[velcro]

Help -

I've read the books, and looked through the forum but can anyone give me some pratical tips or signs that lambs may be arriving soon!
We bought 3 girls in lamb and they are expected to give birth around the end of February, but I am not sure about one, she seems a bit out of sorts and whingy, not normal for her.
I am a first timer !   

[kaz]

How old is the one that is out of sorts and do you know what she is expecting? Look to see if her udders are swollen and even try for some milk, A sure sign with my Ryelands is when you can visably see everything dropping.

[BadgerFace]

If they are due at the end of Feb, I would be worried that the ewe out of sorts could have pregnancy toxaemia. The timing is about right and with all this cold wet weather she may not having been getting enough nutrients to sustain rapid lamb growth. I would check her body score and give her some twin lamb drench to be on the safe side.

Early lambing signs include - a day or two before the vulva become very pink and slackens, also with my dark skinned ewes their udders become pinkish grey (not the usual black skin) and tighten, the teats drop and point more outwards than down . They may also start to look for a birthing site away from the flock. My lot choose the most odd places (if lambing outside), which include on top of a low wall !! and on top of a pile of bark chips !!

Happy lambing 

[velcro]

Thanks for your help, she seems much like her old self today, eating well and grazing.
Think I am just a bit worried as its my first time.

[woollyval]

I would also drench daily with a bit of glucose/twin lamb formula and check body score and food amount. Twin lamb disease can be gradual in onset....this is why it can be easy to miss.

[doganjo]

Please excuse my ignorance - never owned anything bigger than a duck or chicken (apart from dogs & cats)  - what is 'bodyscore'?

[kaz]

Basically how much fat around there hip/back area.

[doganjo]

And how do you measure it?  I know how to judge dogs and their bodyfat and muscle but wouldn't haev aclue about pigs or sheep

[Rosemary]

There's stuff on the SEERAD site I think about condition scoring sheep. I'll have a look later.

[kanisha]

I found this site very useful.

http://www.smallstock.info/tools/condscor/cs-sheep.htm