[Sylvia]

Wednesday morning I went up to check on the sheep. One 13yr. old ewe came up to the feed trough, had a sniff and wandered off down the hedge. Checking a couple of hours later I could see she had started lambing but was pushing only half-heartedly. Had a feel inside her and the lamb was properly presented but I could feel it was dead, the head hanging down to the side instead of between the feet. I helped her out with that one which she sniffed and licked for a short while befofe wandering off again. She started pushing again and I was praying this lamb would be alive, for her sake more than mine, but not to be. Beautiful big lambs, one black ewe, one black and white ram but had obviously been dead for a while.
Poor old ewe sniffed them again then went and laid down in a corner, I could have cried for her
However, a happy ending for the ewe. I went up to the next-door farm to see if they maybe had an orphan I could foster on her. They hadn't, but had a ewe that had had triplets that morning and offered me the smallest. Dear, good folk that they are, as I haven't any sheds(yet) they came and fetched Old Buttercup and her dead lambs and took them back to their farm where the son skinned one of the lambs and put the "jacket"on the live lamb.
The lamb gave a tiny bleat (the sort that makes your heart tremble) and the ewe immeadiately looked up and answered. Two minutes later both ewe and lamb were as happy as can be.
They are coming back to my fields today. I have offered to a. hand the lamb back at weaning. b. buy the lamb, or c. swap if for a slaughtered pig at Christmas but still feel I owe them so much.
What can I do to say "thank you" do you think?

[Rosemary]

Glad this had a happy ending  I think they will know how grateful you are - they sound like nice folk.

[in the hills]

I am glad that you managed to get a little lamb for the old girl. 

My favourite ewe lost her lamb, our first one ever, and I feel so sorry for her. We did look into a cade but took advice that it may not be a good idea in her case. 

Your neighbours sound brilliant and I am sure that you will find ways to repay their kindness.

[Fleecewife]

Oh that was a shame, your old ewe losing both her lambs.  All that effort.....  Still, she really won't know the difference and will love her new lamb.  I wish it was possible to make sure that older ewes have only a single - my 16 yo had twins last year and whilst all was well, I would have preferred her to have just one.  Another old ewe a few years back had twins, one of which was the tiniest lamb ever (except the minute ouessant on another thread  ) and was called dwarf.  She eventually went to be a companion to a goat 

The only time we have borrowed a lamb for a ewe who had lost hers, we gave it back at weaning.  On the other hand, you will I'm sure find an opportunity in the future to be able to help out your neighbour, which is how it often works, if they don't want or need the lamb back.  But even just to let them know how grateful you are, not taking their kindly action for granted, will be plenty.  Good deeds like that make for a happy atmosphere to live in 

[jaykay]

I'm so glad she's got a lamb to love 

I think you just let your neighbours know how grateful you are. Eggs, a cake.... don't know, might be coals to Newcastle? I'm fortunate my neighbouring farmers don't keep hens so eggs always go down well.

[sabrina]

Happy ending to a sad story.

[Sylvia]

I will make a cake. No matter if Sue makes six a day, someone elses are always different

[jaykay]

Folk can always eat cake and it's just a nice thing to do 

[Bramblecot]

Cake  :yum:is great  .  It shows you have taken time over your gift. Poor old ewe, hope she is ok now.

[SallyintNorth]

We recently got given a large quiche and a bag of scones in gratitude for an armful of pet lambs when a neighbour had a rough start to their lambing.  We were in the thick of it ourselves, so that quiche was a godsend; fed us three mealtimes!  And I love scones so they are always welcome 

I'm struggling to manage 13 pet lambs at the moment, alongside all the other work, so we're never unhappy to find good homes for spare lambs.  And everyone prefers to see a lamb with a ewe that loves it than being reared in a pet pen.

And that warm glow from knowing you've really helped a neighbour and it's truly appreciated ... priceless.

[tizaala]

Yet another sad story about lambing this year, the sheep section just seems full of tragedy , Our neighbour picked up 12 dead lambs in 1 morning from contagious abortion, Tragic waste.
I'm so greatful that so far we have come through unscathed and trouble free with only one left to lamb.

[SallyintNorth]

tizaala, you will probably already have realised that if your neighbour has contagious abortion then your flock is at risk - if you don't already, you may want to vaccinate from hereon.

Beautiful pic of your lovely Castlemilk Moorits, thanks for posting 

[FiB]

Sad start indeed Sylvia, but so glad you have made a good outcome....  Hope they liked the cake!  As others have said your gratitude will be felt and valued and good turns always get a chance to come around.

FW -  What is the vaccination for contagious abortion (thinking ahead to next year - we have cats) - is it a separate one or covered in the Heptovac-P one?  Cheers

[SallyintNorth]

Enzootic abortion vaccination (EAE) is a seperate one to the clostridials and pasteurella covered by Hep-P PLUS, yes.