[Rosemary]

Jinx has got an udder with milk! Does this mean lambing is close? She doesn't look like it's imminent ie she's not off on her own or showing any discharge or anything but I wondered how soon befoe lambing they got milk.

I was less stressed having my own child.

[hexhammeasure]

It depends on how full and how old the ewe is. Gimmers and young ewes will bag up tightly earlier than older ewes. In general when the teats fill up and point out its time to watch carefully, but watch out with old girls as they may not even produce milk til a couple of hours after birth

[Pigtails]

We have a mixture, young and old ewes, our first lamb was born on the 6th March, twins arrived yesterday and we had another set of twins today, along with a single lamb,
In between times two sets of twins have been lost,.

Do breeds differ in lambing times?
Our neighbours, seldom lamb before the end of April, we are told.



..

[Rosemary]

"It depends on how full and how old the ewe is."

She's a gimmer and this is her first lamb. It's a single. She's not bursting but the teats are well sticking out to teh side now.

I've started bringing them in to the shed at night so I can check late on and I know where they are. Don't fancy scouring the hedge bottoms in the cold and dark!

[pikilily]

hi rosemary...i am in the same place as you....

one ewe has had an udder absolutely bursting full for the last two weeks but shows no other signs as yet. by my dates she is not due to lamb until the 8th. this will be her second set of lambs.  i am bringing them into the smallest paddock at night time so i can view with minimal fuss. stress stress stresssss!!!

i am so excited...i dont want to go to work in case i miss something....its my first time....
Emma

[doganjo]

Can they manage on their own if you two go off to work?

[BadgerFace]

90% of ewes lamb without problem. I check mine every two hours during the day, and last thing at 12 then again at 3.00 am and at 6.00 am on getting up (again!!). I only have 16 ewes and normally they are all over and done with within 3 weeks, so it's not too bad - you soon get into the swing of it. In a large housed flock someone is on hand 24/7, where it can get very busy with babies popping out all over place  Lucky my office is only 20 yards from lambing paddock/yard or I wouldn't get much work done. 

[pikilily]

Waheee...we have started.

All weekend and overnight last night i have been feeling jippy, with stomach cramps and nausea...so didint go to work today.

Lucky that, cos Tuppence lambed today The first was a tiny little boy who has needed a bit of help to find the teats. He was rather weak and feeble so i milked her into a syringe and tubed it into his mouth. he then had the ooomph to get up and try for himself later.
the second lamb was noticeably bigger girl who seemed to be looking for the teat as soon as she hit the ground. She just needed a bit of help to clear her nose and mouth, she came out with the sack intact! both lambs seem to be doing well by this evening....and they are so cute.

not bad for a first timer...Emma

[Rosemary]

Well, until 5pm today! And she managed all by herself - as I drove home from work today, there Jinx was with her little black bundle. I must have missed it by only a few minutes.

Juno and Jura are very excited. Jinx seems to like her lamb - she's chuckling away. He's been up and had a drink, had his navel dipped and seemed warm and full at 8pm. I'll check again before bed, I think.

I'm now worried about Jinx cleansing properly. How do I know, if I don't find the afterbirth? She still had some "stringy" bits left at 8pm.

Dan says he looks like an At-At, which is very unkind. THis is him and his mommy going from the field to the pen.

[BadgerFace]

Very cute lamb  Well done to both first timers 

Pikilily, we need to see a photo of your lamb 

[pikilily]

Will take some tomorrow and post pdq
Emma

[Rosemary]

He's not really cute - he's pretty ugly but I'm hoping that he'll look better in the morning   

[kaz]

I bet he looks a lot more like a Ryeland today. Congrats to first lamb.

Kaz

[Rosemary]

Hmm. He's a bit odd looking - patchy grey and black with ENORMOUSLY long legs and long floppy ears. I'll get a photo tomorrow in daylight. He seems quite bright though and is exploring his little pen. I might let him and mum out into the slightly bigger pen tomorrow if I feel brave enough.

[garden cottage]

well done rosemary, first season lamb for us today put some pics on when i can