Greenside Farmery
Just born
- Joined
- Aug 18, 2016
- Messages
- 8
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Hi. Very new shepherdess here. About a month ago I picked up a small flock of soay sheep, 3 adult ewes, a yearling ewe, and a ewe and ram lamb. I was warned they were with a ram but all the ewes had birthed this spring.
I've been watching all the sheep gain condition (they were a bit thin),but one in particular has been getting huge. I took a look at her udders and have noticed them start to fill out over the past 2 weeks. She seems very uncomfortable during the heat of the day and a couple of days ago started standing up and sitting down, I thought she might be having contractions or the babies were maybe moving around each night as it gets cool so I started to keep a good eye on her. It seemed obvious she must be pregnant and quite far along and probably progressing to labor so I started checking on her every 3 hours or so (which now I'm afraid was a mistake if I disturbed her too much...)
She started pawing at the ground very seriously yesterday and around 11pm last night I saw a bit of red on her tail, but never any sign of mucus or a waterbag. She had labored breathing, but didn't make a sound. I wondered if the red was what remained of the waterbag or if the mucus could be red (it had a thick texture) but still no lambs.
Today she is aggressive with the other sheep, using her horns to swat the ewes that like to comfort her. Now I'm not sure if this is just a sign she is looking for privacy or if I missed that she was in labor last night, aborted or has some other issue and now could be in pain. She's nibbled at food but still doesn't have an appetite. Still haven't seen any straining (I see her shifting her weight on her feet but not throwing her head back) or heard bleating.
If it weren't for the bit of red on her tail/vulva I would be more inclined to wait and see, especially since I don't know she is past due and she isn't showing any signs of distress. I am prepared to "go in" to feel for dilation but I guess I am afraid I am causing problems being overattentive and poking and prodding this poor sheep for nothing. It has been incredibly hot here 100 F and her labor seems to stall in the day. Supposedly these sheep have always lambed without assistance so I was planning to see what happens as it cools down tonight, but now reading everything I can find I am worried I should have checked after a few hours last night.
I thought I had all winter to prepare for lambs...now I'm looking at these other ewes more closely and see another loose udder. Is there a reason sheep would lamb out of season? I understand the previous owners were keeping the ram with the flock all the time so I can see how it would happen but I thought the sheep's fertility was seasonal and related to day length. Do you think I should expect this sheep will have lambs out of season again? She is 5 year old proven ewe.
I've been watching all the sheep gain condition (they were a bit thin),but one in particular has been getting huge. I took a look at her udders and have noticed them start to fill out over the past 2 weeks. She seems very uncomfortable during the heat of the day and a couple of days ago started standing up and sitting down, I thought she might be having contractions or the babies were maybe moving around each night as it gets cool so I started to keep a good eye on her. It seemed obvious she must be pregnant and quite far along and probably progressing to labor so I started checking on her every 3 hours or so (which now I'm afraid was a mistake if I disturbed her too much...)
She started pawing at the ground very seriously yesterday and around 11pm last night I saw a bit of red on her tail, but never any sign of mucus or a waterbag. She had labored breathing, but didn't make a sound. I wondered if the red was what remained of the waterbag or if the mucus could be red (it had a thick texture) but still no lambs.
Today she is aggressive with the other sheep, using her horns to swat the ewes that like to comfort her. Now I'm not sure if this is just a sign she is looking for privacy or if I missed that she was in labor last night, aborted or has some other issue and now could be in pain. She's nibbled at food but still doesn't have an appetite. Still haven't seen any straining (I see her shifting her weight on her feet but not throwing her head back) or heard bleating.
If it weren't for the bit of red on her tail/vulva I would be more inclined to wait and see, especially since I don't know she is past due and she isn't showing any signs of distress. I am prepared to "go in" to feel for dilation but I guess I am afraid I am causing problems being overattentive and poking and prodding this poor sheep for nothing. It has been incredibly hot here 100 F and her labor seems to stall in the day. Supposedly these sheep have always lambed without assistance so I was planning to see what happens as it cools down tonight, but now reading everything I can find I am worried I should have checked after a few hours last night.
I thought I had all winter to prepare for lambs...now I'm looking at these other ewes more closely and see another loose udder. Is there a reason sheep would lamb out of season? I understand the previous owners were keeping the ram with the flock all the time so I can see how it would happen but I thought the sheep's fertility was seasonal and related to day length. Do you think I should expect this sheep will have lambs out of season again? She is 5 year old proven ewe.