Is she expecting?

koalabear

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Well, actually it does --- me being in Southern California what grows here is far different than what you have. Heck I think it's cold when it's 40 degrees (~4 degrees C). ;) :) - and snow?? never here unless we're up in the mountains.
Right 😃 I would be happy if we had 4 degrees C here in winter, but no, -30C and snow to the knees.🙃🫠 I'm going to try and fatten this poor thing up before its getting this cold, I'm glad she is not going to lamb soon, this way, IF she is pregnant, her lamb is getting a chance with her mother hopefully..
 

koalabear

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Thank you for adding your location. I am sure that many of us have no idea of your individual conditions... That said, it is really nice to have members from other areas... and learn about what things there are like. We had a member that used to post that had water buffalo and it was very interesting to read about them, plus their weather, conditions and different types of feed. So while we cannot directly relate, unless someone here has lived or traveled there... especially with the feeds and such... sheep are sheep... and some things are still very similar.
I still think that the nutrition is your first concern... and maybe she will pass worms and get somewhat cleaned out... I am hoping that getting her wormed she will pass them, and the stomach ache symptoms will pass also. Then maybe her manure will get more normal and she will start to gain weight... then in a month or so you can worry about a possible pregnancy. She does not look like she is anywhere close to being very far along if she is pregnant.
I also think the nutrition is the most important thing right now and I'm doing my best to get her stomach and stools normal. Her stomach makes unbelievable noises to be honest, this poor thing must be so uncomfortable😕
 

farmerjan

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On a cattle forum that I am a member, there are several members in Canada... they use meters and centigrade... so I keep a chart here close to see the conversions of C* to F*.... anything that is below freezing, in whatever scale you use... is COLD!!!!!
 

koalabear

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On a cattle forum that I am a member, there are several members in Canada... they use meters and centigrade... so I keep a chart here close to see the conversions of C* to F*.... anything that is below freezing, in whatever scale you use... is COLD!!!!!
I agree. Every winter I think WHY I live where I live😃 winter for animals is harsh here. But we'll manage somehow. My older sheep has very thick wool, on her face also, but new one does not, so I'm worried about that too. But we'll make it work. 🙂
 

Baymule

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I did a conversion, -22C is equal to -7.6F.
That freak storm we had in 2021 was -6F. So now we’re talking! I had a lamb born during that and she just looked so pitiful that I cut an arm off my sweater and made her a coat. Every time I went outside I scooped her up and stuck my finger in her mouth. It was always warm, that’s a good thing. Her mom was feeding and caring for her. But I tucked in my sweat shirt and stuck her next to my belly while I worked, just to warm her up a little. She looked so pitiful!

IMG_0400.jpeg


So if my lambs survived -6F, yours should survive -22C. They just need a dry shelter that blocks the wind.
 

koalabear

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I did a conversion, -22C is equal to -7.6F.
That freak storm we had in 2021 was -6F. So now we’re talking! I had a lamb born during that and she just looked so pitiful that I cut an arm off my sweater and made her a coat. Every time I went outside I scooped her up and stuck my finger in her mouth. It was always warm, that’s a good thing. Her mom was feeding and caring for her. But I tucked in my sweat shirt and stuck her next to my belly while I worked, just to warm her up a little. She looked so pitiful!

View attachment 112011

So if my lambs survived -6F, yours should survive -22C. They just need a dry shelter that blocks the wind.
To be honest, I was telling you -22F and it is -30C, according to google😃 fortunately as cold as -30C usually is 2-3 weeks max, but there has been winters where we have 1-1,5 months this cold. Every autumn I just hope for easy winter🥶
Your lamb in pink coat was so adorable🥰
 

Baymule

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Sheep are raised on every continent all over the world. From scorching desert to frozen places. Hair sheep can tolerate heat and cold. Wool sheep thrive in colder climates. Their wool keeps them warm. There is a reason why people wore woolen clothing!

If your ewe is pregnant and if she lambs, is there electricity in the barn where you could hang a heat lamp? If not, could you build a small shelter in the barn where they could be snug and it could hold their body heat? My first shelter was a 8x8 plywood square, open on one end and it had 2 sheets of plywood for the top. Later I had a larger roof built off the side of the portable building and intended to tear down the plywood shelter, but found out that ewes would come off the field to lamb in it because they felt secure. So maybe a small enclosure like that, in the barn would provide a secure, warmer environment for your sheep.
 

koalabear

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Sheep are raised on every continent all over the world. From scorching desert to frozen places. Hair sheep can tolerate heat and cold. Wool sheep thrive in colder climates. Their wool keeps them warm. There is a reason why people wore woolen clothing!

If your ewe is pregnant and if she lambs, is there electricity in the barn where you could hang a heat lamp? If not, could you build a small shelter in the barn where they could be snug and it could hold their body heat? My first shelter was a 8x8 plywood square, open on one end and it had 2 sheets of plywood for the top. Later I had a larger roof built off the side of the portable building and intended to tear down the plywood shelter, but found out that ewes would come off the field to lamb in it because they felt secure. So maybe a small enclosure like that, in the barn would provide a secure, warmer environment for your sheep.
This is the place where they have to live, they can't be inside the building because on the left are bunnies and birds, on the right is hay and feed. So, I'll make this hut a little bit bigger and insulate it with their own wool and for the winter I put a wall up(marked with red) so they have bigger place to hide from rain, snow and wind. My first sheep has lived in this hut for 3 years now and is doing fine, but she is healthy, I'm not worried about her.
 

Baymule

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If you can build an outside wall to enclose just part of that open front, it will give them that closed in place for further protection against the cold.

I know lumber is expensive. Here, I have used shipping pallets (free) to build shelters for my sheep and it is working. I have plans for a barn, but the pallets are making good shelter.
 
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