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

[trampledbygeese]

Another rainy 4 am. We got to stop meeting this way.

The geese were honking up a storm, so I went out to see everyone. Ewe number two, the younger girl with the white goo (named Blossom, her mum from the OP is named Buttercup) was standing in a weird, I'm uncomfortable way. Again, my interpretation of sheep thought, but what it looks like is she was standing with her head low to the ground, almost touching the ground and her forehead pressed lightly against the wall of the jug. Ears drooping. Backend pressed hard against the adjoining wall. Minimal response to the environment. She moved if the flashlight came near her and responded normally to touch, but then when the stimulus stopped, she pawed the ground and went back to her weird, I'm uncomfortable stance. Completely zones out with her eyes open and not responding normally to sound.

This is weird, even for her.

So I rush back to the house, through the rain and mud to find my camera, thinking I got to get a picture of this stance. By the time I get back out there she's laying down comfortably chewing her cud like nothing is wrong with the world. Completely normal response to all stimulus. Eyes alert, ears alert, everything sheep equivalent of content.

Of course Buttercup, the old ewe, is laying down chewing her cud the whole time, watching this with what looks like a amused grin. Of course it's only the way the flashlight illuminates her face, but if she wasn't a sheep, I would say she's chuckling at me.

No change to lamb holes, no more mucus, no signs of lambs.

 

[babsbag]

They will drive you nuts.

I remember the first year kidding, only 3 does and no problems and I was totally unprepared and I had to idea how wrong it could go, ignorance was so blissful.

I kidded out 13 kids in Jan and no problems with the births. (knock on wood) but I am older and wiser but all the means is that I worry more as I know now what can go wrong.

I have another 12 does to freshen before I am done this year, they will start again in March.

Oh, I think the M word is mastitis.

 

[norseofcourse]

I know how frustrating - and humorous - it can be! I had three pregnant ewes last year. Two lambed a week or two after the 'first possible date', the other was a ewe lamb. For over a month I was sure she was going to lamb 'any day now'. I kept track of udder, vulva, discharge, behavior, appetite, everything... I spent weeks getting up in the middle of the night to check on her. She finally lambed - Six Weeks Later!

It does sound like yours is close - I will keep my fingers crossed for you and her!

 

[trampledbygeese]

Thank you, thank you.

I'm trying to keep the humour going, even if I am a major grumpyface today. Can't blame the sheep for being sheep.

Nothing today, normal sheep behaviour, but smaller meals of course. Every now and again one will suddenly stop, turn her head and look at her back side as if to say 'huh? What was that?' then quietly go back to munching on grass.

Tomorrow's probably the day. I'm going to be out all day, so of course that's when the lambs will pop. But what can you do? I can't put this errand off any longer.

Then again, it may be in two weeks. The joke around here is that they are holding off for Chinese New Year so they can welcome in the year of the sheep. I tell the ewes we go by the Japanese calendar in our house, where the year of the sheep began the first of Jan and they can pop anytime they want to... but they just look at me and chew their cud as if they don't understand any of these noises the weird human makes, but maybe she will give us another rub behind the ear if we pretend to pay attention.

 

[bonbean01]

Yes...keep that humour intact!!!! Hoping it is not a long wait, but one day when I have more time I will tell you how we handled our first lambing seasons....sigh....oh...and wondered, where in Canada are you? I'm from Saskatchewan and then Northwest Ontario...I see ..... Location: Canada and I get a lil homesick.

 

[trampledbygeese]

Another day, another day without lambs.

I thought for certain today would be THE day given that no one would be with the ewes for almost eight hours. They were both a little off their feed this morning.

Came home, no lambs.

Udders look almost full size, and both girls have middle-pink lamb holes.

I wonder if I go out there and read them the chapter of the book which says how they should present pre-lambing. I did that to my ducks and the next day they did exactly all the things the book says that muscovy ducks NEVER EVER do. So, maybe I'll just keep the books indoors.

Canada, I'm on the little Island off the bottom, left coast.

 

[babsbag]

I thought for sure you would have lambs too, always happens when you are gone or you have given up. So I guess you just need to stop looking and will happen when it happens. Makes us all crazy

 

[trampledbygeese]

Big bloody balloon coming out the lamb hole of buttercup - old ewe. More updates later. Fingers cross it's champagon and cigars.

 

[babsbag]

well she is going to give you a lamb shortly. Hoping it is all uneventful and let us know. Good luck.

 

[trampledbygeese]

Thank you.

Half an hour in, give or take, and she's putting in a lot of effort and occasional complaint. So hard not to jump in there and do something, but I have to give her time to do it herself. Bloody balloon thing has tripled in size... down to the ground now. Did a search of the pasture to make certain it wasn't afterbirth, but no lambkins kicking about yet.

oh, noise just changed, going out again.