[harmony]

Last night I was woken by one of my ewes bleating. I thought it was my mule and sure enough it was. I took a look at her and thought "well you're not lambing yet". When I looked at my other ewes a Leicester, also due this weekend, was there with the water bag showing.  She was stood up and very uncomfortable. When she lay down I discovered the lamb had a leg back. A live lamb was duly delivered and both are doing fine. Not another peep out of my mule. This morning another ewe was starting to lamb and there was the mule keeping an eye but no bleating. Very soon the lamb arrived with no problem.


I believe that the mule knew the Leicester had a problem and she was shouting for assistance. Fingers crossed her lambing goes fine! Canny, old thing!

[waterbuffalofarmer]

that is brilliant, anbother sheep watching over the others! Only wish we had the same here. All the best with lambing

[pharnorth]

Interesting you should say that. I have one vocal ewe who seems to call out regardless whether it is her or another in need.  Mind you sometime she just likes the sound of her own voice.

[harmony]

Normally she isn't that vocal. I have another one who never shuts up but it isn't because she or anyone else needs anything. When she was away at the tup once she drove the farmer mad. He said "that ewe has driven me mad. Follows me everywhere and never shuts up. I've fed her, watered her, put her with the tup and still she goes on. What does she want?". When I said a cuddle he said nowt!

[Penninehillbilly]

I love the idea that she was calling for help Harmony, and I don't see why not, I've had instances where its seemed 'someone' is drawing my attention to something just not right going on.

[bazzais]

Yep its wierd int it - maybe its hormones or the smell of the birth - we have had the same and also gone to the extreme where pregnant one is calling while other is giving birth then tries to nick the other lamb.  I like to think the flock is mostly all in the same cycle of things, they all know each other and have their own little foybles.

It is nice to see them look out for each other though, we have some really vocal ones like fog horns too

[SallyintNorth]

I had a Mule I used to call my midwife!  She was always with whoever was going to lamb next.  To the extent that if you checked the lambing shed and Judith was on her own, you could rest easy for the remainder of the night.  And yes, she'd 'tell' you if someone needed help. 

[Marches Farmer]

We were given an old pet ewe by the farmer across the valley, to be a "Nanny" to our tegs and live out her life on our quieter farm.  She was sharing a field with a ewe that had scanned empty, although the ram had had to stay in longer than usual with the ewes that year.  My daughter spotted her running up and down along the top of the field, every now and again stopping to look down at the dry ditch and bleat, then look back at my daughter (shades of Lassie Come Home).  The other ewe was licking off twins in the ditch.

[in the hills]

Not just mine then !

When each of my ewes lambed the others would stand around her as though on guard. Some would gently nuzzle her face.

Took us by surprise as we thought that they went off on their own and found a quiet spot to lamb.

[Womble]

Yes, I've had one ewe call me over when another was caught in a fence but out of site of the house.

Does anybody know of books or resources on sheep behaviour? I'd really like to read up on it; if I can understand what makes them tick better, maybe I can keep them happier and more productive?

[harmony]

Animal behaviour is fascinating and I am sure there is lots of info out there. Probably on the net. Just working with animals and generally observing you learn so much. Also through mistakes and experience. There is always something else to learn.