So lambing was going swimmingly, they kept popping out on their own in the paddock when nobody was looking.
Down to the last two and we lost a lamb. Unfortunately lamb came with head first and got stuck in the night. When she was found lamb was already dead. It’s our first lamb casualty so we feel terrible.
Mum is doing fine on her own though. She was lame but came sound again as soon as lamb was out. (We had trimmed and checked her feet but didn’t want to interfere to much as she was so close to being due)
Next was the fly strike. One of the ewes was spotted flat out with flies on her. THANKFULLY it was VERY early on and just on her tail so that wasn’t too traumatic.
Although her lamb seems to have slightly contracted tendons in the front legs so is tottering as if on stilettos. Have seen mixed reviews about splinting or just turning out in the field.
Today was the dead ewe. All seemed fine yesterday but today she was found slumped in the field, foam pouring out of her nose & some blood round her mouth.
First time we’ve had a dead sheep with no explanation. Again feel terrible. Especially since she’s left a little lamb which we’re monitoring closely. It’s semi-paired up with another lamb whose mum is ok with her as long as she doesn’t suckle and she’s taking the bottle ok.
Husband suspects the ewe died of bloat as he said it looks a lot like what he saw when his sheep France died of bloat.
They had some fresh grass on Friday and obviously they’ve all been a bit stressed with the dramatic heat wave.
How do you spot it in sheep? They’ve all got their fleece still, they’re all a bit tubby after lambing and they’re all bloody panting in the heat!!
Then second fly strike spotted .... she’d had it before, spotted a fly stuck in her fleece so knew straight away, treated and ok now.
I’m not sure I’m cut out for this shepherdess malarkey!!