How much longer until she's due? First lambing season on my own.

[trampledbygeese]

This is my first lambing season on my own, so I would love some advice to tell how much longer till the cute little lambs pop out.

6 year old Katahdin ewe (hair sheep) is probably pregnant, unknown due date. Udders changed shape last night, went from growing wider to wide and saggy. Today there is obvious signs of something not-her moving inside her. If I guess right, whatever it is has two heads and five legs - hopefully it's twins. It's pushing against the side of her belly and is very active. It's like it's trying to kick it's way out through her side.

She's eating smaller 'meals' but more frequent than normal (constant access to hay and pasture, moderate grain ration). She's SUPER WIDE. Much wider than any sheep I've seen before. Not bloat wide, it's a different shape and even left and right.

Normal interest in her environment, but a bit tetchy/tender about being touched the last two days. Chewing cud as per usual. No sudden change to her lamb-hole, just slightly longer than normal.

I don't know the ram, but possibly a charollais or charollais X. These girls were mowing the lawn at a friends house, and the local ram broke the fence...&c &c. Unfortunately my friends didn't think to note down what month this was, so I have no idea when to expect the lambs.

These girls were suppose to be last Christmas dinner, but I didn't have the heart to butcher possibly pregnant sheep. But now I'm having major doubts about the whole thing especially given that these two ewes have a long history of abandoning their lambs. Good thing it's an easy milking breed, but still... so worried about everything.

How much longer until she pops? Two hours? A week? A month?

How often should I be checking in on her at this stage?

 

[purplequeenvt]

Pictures of her udder and lady parts would be helpful, but I'd say within the next month. It's hard to really determine anything without knowing the sheep or being able to handle her.

 

[trampledbygeese]

Thank you for the advise. I'll see what I can do with photos later today.

The udder is about half the size when I received her last year - the day after her lamb was weaned.

If it makes a difference, here heat cycle fell on the full and new moon last fall.

 

[trampledbygeese]

Eating her breakfast as per current normal, full interest in her grain ration.

Her lamb-hole has changed colour overnight. Dark pink, but not red yet. Udders haven't increased much since yesterday.

Unfortunately she's shy about lifting her tail. I wasn't able to get a good shot, but I'll try again later.

Thanks again for the help and advice. Really hope these photos work.

 

[goatgurl]

I'm no help... last year my two ewes made their udders and i waited and waited on them almost two weeks to lamb, this year they made their udders one day and lambed the next. all i can say is keep an eye on her

 

[luvmypets]

 

[purplequeenvt]

If she were one of my girls, I'd say that she could have another few weeks. Without knowing her past history (what her udder looks like a certain times, etc...), it's hard to say for sure. She's definitely pretty close. I'm going to stick with my "within the next month" guess.

 

[trampledbygeese]

No lambs yet. No change to lamb hole since the last report. Udders and belly slightly larger. Thing is still kicking inside her and makes her uncomfortable so that she takes a lot of care lying down and won't run quickly for anything.

Here's a question: Since I can't give her the vaccination booster when she's less than two weeks to 'hatch date', how long after the lamb(s) are born do I wait to give her the shot?

 

[trampledbygeese]

Not the ewe I was worried about, but her daughter about three years old has white goo coming out her lamb-hole. Just a bit at dusk, but much more as night descended. She keeps backing up into the wall and looks 'weirded out' today. 'Weirded out' being my human interpretation of her behaviour. Nuzzling at hay but not seriously into eating.

What does white goo mean? Is this heat, labour, or nothing to worry about? The udders seem over half full, so I'm guessing she is pregnant but is no where near as large as the other sheep. Lamb hole still pale, but is getting quite long.

Question: Should I start drinking coffee now for an allnighter? How often should I go out to check on her?

Sorry for the quality of the photo, but of course this doesn't happen till after dark.

 

[purplequeenvt]

I think you should be on lamb watch tonight.