Bad Day - Lambing Questions - long post

We've been anxiously awaiting the arrival of our first lambs. We got Peek-a-Boo and Peanut last spring for my daughter, Rachel, to raise for fleece. We took them to be bred in January and weren't sure until a few weeks ago that they were both preggers.

Boo has been bigger all along. Her udders are fuller and her teats were bigger/longer (sorry, don't know correct terminology). The past few days we could see they were getting bigger so we knew it wouldn't be long. We have been closing the sheep in a pen at night as we weren't sure how our 6 month old Pyrenees, Sasha, would handle them. Sasha is a good girl, but she is still a puppy. While I don't believe she would intentionally hurt any of our animals, she has contributed to the death of one of our pullets. Sasha had the poor thing in her mouth and it had a heart attack.

Anyway, Rachel closed the girls in last night and all was well. Somewhere between 10PM and 9AM Boo gave birth. Something got the baby though - it had no head. Not a nice thing to find in the barn. Even worse was listening Boo cry for her baby.

At first we thought that Sasha might have done it but now that I've had some time to think about things I just can't believe she did. We haven't found the head. There was no blood in the pen. I'm leaning toward a weasel at this point. I know they are around. We haven't had problems with them since last fall, when they killed one of our chickens. Do you think a weasel would kill a lamb? Even with 2 sheep in the pen?

Is there any way to tell if Boo still has another lamb? I'm guessing if she did she would've already delivered it. I'm not seeing anything coming from her backside at all.

As for Peanut - her udder still is not as filled out as Boo's but she's getting there. Not seeing any discharge but I'm wondering if her water broke (assuming sheep are like people). There seems to be some leakage. No mucous though. She has been digging at the dirt on one side of the barn. Then she lays down for a few minutes and gets back up and goes outside. I watched her do this two times in 30 minutes this afternoon. After what happened to Boo's baby I am especially concerned about Peanut. Right now the plan is to put up a lambing pen in the garage where there is no worry about weasels and other predators. We'll put her in there at night to keep her and the lamb safe, when it comes.

What else can we do and how long are weasels a concern for baby lambs? I don't want a repeat of last night. Sure would appreciate any info/suggestions.

Oh my goodness. How sad! I'm so sorry. I don't have any advice though, because there are no weasels near us.

I am so sorry for your loss

Martens are a member of the weasel family...

The marten-cat is accused by the shepherds of destroying a great many sheep. His manner attack is said to be by seizing the unfortunate sheep by the nose, which he eats away, till the animal is either destroyed on the spot or dies a lingering death. I have been repeatedly told this by different Highland shepherds and others, and believe it to be a true accusation. They kill numbers of lambs, and when they take to poultry-killing, enter the henhouse fearlessly, committing immense havoc; in fact seldom leaving a single fowl alive having the same propensity as the ferret for killing many more victims than he can consume.

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One of our friends is thinking maybe it was the dog but I still can't see that being the case. She didn't think it could be a weasel though so I just don't know. We've got a couple more days before Peanut lambs so I am really concerned. I don't want to lose our other lamb when it comes.

I don't know of any predator that just eats the head or tries any other part of the body other than vermins

I really dont know what it could have been. I think if your dog did it you could see blood on the dog or see the dog with the head. It was probably something else. I would take the other ewe somewhere secure to make sure nothing gets her lamb.

A weasel wouldn't eat a whole lamb's head. It might suck out the blood, but they don't usually eat much flesh, and a lamb's head would be far too much for a weasel to eat. I'd bet it was the dog.

What a sad sad story. I cannot think of any animal that would take just the head of a newborn lamb. And the fact that there is no blood concerns me. Honestly, your description makes me think that a human had to do it!

Hopefully others will jump in here, but I have some concerns that your other ewe is in labor and is having a problem since she is pawing, laying down and getting up, and having what you describe as leakage. From my experience over the years my guess is that she may have a breech baby or one or two stuck in the birth canal.

Please others, jump in here, but if this continues for more than a half day, if it were me, I would reach inside her and see what you feel. She may need your assistance.

If you have a vet, check with him/her! I am just telling you what I think and surely do not want to be responsible for telling you something that may not be accurate in your case.

We have never had a ewe accept her baby when we had to help her along.

Please keep us updated!

From what the OP describes it really does not sound to me like the other is in labor. She would see some serious pushing and straining. Sounds like she's just uncomfortable and can't find a good place or position to get comfy.

aggieterpkatie said:

From what the OP describes it really does not sound to me like the other is in labor. She would see some serious pushing and straining. Sounds like she's just uncomfortable and can't find a good place or position to get comfy.

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Thanks! I am so glad you posted on this subject too! I worry when I see one going up and down for any length of time without birthing.

What do you think about the OP saying there seems to be some "leakage" ?

Our sheep birth out in our pastures and I have been lucky enough to get some nice pictures.