goatgurl
Herd Master
so sorry you lost one of the lambs but purplequeenvt is right, not everything works out. sounds like you did everything you could have done. don't beat yourself up. on to the next one and congratulations on the first one.
How much longer until she's due? First lambing season on my own.
- Thread starter trampledbygeese
- Start date
babsbag
Herd Master
Leave the yucky stuff on mom, that is pretty normal but she should get rid of it all within 24 hours. Pulling on it can be dangerous for the ewe. She will have discharge for week and if you have coyotes now is prime time so me extra careful.
I would worm her; a worm "bloom" after the stress of birth is not unusual And you can give the CDT vaccine anytime. I am not good at IM shots so no advice on that one.
You can give baby her vaccine in 3 weeks, or sooner, but if you do it sooner she will need it again at 3-4 weeks, and then 4 weeks later.
I usually wait 2 weeks to milk but you might milk some colostrum out and freeze it for emergencies. It is good for a year in the freezer.
I don't know of the milk with holding time on CDT vaccines, I actually never thought about that. There is one for worming meds and it depends on what you use.
I would worm her; a worm "bloom" after the stress of birth is not unusual And you can give the CDT vaccine anytime. I am not good at IM shots so no advice on that one.
You can give baby her vaccine in 3 weeks, or sooner, but if you do it sooner she will need it again at 3-4 weeks, and then 4 weeks later.
I usually wait 2 weeks to milk but you might milk some colostrum out and freeze it for emergencies. It is good for a year in the freezer.
I don't know of the milk with holding time on CDT vaccines, I actually never thought about that. There is one for worming meds and it depends on what you use.
purplequeenvt
Herd Master
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?
Breech babies have a higher risk of dying while being born. The cord can break prematurely or get pinch causing the lamb to take a breath.
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?
Nope, don't pull it. It is completely normal for them to have all sorts of discharge after lambing. Sometimes up to a month after.
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.
CD&T can be given at any time. Same with the dewormer. Here's a link to a PDF with information on different dewormers. http://web.uri.edu/sheepngoat/files/ACSRPC-anthelmintic-dosing-tables_Final_May-2014.pdf Scroll down to the goat section for milk withdrawal. There aren't really any guidelines for withdrawal time in sheep so I would use the goat time.
We generally give CD&T shots to our lambs when they are 3 weeks old and then again when they are 6 weeks.
If you are planning on milking her, I'd start now. You won't want to drink the milk for a few days since it will still be colostrum, but you want to keep her milk production up. Saving the milk for emergencies is a great idea. I usually try to milk sheep that have singles (plenty of milk to spare) and save it. Freeze it in smaller amounts so that you don't have to thaw and potentially waste the whole batch.
At some point you will need to separate baby. I would separate them at night and then milk first thing in the morning. Baby gets whatever you leave behind and all the milk from the rest of the day. This way, if there is a morning that you know that you won't be able to milk, you can leave them together and baby takes care of the milk.
IM (intramuscular) shots are not hard. I like to use the meaty part of the hind leg on the sheep. Just stick the needle in. Try not to stab too close to the bony areas. Most injections can be given IM or SQ (subcutaneous).
Is there a home remedy to streamline caffeine directly into my brain? SO... BLEEPING... TIRED!
I wish! I'm not a coffee drinking, but there are times when I wish that I were. Now being one of them.
Also, ewe number two, Blossom, has uber-full udders this morning. It's going to be another one of those nights I bet.
They like to keep things interesting for us. At least they are going close together, you won't have a couple weeks of no sleep.
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?
Breech babies have a higher risk of dying while being born. The cord can break prematurely or get pinch causing the lamb to take a breath.
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?
Nope, don't pull it. It is completely normal for them to have all sorts of discharge after lambing. Sometimes up to a month after.
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.
CD&T can be given at any time. Same with the dewormer. Here's a link to a PDF with information on different dewormers. http://web.uri.edu/sheepngoat/files/ACSRPC-anthelmintic-dosing-tables_Final_May-2014.pdf Scroll down to the goat section for milk withdrawal. There aren't really any guidelines for withdrawal time in sheep so I would use the goat time.
We generally give CD&T shots to our lambs when they are 3 weeks old and then again when they are 6 weeks.
