[Eeyore-77]

Hi
I had a gimmer have two fine lambs yesterday morning at about 5am. I’ve had them in a nursing pen 4ft x 6ft since birth.
She loves them, she licked them clean, calls to them, sleeps next to them. But she just won’t stand to let them feed and if they try she knocks them away. If I hold her head she immediately calms down, and will let them stand to eat their fill. She relaxes and starts to chew cud.
They aren’t looking particularly hungry and they go to her for reassurance. They have been doing poos (brown meconium and then yellow poo), and they are peeing.
Any suggestions? She just seems really confused about why they are going for her teats, but she dips her hips to let her milk down when I hold her.
Thanks.

[Rosemary]

Gimmers are fickle. Lambs are a big shock to some of them. I'd keep doing what you're doing, holding her to let them feed - I'd do it every couple of hours, as if I was bottle feeding. Then start reducing. Hopefully, she'll get the hang of it.

[Eeyore-77]

Thanks Rosemary
I was thinking to get a halter this morning and tie her the pen so she can eat, drink and lie down but not knock the lambs away.
I’ll be away at work tomorrow so not able to hold her each time they need a feed.
Have you tried that?
Thank you.

[Eeyore-77]

I didn’t go for a halter, as she seems alright to feed them if I put hard feed in a bucket and put a hand on her shoulder, without even getting into the pen, then when she’s distracted, she seems relaxed enough to let them feed, the ewe lamb also stopped feeding and did a huge pee after I’d not been across for about 6 hours, so they might be able to grab a feed when she is distracted.
I put numbers on them with red spray though and the ewe had some red on her head making me think she has knocked them away.
I think she might have been a bit stressed yesterday too as there were three other ewes giving birth around her yesterday and there was lots of smells and lambs bleating.
Thanks.

[Rosemary]

I think you are wise to avoid the halter. You would come back to a dead ewe or dead lambs - never underestimate the capability of a sheep to kill itself. I would never leave ANY animal tied up for any length of time unsupervised. It's a recipe for disaster.
Glad to hear that lambs and their mum seem to be working things out 

[Eeyore-77]

Thanks Rosemary
I’ve never used a halter, so that’s great advice and I’ll steer clear of it.
She’s still skittish and pulls away when they try to feed. She seems to have a more favoured one, but even he doesn’t seem to get to suck for very long before she realises he’s on her, then she’s off.
Will persevere with her as that’s been just 3 and a bit days and she seems to be getting a bit better. Both lambs are bright alert, bouncing around and seem happy. She’ll get there.

[Eeyore-77]

All sorted. I watched her for a while on Monday evening. She was straining to try to pee, and there was a little bloody discharge coming out, and when I checked over her she was hot to the touch.
I discussed with my vet and got her some antibiotics and anti inflammatory jags, and she is now all fine after a few days of treatment. It was likely the big first lamb she had caused a tear that had become infected and was making her delicate uncomfortable.
Outside with her lambs in the sunshine now.