babsbag
Herd Master
Hopefully you will see some front feet soon.
How much longer until she's due? First lambing season on my own.
- Thread starter trampledbygeese
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #42
trampledbygeese
Loving the herd life
That's one!
Four legs, with hooves on the end of each one. One head, two eyes, one mouth, a nose, two ears, and a tail. Sucking milk - though I did get a bit frustrated watching the lamb suckle the elbow and guided her to the right location. No sign of a ram-sack
I could make the joke of a boy without a winkle, but I don't know if anyone would get the reference.Massive big lamb compared to the sheep - at least in my limited experience.
Mum is totally bonding with this little creature. It's strong.
Going to get the molasses ready and some fresh bedding.
Afterbirth - I think - is coming out, but as I write, it sounds like I need to go out there and check for twins.
babsbag
Herd Master
Congratulations. maybe another one ??- Thread starter
- #44
trampledbygeese
Loving the herd life
Lamb number two, waited 15 min from hoof showing, mum couldn't make any progress and was getting very distressed, so I helped her pull. It came out backwards and was very dead. Did everything I could to get life into it but no.
Feeling shell shocked.
Going back to check on mum and lamb number one.
Feeling shell shocked.
Going back to check on mum and lamb number one.
babsbag
Herd Master
Ahh, sorry. Those things happen, never easy but part of it all. Hope that lamb one and mom are doing ok. Glad you were there to help her.
- Thread starter
- #46
trampledbygeese
Loving the herd life
Thanks for the kind words.
Mum hasn't got up since I pulled the lamb, but she seems very relaxed. Nuzzling lamb number one, dunk molasses drink, nibbling on hay. Looks like the afterbirth has come out.
Noise has changed again... triplets? A pale bubble has come out of her lamb hole... maybe more afterbirth??? Mum up and about again, going at the hay like a good thing.
Picture of lamb number one.
Mum hasn't got up since I pulled the lamb, but she seems very relaxed. Nuzzling lamb number one, dunk molasses drink, nibbling on hay. Looks like the afterbirth has come out.
Noise has changed again... triplets? A pale bubble has come out of her lamb hole... maybe more afterbirth??? Mum up and about again, going at the hay like a good thing.
Picture of lamb number one.
Attachments
- Thread starter
- #47
trampledbygeese
Loving the herd life
Everyone's doing fine in sheep-land right now.
The thing that's keeping me awake now is the dead lamb. Why did it die? What did I do wrong? What did I do right? What can I do better next time?
Can anyone suggest a good reference for this kind of situation?
Are there any uses for a stillborn lamb? I'm thinking rennet needs to be from one that has suckled, is this right? I hate to just toss it out.
The thing that's keeping me awake now is the dead lamb. Why did it die? What did I do wrong? What did I do right? What can I do better next time?
Can anyone suggest a good reference for this kind of situation?
Are there any uses for a stillborn lamb? I'm thinking rennet needs to be from one that has suckled, is this right? I hate to just toss it out.
purplequeenvt
Herd Master
There are so many reason why a lamb could be born dead. Don't beat yourself up. Even those of us that have been at this for years still have things like this happen.
I would just get rid of the dead baby. You could skin it and have the hide tanned, but that's as far as I'd go.
You did a great job! You have a healthy lamb on the ground, mom is taking care of it, you should be pleased. Not every lambing will have a good outcome and usually there is absolutely nothing you could have done.
I would just get rid of the dead baby. You could skin it and have the hide tanned, but that's as far as I'd go.
You did a great job! You have a healthy lamb on the ground, mom is taking care of it, you should be pleased. Not every lambing will have a good outcome and usually there is absolutely nothing you could have done.
- Thread starter
- #49
trampledbygeese
Loving the herd life
Thanks Purplequeenvt. I'm absolutely thrilled with living lamb. The geese don't know what the lamb sound is, so they called me out every hour. I got to spend a lot of time with lamb and mummy during the night.
The more I think about it, the more I wonder if it just started breathing too soon and suffocated. Still, I would really like to know if I did anything wrong with the nutrition and feeding. I think I'll skin the dead one and have a look at the organs before feeding the carcass to the compost. Anything special I should look for?
Questions:
Mum still has some mucky string hanging out of her lamb hole. She stopped pushing in earnest about 8 hours ago. Should I pull it out?
Shots? When to give her the vaccine? She seems a bit pale under the eyelids and gums compared to a few days ago, should I give that vitamin booster thing - and if so, any good reference on how to do a in the muscle shot? I've only done under skin shot.
How long to give little lamb her shot?
How long until I can milk her? Her udders and GINORMOUS and I think bothering her. Little lamb is drinking, but not a lot. I do plan to milk mum for my own consumption later, but wonder if I should be helping relieve the load now and freezing the milk for emergency lambing.
If I give her the shots, I'm guessing there is a time I can't use the milk for human consumption. Off to read the label.
Is there a home remedy to streamline caffeine directly into my brain? SO... BLEEPING... TIRED!
Also, ewe number two, Blossom, has uber-full udders this morning. It's going to be another one of those nights I bet.
The more I think about it, the more I wonder if it just started breathing too soon and suffocated. Still, I would really like to know if I did anything wrong with the nutrition and feeding. I think I'll skin the dead one and have a look at the organs before feeding the carcass to the compost. Anything special I should look for?
Questions:
Mum still has some mucky string hanging out of her lamb hole. She stopped pushing in earnest about 8 hours ago. Should I pull it out?
Shots? When to give her the vaccine? She seems a bit pale under the eyelids and gums compared to a few days ago, should I give that vitamin booster thing - and if so, any good reference on how to do a in the muscle shot? I've only done under skin shot.
How long to give little lamb her shot?
How long until I can milk her? Her udders and GINORMOUS and I think bothering her. Little lamb is drinking, but not a lot. I do plan to milk mum for my own consumption later, but wonder if I should be helping relieve the load now and freezing the milk for emergency lambing.
If I give her the shots, I'm guessing there is a time I can't use the milk for human consumption. Off to read the label.
Is there a home remedy to streamline caffeine directly into my brain? SO... BLEEPING... TIRED!
Also, ewe number two, Blossom, has uber-full udders this morning. It's going to be another one of those nights I bet.
babsbag
Herd Master
I have had more than a few goat kids born dead, it just happens. If they are coming out breech they have a much higher chance of drowning in amniotic fluid and time is critical. They need to be out NOW. When they are delivered many times you have to swing them head down, rub them vigorously, suction out the mouth and nose and even then it may not survive. But it could have been dead already, they do die in utero and we just never know what happened. Some times they are born alive and dead the next day, nature has a way far beyond us.
I will be watching for the next one to lamb.
I will be watching for the next one to lamb.