If you are planning on milking her, I'd start now. You won't want to drink the milk for a few days since it will still be colostrum, but you want to keep her milk production up. Saving the milk for emergencies is a great idea. I usually try to milk sheep that have singles (plenty of milk to spare) and save it. Freeze it in smaller amounts so that you don't have to thaw and potentially waste the whole batch.
At some point you will need to separate baby. I would separate them at night and then milk first thing in the morning. Baby gets whatever you leave behind and all the milk from the rest of the day. This way, if there is a morning that you know that you won't be able to milk, you can leave them together and baby takes care of the milk.
IM (intramuscular) shots are not hard. I like to use the meaty part of the hind leg on the sheep. Just stick the needle in. Try not to stab too close to the bony areas. Most injections can be given IM or SQ (subcutaneous).
Is there a home remedy to streamline caffeine directly into my brain? SO... BLEEPING... TIRED!
I wish! I'm not a coffee drinking, but there are times when I wish that I were. Now being one of them.
Also, ewe number two, Blossom, has uber-full udders this morning. It's going to be another one of those nights I bet.
They like to keep things interesting for us. At least they are going close together, you won't have a couple weeks of no sleep.
- Thread starter
- #54
trampledbygeese
Loving the herd life
Thank you very much for the advice.
I tried milking just now with no luck. She says she hurts/uncomfortable in the udders. I would be too if mine were that full.
Little lamb is pee/poop goo so she's getting some milk, but looks a bit thin. No big fat full lamb belly, but maybe I just missed it. Keeping a close eye on things, and going to build some sort of headlock device for mum so I can get some milk out of her.
Talked to the vet, ordered a different wormer - Valva-something, which will also work on my goat(s). Apparently it's a not-while-pregnant wormer. Also ordered Se shots and needles.
I tried milking just now with no luck. She says she hurts/uncomfortable in the udders. I would be too if mine were that full.
Little lamb is pee/poop goo so she's getting some milk, but looks a bit thin. No big fat full lamb belly, but maybe I just missed it. Keeping a close eye on things, and going to build some sort of headlock device for mum so I can get some milk out of her.
Talked to the vet, ordered a different wormer - Valva-something, which will also work on my goat(s). Apparently it's a not-while-pregnant wormer. Also ordered Se shots and needles.
purplequeenvt
Herd Master
Valbazen? You aren't supposed to use it for 45 days after breeding. It apparently safe after that, but I don't like using it all while they are pregnant.
babsbag
Herd Master
Is Ivermectin not working on the worms? It is usually the one to start with and then go to the Valbazen or Cydectin if it isn't working. I would try the ivermectin first and then have a fecal done and see what's up. No need to worm with something you don't need and make those little nasty blood suckers resistant even quicker.
bonbean01
Herd Master
Congratulations on that big beautiful lamb!!!! Love the colour! And so sorry about the one born dead 
norseofcourse
Herd Master
Congrats on the lamb, and sorry about the other one.
- Thread starter
- #59
trampledbygeese
Loving the herd life
Blossom (younger sheep with the white goo) made two boys. I have enormous heartshaped feelings towards her right now. She waited till 5am to feel a little funny, 7am, started labour, and popped both the boys out in under four minutes. Both strong, both had a suckle. Blossom had a bit of trouble counting to two, for a while there, and didn't clear the guck off the mouth of lamb number two - so I stepped in, got him breathing and reminded her that she has two. She's got the hang of it now.
Photos later.
Shame about them being boys, but I guess her thought was if we had boys to eat we won't want to eat them. Given how well the bonding went, and how calm the mums have been... I think she's right.
Next I have to find the how to use the elasticator thread and find out if I did indeed buy the right size rubber bands. I'm not a fan of banding, but can't afford to pay for surgical castration or for fence repair supplies (we kept the rams intact last year).
A month rest until the next four sheep come due.
Photos later.
Shame about them being boys, but I guess her thought was if we had boys to eat we won't want to eat them. Given how well the bonding went, and how calm the mums have been... I think she's right.
Next I have to find the how to use the elasticator thread and find out if I did indeed buy the right size rubber bands. I'm not a fan of banding, but can't afford to pay for surgical castration or for fence repair supplies (we kept the rams intact last year).
A month rest until the next four sheep come due.
purplequeenvt
Herd Master
Congrats!
