm
I would say she should be soon looking at the pics an your description do you know what she is in lamb too

She was bred to a Dorper x Suffolk Ram (he was mostly Dorper). We didn't scan her, as we didn't know she was bred originally! So I think she may only have a single in there...but they like to surprise us!
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Womble on January 30, 2015, 10:52:24 pm
Nice Ewe!  Hope she gets on with it soon for you  :thumbsup: .

I'm sorry to hear about your stolen Volvo though  :bouquet: .
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Brucklay on January 30, 2015, 11:06:27 pm
I don't know the breed specific but I would also say not too long - look for her keeping away on her own and pawing the ground - more imminent then.


PS Womble haven't laughed so much for ages  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: SallyintNorth on January 31, 2015, 12:15:04 pm
Great pics!

Given the time you posted last night, I hope this girl has gone on and produced for you by now :fc:

Hope all went well - lambie pics always very well-received, of course ;)  :eyelashes:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Garmoran on January 31, 2015, 01:06:39 pm
PS Womble haven't laughed so much for ages  :thumbsup:

Seconded!!  :roflanim:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Marches Farmer on January 31, 2015, 03:19:53 pm
I would perhaps consider getting an experienced shepherd or vet to check her out.  A badly presented lamb (breech, for instance) won't open up the cervix.
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: bbell on January 31, 2015, 03:52:15 pm
feel free to use those photos as a ewe who ISN'T actually going to lamb :) haha

 I thought for sure she was ready to go, but she never went into an active labor, and is as normal as ever today (her vulva still huge).  She was even hopping around and "playing" with the other ewes this morning while waiting for her morning grain.

 I think her lip curling and slight grunting may be from discomfort when laying down as it was momentary and quickly passed once she got comfortable.

 I will keep updating this one until we have a lamb! 
I will be getting my vet out here as if she shows signs of distress for sure.
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Me on January 31, 2015, 03:55:35 pm
We always pick out the next ewe to lamb for "sure" and are wrong. One much less ready looking always seems to go first
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: SallyintNorth on January 31, 2015, 09:49:09 pm
lol, well we can all get caught out.  Probably one of the lambs was moving position, making her lie down and pull faces.  I had one like that once - I was certain she'd lamb within 2 hours three or four times over a period of three weeks!  A word of caution, though - when she did lamb, she had triplets ;)  :roflanim:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Ladygrey on February 02, 2015, 08:12:04 am
Nice looking ewe  :)

Hopefully will be soon!

she does look soon although I usually get it wrong with mine and some little jumpy one who looked weeks off usually turns up with twins  ::)
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Me on February 02, 2015, 08:30:30 am
Probably one of the lambs was moving position, making her lie down and pull faces.

That's the conclusion we came to, the Charmoise in particular seem to grunt, throw their heads back, go back up on one front foot, curl the lips and then chew away happily. Keeps us guessing.  :huff:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: bbell on February 02, 2015, 05:46:19 pm
WELL! she is STILL holding onto that lamb :)  I think she secretly knows it drives me crazy.

We caved and purchased a barn camera to save me the pain of midnight checks. It wont be here until Wednesday...so I'm sure she lamb Tuesday night just to prove a point! ha ha

 she did have a slight clear sticky discharge last night, not enough to drip. I'm hoping that's another sign?
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Anke on February 02, 2015, 09:13:33 pm
Actually a camera is an absolute godsend. Especially if you not have that many ewes to lamb and they are spread out over three weeks... I now use mine for the goats - it's not so much the getting up all the time, is the getting all dressed up and going out only to find they are chewing their cud and nothing is happening.

They are also less disturbed by you turning up all the time...
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Brucklay on February 02, 2015, 09:17:28 pm
Glad she's doing well - sorry she's driving you crazy  :innocent:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Old Shep on February 02, 2015, 10:33:18 pm
I had a ewe last year that kept doing that for a week. I then put her in the barn and for another week she looked imminent every night so id get up at 3 to check her and she would just be chewing her cud! I got so fed up with this one morning i put her back outside. . In an hour she had lambed twins at the far end of the field!
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Dogwalker on February 03, 2015, 10:37:37 am
 I had the same with an angora goat, I was convinced she'd be first, after a week I put her back out with the others,
 went out to get feed and had a phone call from my son saying there was a new yellow kid in the field shouting with no adult by it.  She'd kidded on the slope and he'd slid down while she was having the twin.

