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I'm really worried that I have made a mistake and any help would be very helpful
I have Shetland ewes in lamb
This afternoon I went to my field to do a lamb check and found that a black and white ewe had seemingly lambed, lamb was dry and walking with its mum who looked newly deflated svelte looking and happy. Lamb looks exactly like mum (as did her lamb last year) all good.
A brown ewe was hassling the pair and trying to steal the lamb so I separated them and put the lamb and ewe in a pen in the stable to bond. lamb suckling and all seemed fine
The brown ewe (who still looks enormous and not like she has lambed) has been bleating all afternoon and has been really restless, returning to the lambing site and getting in to a state.
I have checked the nettles and under the trees for any other signs of lambing or a dead lamb and there is nothing
I just took a third unconnected ewe to the stables as she was looking ready and noticed that the black and white ewe from earlier was grinding her teeth and pawing the ground as if in labour
Is there the slightest chance I have this wrong and have taken the brown ewes lamb by mistake? I feel sick that I could have made such an error and am sure I have things straight but am now having huge doubts
If that has indeed happened can I right it somehow?
 
 
 

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I've just been up to do a  check
The black and white ewe is still grinding her teeth and digging in the bedding a bit but lamb looks happy and is still suckling ok
The brown ewe is still yelling but still looks very pregnant

[Alicenz]

you poor thing, I imagine if the black ad white ewe you have the lamb in with does lamb,and you are then sure it is not hers you could then take the lamb back to the brown mother  and mother it on if she doesnt take it back.  Mothering on - teaching the lamb to drink from the different sheep, keeping them confined until the mother accepts it.  Just immediately make sure the lamb is full and warm (which obviously it is).  The mother you have penned her in with doesnt have a second lamb (maybe dead) in her? Perhaps the brown ewe is about to start? Obviously you are watching them closely, so you will pick that up.  But probably you have it sorted as is and they are all fine! Someone else probably has more info but you sound stressed out so thought id put some info up! Good luck. 

[kanisha]

Sometimes a ewe will grind her teeth and paw at the ground after lambing. Just a sign that things are getting back into shape. you could always check the vulva and rear end for signs of lambing discharge blood etc should give you confirmation f wether she has lambed or not. the brown ewe may be distressed due to hhaving decided the lamb was hers even though mistaken.  Hopefully daylight will bring you some confirmation

[Buffy the eggs layer]

Oh dear,
             well, if the pied ewe that is now slim has given birth it is either to the pied lamb or to something that didnt survive. It is possible that it was carried away by something if she lambed out doors but its also very likely that this is her lamb. Either way she has milk because she is feeding a lamb. They usually hollow out significantly in front of the pelvis when they have lambed but some more than others I guess and a fleece can hide allot.
So, the other ewe could just be prepairing to lamb as she still apears to be heavily pregnant? If not then she will eventually accept that she has lost her lamb.
If you think the pied ewe has stolen a lamb and will lamb herself shortly you can feed the new lamb ( when she has it) volostrum and keep it with its mum.
The thing that you really need to resolve is not so much if the lamb has been mis mothered but who has lambed and who hasnt. Then you can make sure that any new arrivals get the colostrum that they need.
Dont worry its fixable.

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Thank you all so much for your help and support
 
In the cold light of day the next morning I was happy that the brown ewe had not lambed. I've moved her to the more sheltered area of the field and moved the ponies away in case they were unsettling her. All seems well, the brown ewe is quiet and the pied ewe and her lamb are fully bonded and happy
 
Fingers crossed the others lamb ok and no more drama

[lachlanandmarcus]

Whew what a relief, it is SOOO stressful trying to sort these things out cos those little lives are relying on you! Well done for following logic and instinct in equal measures!

[toaster]

Thanks 
 
Everything else has gone to pot, eggs are going uncollected, washing up is piling up, ponies are ungroomed - for three weeks of the year all hell breaks loose and we only have five ewes to lamb! goodness knows how people with huge flocks cope 

[kanisha]

Yep sounds familiar

[Bionic]

 
Everything else has gone to pot, eggs are going uncollected, washing up is piling up, ponies are ungroomed - for three weeks of the year all hell breaks loose and we only have five ewes to lamb! goodness knows how people with huge flocks cope 

I can empathise with that. We only had 4 ewes to lamb and they went over a month period. I found the whole thing sooo stressful, especially as this was our first time. But I love my sheep and their lambs. 

[in the hills]

Yep, only 7 ewes to lamb here and I have to admit that in our first two years of lambing they have just got on with it while I've clucked around them.


The farmers up here all say the same thing ..... while you're lambing 7, you may as well lamb 70 or 700. They reckon it's harder when you lamb fewer. They say you're out there checking anyway and may as well be lambing more because you then haven't got time to keep watching and thinking but just get on with it.


Mine seem to be grazing one minute and drop the lambs the next. In the middle of all the other ewes quite often and with not many signs they are about to lamb. Despite constant checking, missed most of the actual births    ..... just ran myself ragged. 


Wouldn't dare disagree with the old shepherds up here so maybe we all need to increase our flocks