[Hazelwood Flock]

Interesting how everyone differs in their handling...I trim mine with hand shears a week before they are due and I do sit them up to do it - you can't see what to trim otherwise! You must handle them gently, I hold on to their 'beard' in my left hand and reach under for the further back leg with my right hand pulling it towards me at the same time as pushing the ewe's front end up with my left hand. I find they just roll gently onto their bum and are quite happy to be trimmed this way, I then roll them back on to their feet none the worse for the experience  , maybe I have a knack with it but I've never had any problems.

[kanisha]

maybe just me but i also will tip a ewe that is pregnant ( carefully) if needed I do think having an understanding with your sheep helps and my ewes are all handled in a manner to promote a stress free experience I find that over time the ewes come to "know" me and remain more relaxed. this definately transmits to the youngsters who in their turn learn and adopt the same stress free manner. If at any time I can "see" an increased heart rate then I've failed in my handling.

[plt102]

Hi there, lamby doing well. I keep having to remind it to feed as both mum and lamb are very quiet and every time I go in there they seem to be asleep or resting. If I wake baby up, it goes to mum and is very hungry. Still having to show it where to go a bit, even though mum is now trimmed quite a lot but it is catching on. Got to band its tail later and might let them out for a bit today if the fog clears as I guess they should be well bonded by now and mum will probably like some grass. No sign of any more activity just yet. Fingers crossed for the other ewes. Chicks starting to hatch today as well so going to be a very busy day!

[Hazelwood Flock]

Great news! 
When the lamb wakes up, does it stretch in a luxuriant kind of way? if it has a good stretch on getting to it's feet then it's feeding well!

[plt102]

Hi Hazlewood, yes you are right, Bernard came from Greenhoughs. I had to check. Your ram looks stunning. Ours all look a little bedraggled and shabby as they keep getting everything stuck in their fleeces. Can't wait to get them sheared and start again.

Lamb spends a lot of time asleep but when she wakes up she wanders around for a bit then goes looking for mum. Seems to be finding the teat most times on her own now so I'm trying to leave it be as much as possible. Keep checking that its ears are warmish and that it still looks Ok but mum seems to have got the hang of it. It tried to run a little bit this morning, so funny and cute to see their long gangly legs. I've let them out into a small area outside the stable today to let mum have some fresh air. If lamb stays with her, I'll let them out for a little while this afternoon to see how they get on. A bit worried about foxes though so might coax them back in overnight,

[plt102]

First lamb happy and healthy and second ewe has just lambed. Just checking if it is a twin as second ewe was massive! Thank you so much for all the advice! Only 9 more to go :-)

[plt102]

Ok a frustrating week or so. 2 lambs early and now a very long wait for any more. I read that the warm weather might be delaying them so the turn in weather might chivvy them along. They look fit to pop but showing no signs yet. Tick tock...