[Remy]

On my nightly check yesterday there was one ewe looking like she might be almost ready, but she was walking around and grazing so I earmarked her for an early morning check.  When I went out this morning, she was lying down and pushing but nothing was happening.  I thought I has better investigate, and found that the lamb was presented bum first.  I had never had one like this before but realised I had better get the lamb sorted asap as I didn't know how long the ewe had been in labour - easier said than done!  The ewe was really tight and it was practically impossible to get hold of the legs and pull them back.  I tried and tried to no avail, then my friend had a go as he is stronger than me but he couldn't either.  So I had another go and managed to push the lamb far enough back in to manoeuvre a leg back, which made it a bit easier to get the second leg.  I couldn't pull the lamb out so my friend did and it was a lovely ewe lamb, but full of fluid and very dead.

The ewe was pushing for a second lamb, but when I looked it was a hung lamb!    So again we had to try and find the legs and pull the lamb out - a ram lamb, also dead.  He was also full of fluid and I think they must have died during the night as their eyes were cloudy.

I felt so sorry for the poor ewe, who started licking my arm which was covered with the fluids  , and she has been mournfully baaing all day.

I've never had losses at lambing before, so three this year is more than enough - I really hope I don't get any more!

On a good note the little ram lamb that was very cold yesterday was totally fine today, thankfully!

Just wondering, the ewe that lost her twins has loads of milk, is it worth trying to milk her in case of any mis-mothering??

[woollyval]

Can you get some orphans...?

[jaykay]

Oh, I'm sorry 

I agree, sounds like she might like an orphan lamb or two.

[Brucklay]

Oh Remy - so sorry it didn't work out better - in the same boat as you, want to do the best and sometimes things don't work out, after all the care and attention it's really hard - thank you for posting you scenario though, maybe sometime in the future it will remind me and help me xx

[Remy]

I will have to ask around for any cades - how long will the ewe have her milk do you think?

[in the hills]

Really sorry, Remy. We lost a lamb last week ..... our first ever lamb.

It was horrible and felt so sorry for the mum. Our neighbour suggested that we put a cade on her but we decided not to after listening to the advice of various other people-it would have been a commercial lamb so much bigger and several people thought that our primitives maybe difficult to get a lamb onto. Our neighbour did say that you had 2 or 3 days in which to put a cade on and that it was best to wait until the next morning to make sure that they had enough milk. I dont know if this is true. I would have thought the sooner the better.

[Herdygirl]

Am so sorry Remy what a real downer for you, it's always upsetting to lose a lamb

[SallyintNorth]

Sorry to hear about your bad lambing experience    It happens to us all and it never gets any easier.  {{{hugs}}}

I have put an orphan onto a bereaved ewe at a week after she lambed, but up to two or three days is best, yes. 

If the dead lambs are still fresh you can rub the foster lamb in on them and that will probably be enough - normally when they're bereaved they are desperate to rear a lamb and will believe it's theirs without too much subterfuge.  You can skin one and put the jacket on the foster if you think it better. 

If you don't still have the dead lambs, she may well take a foster straight away anyway, or you may have to supervise feeding for a few days until the foster lamb smells of her milk. 

BH leaves the dead lambs with the ewe until he has the foster lamb ready, to keep her remembering she has a lamb.  Then takes one of the dead lambs away, rubs in and/or jackets the foster, then puts it back and removes the other dead lamb.

[kanisha]

really sorry to hear after all your hard work and success at lambing what must have been difficult the result was not better

[MrsJ]

Oh dear I am sorry.  What a shame, but you did all that you could.  It's really tough when they don't make it but look at all the ones you have successfully raised. 

[Remy]

Well I've got a little cade lamb coming tomorrow, it's an older lamb (about 10 days) but will just have to see how she goes penned with it.  If it doesn't work out I'll have another bottle fed tame lamb!

[Hazelwood Flock]

Sorry for your loss 
I have had success with cade lambs on bereaved ewes too in the past, so fingers crossed it goes well for you - keep us posted!

[Tilly]

Hi Remy
Sorry to hear your news.
Good luck adopting new lamb on -I think first introductions of the cade lamb can make or break a successful adoption.
MY TIP - I have found leaving the dead lambs near pen so ewe can still see /smell them helps .When you introduce the new lamb hold the ewes head and move one of the dead lambs along side as you encourage the new lamb to feed .I sometimes leave the ewe haltered up so she hasn`t got full view of whats going on behind her so she can get used to the fact that her lamb has come back to life! ,it can take a day or two ,hope she settles into being a loving mum. 
Tilly 

[Haylo-peapod]

So sorry for your loss Remy, especially after all your efforts. 
I have everything crossed that everything will work out with your ewe and the cade lamb - Good Luck!!!

[Remy]

Sadly I don't have the dead lambs now, so it might be a hit and miss affair, but will keep you posted!