Dorper foaming at the mouth and vomiting

How young were they?

babs,

I am not sure...but I would estimate their ages at purchase were 6-8 weeks. Got two for $60 each. Good deal. Now, I figure they are nearly yearlings...but at nearly 200lbs each, well, they make the AB's look like skinny little thin dieters.

200 lbs is a big sheep, sounds like you got a good deal for $60 if they grew that well. If they are nearly yearlings that are certainly ready to give you some lambs so I would keep watch. Are sheep seasonal breeders like my goats? I always see lambs in the spring but is that by breeders choice or that ewe's choice?

soarwitheagles said:

frustratedearthmother, wow, what an adventure! I suppose I had better keep a real sharp knife readily available just in case....

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I do keep one in the barn now...cuz you just never know...I've actually done "emergency C-sections" twice. Once from the choking and once from a doe that ruptured a uterus and had to be put down. Got the kid out alive that time!

frustratedearthmother said:

I do keep one in the barn now...cuz you just never know...I've actually done "emergency C-sections" twice. Once from the choking and once from a doe that ruptured a uterus and had to be put down. Got the kid out alive that time!

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You're brave!!!

Lol - not brave....cried like a baby while I did both. Just too stubborn to let something die without trying everything I can to save it.

I've found out being a mother to a human child as well as caretaker of many animals, that we are all much stronger than we think we are when that time comes. Even if we cry through it! I have been reading stories like this to my husband, his usual reply is well, they're your goats! What a pain, he would do it too. He just likes to pretend he won't.

Kudos to you though for saving the kid! Stubborn is a fine way to be!

babsbag said:

200 lbs is a big sheep, sounds like you got a good deal for $60 if they grew that well. If they are nearly yearlings that are certainly ready to give you some lambs so I would keep watch. Are sheep seasonal breeders like my goats? I always see lambs in the spring but is that by breeders choice or that ewe's choice?

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babs,

My understanding is different types of sheep will breed with differing cycles. We purposefully chose American Blackbellies and Dorpers because they are known for breeding year round, new twins and triplets every 8 months, if you feed them well and give them access to an interested ram. We have some AB ewes that dropped their lambs in January, and they are nearing their time to give birth again. I kind of like that! New additions every 8 months, and with these breeds, they keep giving birth all year round!

Other breeds of sheep are seasonal, and some professional breeders only desire to have lambs at a certain time of the year, so they only allow mating, etc. according to their preferred time table.