[OhLaLa]

Please bare with me, a few questions. Got the books but there's nothing like hands on experience:

1) 2 in lamb ewes about to arrive. Can I put them same field as a couple of 1 year old girls?
2) Field has small (appx 4ft x 6ft) shelter with hay bed, shall I leave them to it or use hurdles to keep them in the area when they are about to lamb?
3) What signs shall I look out for when about to lamb?
4) Are they ok to share the shelter when lambing?
5) Should I do the 'wheel arch' trim - these ewes don't know me - I could just be causing problems? If so, how and when?
6) What kit (1st aid / lambing) should I get in just in case I have a problem?
7) Are foxes likely to be a problem?

Please add anything else I might need to know. What would you do?

PS: The weather is ok one minute then hammering down with rain the next.

PPS: I have found an extensive list for 1st aid kit that will run into quite a sum. Also, many diff types of kit e.g. lamb pull rope to aid birth - the plastic type or rope is best?

[supplies for smallholders]

Hi,

Dont have time right now to answer all your questions, but on the subject of lambing kit, we have always managed with the following:

Iodine spray, Obstretic lubricant, latex gloves, lambing rope, good light or torch, uteri support and maybe a bottle and some colestrum in case they dont feed straight away + maybe some form of lamb tonic for weekly lambs + an old towell (to clean yourself and the lamb)

Would keep them in and seperate them in the shelter with a hurdle or pallets.

Foxes could well be a problem for newborns.

Look for a nose and two front feet, if you see them then you should be ok, after the ewe starts to display a "Bag" keep a good watch on her, if she is having difficulties or it is taking too long, or lamb is presented wrong, then lube up and in you go....

Good Luck

[OhLaLa]

Thanks for the info. I've found a website showing signs of stressing and the 'bag' so am a bit clearer on that score.

More questions:

To lamb in or out? The shelter is too small (6ft x 4ft) to divide.

Due to weather and the time of year, am thinking to bring them in but at what stage? Will they want to walk to the barn (I have pony headcollars, no human help). As a stranger, will they even let me near them?

I have an open sided barn with a dirt floor (I also have a large brick stable but it's old, a bit cold and fairly dark). Have no straw but have shavings - or hay (or leave floor as is?) - as bedding? Have sheep hurdles but not lambing hurdles.

Will the ewe make any noise when she is about to lamb?

[kanisha]

again too many questions and it is a huge subject but if you want to lamb them inside and you are worried about a dark cold building an  infrared heat lamp provides both warmth and light and is my choice. For any that look they will lamb in the wrong place or at the wrong time, if you are on your own and you have  a distance to get them in you might want to think about bringing them in before nothing worse than trying to catch a ewe in difficulty on your own or even trying to move her without help.

[supplies for smallholders]

hi

Agree with the above, bring them in - its far easier, straw on the floor - but keep it clean.

If its too dark rig up some form of lighting (for you not the sheep) as they often lamb at night and if you need to help you need to be able to see.

Some ewes make a noise, others are very quiet - dont rely on hearing them.... when you think they are close by a noticeable change of behaviour then check on them every hour or so - more often if you like and cant sleep.

Finally - Relax! they will probably pop out no trouble.

Thanks

[Fleecewife]

Hey Ohlala - stop panicking      If you are panicking your new sheep will also panic - what they want now after a move at this time, is for peace and restfulness.  Give them time to settle in and get to know them.  Keep on with the feeding regime they had at their previous home.

When are your new ewes due to lamb?  What breed are they?  Have they lambed before or are they first timers?  Let us know these things and we can all come up with some calm responses.  Also, look back through past posts in 'sheep' because this has mostly been gone over before.

[woollyval]

Do not panic! your shed is too small to confine them in unless just lambed. Can you go and shadow an expert ( any farms lambing around you that you can ask to help on?)or get yourself on a lambing course? Most of the time the ewes will manage fine without you...sheep have been lambing for thousands of years and survived!

[OhLaLa]

No panic. Just want to get it right. I'd rather ask than make an error that could have been avoided if only I had asked someone.

From what I'm told by the seller they could lamb in the trailer on the way over, not ideal, but owner has to sell up (they were advertised) and that is that. Not first timers (I swerved that option due to my inexperience) so I'm hopeful all will be well, but I need have the correct kit if I ever need it anyhow, and I want to make sure I put them in the right place when they get here, which is really what I'm trying to find out.

No one to shadow, no courses. It's down to little old me.

 

[little blue]

dont have sheep, so no advice ... just wanted to say good luck!

[waterhouse]

I'd confine them within an area around the shelter with hurdles.  With luck they're bucket trained or can at least be persuaded to cooperate in exchange for food.

If they won't play ball then they're going lamb in the field like sheep have for centuries.  Ours did, and the lambing bit was done without us knowing about it.  Get a head torch if you can or torches with spare batteries.  If it needs ropes you'll need a vet

Ewes behave oddly before lambing: some talk, some stare at the moon, ours looked like a horse with colic.

When she has lambed the wains will be easily picked up and taken to your shelter: mum will follow with a lot of bleating.  Then it's down to feeding.  That's where we had trouble cos the milk didn't arrive but we had powdered colostrum and a bottle.  Tonic was good too.

[Hardfeather]

What breed/type are they?

[Pebbles]

If your ewes haven't arrived yet then just have the trailer drop them at your barn or wherever it is you want them. Make sure it's secure before they arrive (like SfS said use pallets or hurdles)  and have feed and water ready. Get a few bales of straw for the floor and a bale of hay for the ewes - ask the farmer who is dropping them off to bring some with him or to pick some up en route.

Once they've lambed use iodine on the lambs cords and then leave them all alone, interfering will only get in the way of them bonding. When feeding the ewes twice a day you'll find they become more used to you - have a little chat with them and feed a little by hand, stroke their face and by the time you let them out they'll be your best friends.

You can let them in to the field with the others after a couple of days - carry or 'drag' the lambs in sight of the ewe and she will follow close behind.

Good luck (you won't need it  )
 

[Hardfeather]

Hmmm...not quite so simple as doing their navels and leaving alone. You will have to make sure each lamb is sooking its mother, and that she has enough milk for it/them. It may be that she has enough, but the first colostrum is too thick for the lambs to sook, so you may have to strip some from the ewe and intubate the lambs to get it down them.

Once you are sure the lambs are viable, warm, and fed, then you can leave them alone, but only for a couple of hours before checking that all is well. Quiet observation will let you know if the ewe is keen on them, and if they are able to find her teats.

One tip I would give is this...there is no point in intubating a lethargic, cold lamb, as its metabolism will not be working properly. Heat it first, then feed. Check its temperature by sticking your little finger in its mouth. If a lamb gets to the stage of lying flat out with its head extended back, it is in desperate need of warmth.

[andywalt]

all great knowledge you only get with experiance...  like myself also having to learn fast !!

andy