  D. coped with it well considering he  knows nothing about it and doesn't 'do' mucky animals!
 Give him a greasy engine, well that's different. ::)
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Maureen on February 03, 2015, 12:05:40 pm
come on little girl, I have to keep checking on here to see if you have 'done it' yet. :love:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Bionic on February 09, 2015, 05:24:18 pm
Is there any news yet?
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: bbell on February 12, 2015, 04:25:50 pm
We have one giant ewe lamb on the ground! Up and sucking within 10 minutes

Momma is doing good. We had to assist with the head but all went well.
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: Bionic on February 12, 2015, 04:36:38 pm
Great news  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *photos*
Post by: bbell on February 12, 2015, 05:28:35 pm
My first sign that something is happening finally!!
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv172/BBell_album/20150212_053450_zpsvghs0gdo.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/BBell_album/media/20150212_053450_zpsvghs0gdo.jpg.html)

I see toes!!
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv172/BBell_album/20150212_053732_zps6e3srxo2.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/BBell_album/media/20150212_053732_zps6e3srxo2.jpg.html)

momma getting her first look at her huge ewe lamb
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv172/BBell_album/20150212_061707_zpsgt7osiiy.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/BBell_album/media/20150212_061707_zpsgt7osiiy.jpg.html)

Up and drinking within in the first 15 minutes!
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv172/BBell_album/20150212_063900_zps3jwmclyr.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/BBell_album/media/20150212_063900_zps3jwmclyr.jpg.html)

Adorable little face on this girl!
(http://i681.photobucket.com/albums/vv172/BBell_album/20150212_065148_zps35tdt7bj.jpg) (http://s681.photobucket.com/user/BBell_album/media/20150212_065148_zps35tdt7bj.jpg.html)

 We might keep this ewe lamb as a replacement! she is a Suffolk x dorset x katahdin and is very strong and vigorous
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: nutterly_uts on February 12, 2015, 05:57:10 pm
 :love: :love: :love: :love: :love:


She's gorgeous and massive  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: kelly58 on February 12, 2015, 06:28:27 pm
Well done Mammy !  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: Bionic on February 12, 2015, 06:53:30 pm
Mum looks very pleased with herself
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: Jamie12 on February 12, 2015, 08:11:07 pm
She's gorgeous.
What's the basket for?
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: Katrina on February 12, 2015, 08:35:37 pm
So sweet!! :love: :love:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: Old Shep on February 12, 2015, 09:47:00 pm
Thats  a big one !
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: moprabbit on February 12, 2015, 10:38:09 pm
Excellent news and super pics! Well done everyone!!
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: Mammyshaz on February 12, 2015, 10:41:13 pm
Congratulations to you and we'll done mum.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: kanisha on February 13, 2015, 07:03:28 am
Yay! worth the wait  :love:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: Jukes Mum on February 13, 2015, 09:06:33 am
Yay! Congratulations x x
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: Louise Gaunt on February 13, 2015, 09:28:53 am
Great news! So glad mum and lamb are well!
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: Bramblecot on February 13, 2015, 10:45:02 am
 :relief: congratulations!
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: Foobar on February 13, 2015, 11:05:57 am
What a cutie! :)
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: Maureen on February 13, 2015, 03:15:27 pm
This wonderful, well worth the wait - I've been checking every day!  :excited:
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: SallyintNorth on February 14, 2015, 09:03:40 am
Hurrah for a good outcome  :thumbsup:

Mum and lamb both look great - Mum deservedly very pleased with herself! 
Title: Re: Ewe swollen vulva *LAMB PHOTOS!*
Post by: devonlady on February 14, 2015, 10:17:36 am
That is one big girl :trophy: