[feldar]

We,ve had quite a few twin lambers this year,must be about 5 in all, very unusual because we've had the buckets out and don't normally get this in the commercial flock. We've been drenching the affected ewes and one we had to bring up to the barn in a wheelbarrow! She was down a long time, but gradually got up a little more each day with some TLC, anyway she had a triplet yesterday, good strong lambs too.
The others have lambed and are making progress just got one more who was down to go. She collapsed but recovered quickly with drenching, she looks like she wont be long, probably a few days.
Just seems odd, never had so many in one hit before. These ewes are usually tough as old boots! it's why we have them.

[ZaktheLad]

Definitely does seem to be a high number this year just going from the various posts on here     I am watching my girls like a hawk at the moment for any signs.  Only had the one ewe last year and we had to bring her in from the field in the frontloader bucket of the tractor!  Perhaps the wet weather has had something to do with it?

[feldar]

Yes  there does seem to be a lot this year. Saying that though, our early lambers had low fertility with the SBV problem we had ,these late lambers are all giving twins which is a positive   We were dreading another bad batch of lambers but it all seems ok so far. A bit tired today though we had 8 lamb in 12 hours yesterday finishing around 2.00 this morning.

[Marches Farmer]

To tempt appetites I usually walk around the pond with a bucket a hedge trimmers and cut fresh grass and wildflower leaves - if that doesn't disappear in seconds I know she' in a really bad way.

[Small Farmer]

Just checking the ewes this morning and there's one down.  She's due 1st April with twins, possible triplets but she's an experienced ewe.  So she got four injections of Calciject distributed around her, then some Twin Lamb tonic. 


After 45m she staggered up and turned round and then sat down again.  Another quarter of an hour and she got up so we carried her in to the lambing shed and our vet gave her some glucose - she liked that a lot.   We're keeping her in for some more glucose tomorrow but she's looking good.  She's sharing the shed with a lamb ewe lamb we found in the same walk round.  Too much excitement.


The other seven ewes, all expecting twins, were galloping around as normal but we're watching like hawks.

[OhLaLa]

With one thing and another it's taken me a while to update this; sadly, the ewe didn't make it.
She seemed to be on the road to recovery, taking her meds, eating an ok amount, drinking in good slurps, but just didn't make it through one night. The vet suspects peritonitis (excuse spelling). From the size and shape of her I suspect she was carrying more than two lambs (last year she lambed triplets). I've never seen a ewe so heavy and wide. V sad.
But the legacy of her lives on; last week, her daughter lambed for the first time, and like her mum, is proving to be a good attentive ewe. It took us all (especially the first time ewe) by surprise, one minute she was eating and grazing with all the others (taking in a bit of rare sunshine), next she was licking her baby. All is as it should be, a healthy and cute young lad; great mum.

[ZaktheLad]

Sorry to hear about your ewe, especially as she seemed on the road to recovery.  Glad to hear you have had some luck with your other ewe though - excellent news 

[mmu]

It's especially sad when you think they are going to recover and they take a turn for the worst.  Still, you did your very best for her, and it is all experience for the future if you get a sheep with those kind of symptoms again. (keep some TW drench by) Ivy is good for restoring appetites and is about all year round. Plantains if they're growing are also excellent.  At least her daughter did you and her mum proud!
Isn't it great that there are so many people on here, willing to share their knowledge and experience.

[Bionic]

OhLaLa, sorry to hear about your loss but glad that her daughter has lambed and all looks well