[Helen Wiltshire Horn]

I hope that you don't mind me asking but I am sure that this has been asked before!  I am lambing 7 Wiltshire Horn ewes this year.  4 are third time mothers with no previous problems and 3 are shearlings.  One of the shearlings popped out two ram lambs on Wednesday afternoon in the field with no problems.  All were scanned with singles or twins (the remaining shearlings are expecting singles)  By my records they were due to start lambing next week.  Anyway, how often should I be checking on them?  They are being fed twice during the day and I check first and last thing at night as well.  Last year I got up at 2am dilligently every night for several weeks only to disturb sleeping ewes!  My slight problem is that I am doing it by myself at the moment.  I have 2 small children and my husband is a barrister who is currently in a trial which is due to end next week.   I am feeling increasingly run down and think that I am getting a cold.  Are there any signs that lambing is imminent?  To be honest last year, I missed most of the lambs being born and there seemed to be very little warning.  The shearling that lambed on Wednesday had breakfast as normal and was with the flock when she lambed a couple of hours later.  They have all bagged up as well.  Thanks in advance for your advice.
Helen

[Marches Farmer]

Signs of lambing:  absence of interest in food; hollows in front of pelvis; restlessness and inability to settle; pawing the ground; finding a quiet spot such under a hedge or hayrack, trying to lick off another ewe's lamb; lifting top lip; lying down with legs outstretched and clearly pushing; appearance of water bag; bleating loudly for no apparent reason; seeing you go indoors with the intention of having a cup of coffee or a good night's sleep .....

[Beeducked]

I checked mine every night last year and not once did any oblige by lambing in the night. This year I decided I wasn't going to get up in the night, I am also working at the moment and not appropriate to be tired at work, particularly as it doesn't seem to make much difference.


Unfortunately I haven't told my brain this as I wake up between 1-3am every night and can't get back to sleep until I've checked them!

[landroverroy]

 You cannot burn the candle at both ends, so with the best will in the world it's not possible for one person with your responsibilities to be able to check them regularly throughout the night as well as the day. And the more sleep you miss, the more likely you are not to notice any signs of trouble.
Your ewes that have lambed before will be the least likely to have any problems. So your shearlings, especially as they are expecting singles are the ones to watch  most carefully.
Are your sheep outside? If so, a classic sign of impending lambing is when a ewe takes herself off to a far corner to be on her own. As you've noticed - they don't always go off their food or give any obvious signs until you see the classic string of mucus, or water bag emerging. So, if you check last thing at night and first thing in the morning, and they all seem to acting normally, then hopefully nothing untoward will happen overnight.

[Sbom]

I check last thing, 10.30/11pm then first light 5.30/6am . Don't check in the night unless it's obvious at the last check that one is starting.
Most seem to lamb at first light

[Harebell]

I check last thing, 10.30/11pm then first light 5.30/6am . Don't check in the night unless it's obvious at the last check that one is starting.
Most seem to lamb at first light

Same here.  We check before bed about 10.30/11pm and check in the morning about 7/7.30am.  We have kept Wilts for a number of years (we have about 20 lambing this year) and lamb outside.  They very, very rarely have problems lambing.  On the rare occasion when we need to intervene it's usually a 1st timer lambing a big single - presented correctly but just needs a little help pulling it out. 

If you do have ewes which have problems lambing this year (particularly repeat offenders), consider getting rid of them/not putting them to the ram next year.  This will hopefully make things easier in the long term.

[Helen Wiltshire Horn]

Thanks for all your advice which makes me feel a bit better.  None of my ewes have had problems lambing but there is always this nagging thought of what would happen if they needed me but I wasn't there.  But I must also be realistic and be safe enough to drive my children in the morning.  My husband being in trial is one complication I could do without at the moment.  He was in trial this time last year as well and sent photos of the new lambs to his whole legal team (though not the Judge!).  Thanks again. 
Helen

[FiB]

I check last light and first light once were in the swing and then every few hours (mostly) during the day. No torch light missions... This year I have had a couple of staggers, and ended up having to bring them in.... Then I did a couple of night checks (and ended up assisting).... But it sounds like yours are like mine and don't do in the night mostly... Look after yourself xxx

[ScotsGirl]

It's a tough one, some years I have had several lamb through the night and boy do they let me know about it! This year my commercials haven't been inconsiderate and have lambed either early or late afternoon. Unfortunately no-one told the BWM and the sods all have lambed Middle of night and needed assistance.


My body clock tends to wake me in the night and I have to go check before I can sleep.  Got one very red and swollen, lying in the furthest corner of the field but still cuding and looking relaxed. She had triplets last year and looks like the same again so need to keep an eye. Also got a Suffolk who gives nothing away. Put her with my black Welsh ram as she hasn't been the best at delivering and cleaning her babies so can't wait to see what pops out. Very impressed with my mule BWM crosses so far.

[Hellybee]

There's two of us, I do midnight to the mrning and he does days.  Molly lambs are on three hourly feeds so I do a spin then, they are all out in yard under lights.  Most have gone at dawn.but I still check during night.  If they were on field though a tad more difficult.

[MrsJ]

the first year we lambed, we were up all night checking or sitting in the barn with them.  All we discovered was that they don't like to be watched!  They always do it the minute your back is turned.  Now we check them every couple of hours during the day from about 6am through to 10pm then leave them overnight.  We've read the books and thought we knew all the signs of imminent birth but some of the ewes clearly haven't read the same articles and fool us every year. 

Wiltshire Horns are a tough hardy breed.  Make yourself a cup of tea and stop worrying!

[Bramblecot]

Invest in a pair of night binoculars then at least you can look over them from a distance and not trudge around in the dark trying to find the one that has gone missing.

[Hevxxx99]

If they are inside, you could rig up a webcam and just have a little check in the night on that to put your mind at rest.

[Sbom]

I've just got back from doing a last check around 350 outdoor lambers, the next check will be 5.30 in the morning.

[Victorian Farmer]

I find that sheep lamb between 4.30 and six .So I check 5 am 11am 4.30 pm and last thing
I lamb 250 in Stafford from this Friday then back to Scotland for a mother 250 . Chickins have finished hatching so lots to do have a safe lambing