Author Topic: Is my ewe in lamb (Read 1580 times)

Doddie82 · « **on:** April 26, 2019, 09:03:45 pm »

Hello
We have taken on 4 Hebridean (these are our first sheep)we were told that they were not in lamb but one of them has a slightly large mid section. She also has slightly bigger nipples and she has bagged up slightly also (tennis ball size)

Thank you for your help

harmony · « **Reply #1 on:** April 26, 2019, 09:46:30 pm »

It's possible. How old are they? Why was the seller confident they were not in lamb? When did you get them?

Doddie82 · « **Reply #2 on:** April 26, 2019, 10:19:01 pm »

They are 2 years old, unsure why he was sure they were not pregnant?

harmony · « **Reply #3 on:** April 27, 2019, 10:26:07 am »

I recently bought a tup from someone who was also selling geld ewes that had not run with the tups. They had plenty of well fenced paddocks and could be fairly certain the ewes had not been tupped. However, mistakes happen. Sheep jump. Tup lambs catch people out.

If she is in lamb then be prepared for the others to be too!

bj_cardiff · « **Reply #4 on:** April 27, 2019, 10:46:50 am »

I would ask someone experienced to take a look. Maybe you could post a picture of the udder on here?

Some ewes (particularly older ewes) that have lambed before can still have an udder when their dry (not in milk) and not in lamb. Their bellies can also look like their in lamb when its just their bellies dropping because of stretched muscles from when they were in lamb.

If the person who you brought them from was fairly certain they weren't I wouldn't be quick to dismiss that. Although as mentioned before (and experienced by myself), ewes can catch you out and ewes you would of sworn were well away from the ram have a totally unexpected 'miracle lamb'!

landroverroy · « **Reply #5 on:** April 27, 2019, 03:10:02 pm »

She could have bagged up because she now has spring grass? But as a 2 year old, she has presumably not bred before so unlikely to be a carry over from last year's lambing. It's highly likely she is pregnant if her nipples and udder are noticeably bigger than the rest. I wouldn't worry. Just keep an eye on her. If you have sufficient grass she won't need any additional feed as spring grass is highly nutritious. If you can see her udder now, you will definitely notice when it fills up even more as lambing is imminent.