Labor signs?

[BlueMoonFarms]

Alright, so I have been keeping an eye on my herd for signs of pregnancy. Two of them my ram is still bothering every now and then, but the other two he has not touched.
We caught them for there last round of worming and checked there privets, only to find that Rosie and Kora are both getting pink and a little puffy.
Of course I forgot to check udders...
But my question is, what should i be looking for? Are there any definite signs of labor like in goats? Or is it hit or miss with ewes?

 

[HeatherL]

Last year I had 2 hamp/suffolk cross ewes that had lambs. There back areas which are usually black in color turned a pink color and were very swollen (not hard but soft). If I remember correctly they were almost the size and shape of a regular doughnut right before delivery.

Right now, most of my ewes are about 3-4 weeks out and some have started udders (small), some are just starting to soften around their udder area and they all are getting puffy in the hind parts. After our recent loss, I have been watching everyone even closer and I'm pretty sure they think of me as the stalker.

 

[bonbean01]

I'm not a good person to ask since this is our 6th year with lambs...and two of them still have me fooled...huge, puffy girl parts...DH says neighbours will start to talk as I'm checking that for mucous and their huge udders often...they paw before lying down and I'm out there...they yawn, burp, fart, stretch their neck...and I'm checking again...LOLOL...once I see mucous, they are getting up and down often, pawing often, up and down...then it is very close and time to get the birthing kit, dress warmly...and head out. Good luck to you both in your lambings...and good luck to my elderly ewe who looks deformed...she is so big!

 

[Support]

Hey there @BlueMoonFarms .

Here are some signs that the ewe will be giving birth really soon:
- The udder swells and may turn red.
- The vulva swells and becomes red.
- There will be a hollow on either side of the tail.
- There will be a discharge for some days.

On the day:

- The ewe cries and acts like she's "talking".
- The ewe becomes very restless.
- Water sack appears and ruptures.
- The ewe looks for a lonely clean place.


Hope this helps!

 

[Sheepshape]

Yep,the Admins have it nailed!
A few days before 'the big day' the ewe often seems to be off her food, often stops whilst grazing (If she's a tame ewe you may feel the 'practice contractions' of her womb). The belly often looks to have 'dropped'.
On the big day,the ewe will often start pawing the ground (nesting instinct) and this gets more and more violent as labour progresses.

I wish that they were all like my old girl Longface (now retired due to advanced age). On the last two years that she had lambs she came up to me when I was feeding the sheep and stood by my side at the evening feed, whilst eating very little. I led her on both occasions into a lambing pen where she duly delivered her lambs a couple of hours later (quickly as she was well-practiced).

Bonbean01,what about a pic of your big old girl? My in-lamb ewes are about 8 weeks away,so it's a while since I saw those rounded bellies. I love it when they are huge,grumpy and imminent.

 

[bonbean01]

oops...that didn't work...will try again...this is not a recent pic...will try get one today.

 

[bonbean01]

Her lying down 2 weeks ago...she just keeps looking more deformed as time goes on...

 

[Sheepshape]

Ha Ha....she's having a tyre , a tractor tyre, that is!

 

[BlueMoonFarms]

Her lying down 2 weeks ago...she just keeps looking more deformed as time goes on...
View attachment 1049

Oh My goodness she is huge!!
Fingers crossed there are no complications!

the reason i am asking is because my very first ewe was down in the goat hutch, just laying there. I thought she ate something toxic so I rushed her up to the house and plopped her in the sick pen ready to pump her full of charcoal.
I hopped on BYH to ask what else to do since the vet was not picking up...and realized she was pushing lol Fifteen minuets later Violet was born!
Never even knew she was bred when I got her, so this time I want to be sure of what to keep an eye out for.

 

[BlueMoonFarms]

Hey there @BlueMoonFarms .

Here are some signs that the ewe will be giving birth really soon:
- The udder swells and may turn red.
- The vulva swells and becomes red.
- There will be a hollow on either side of the tail.
- There will be a discharge for some days.

On the day:

- The ewe cries and acts like she's "talking".
- The ewe becomes very restless.
- Water sack appears and ruptures.
- The ewe looks for a lonely clean place.


Hope this helps!

Ah brilliant! I am going to write all of these down and keep them by the fridge so Hubby will know what to keep an eye out for as well.
Thank you!