SheepGirl's 2014 Lambing Thread

[Pioneer Chicken]

Day 142 is tomorrow. Right now it is snowing. We are supposed to get up to 18" of snow with blizzard like winds. Our county doesn't have a state emergency but neighboring counties do. So i will be shining the flashlight onto the sheep area from my deck throughout the night watching her. Her udder doesnt look ready to go yet (it isnt the largest udder shes ever built) but tonight she was holding her tail up. Despite that I wasn't able to look at her vulva to see how it looked... she didnt want me standing behind her haha

here is a pic of her from tonight.
View attachment 1587

Do sheep lose their ligaments like goats? If so, is it just me or does she look dimpled in the ligaments area? So excited for you! New babies are so much fun and adorable!!!

 

[SheepGirl]

Honestly I'm sure they do, but I've never bothered to check them or learn how to do it But now that you point it out, maybe!

 

[bonbean01]

I was thinking the same thing when I saw the photo. Wishing you a healthy lamb or lambs!!!!!

 

[SheepGirl]

I have a top view photo of her from a week or so ago I guess it was and she definitely looks more sunken in tonight than she did then. Her rear end looked more rounded from the top but tonight it is more pointy. Maybe she did lose her ligaments?

 

[SheepGirl]

Anyone want to start taking guesses? When? How many? Sexes?

Here is her past lambing info:
Lambed March 28, 2008 (never wrote down a date bred) - one ewe
March 29, 2009 (first marked 10/11; lambed at 135 or 152 days) - one ewe, one ram
March 18, 2010 (no marking harness used) - two rams
May 25, 2012 (lambed at 142 days) - two ewes
March 7, 2013 (lambed at 142 days) - two ewes, one ram
Feb ??, 2014 - ??

And Hank has sired 60% ewes and 40% rams.

 

[Pioneer Chicken]

I'm only gonna guess on the when part and that is since she looks so sunk in, thus very likely her ligs are gone, within 24 hours. Or maybe within 12 hours. : )

I like surprises as far as the rest goes (okay, okay, let's just say I'm not very accurate when it comes to numbers LOL )

 

[SheepGirl]

I think we may have lambs on the way! Though I have yet to see her rear end to be able to tell for sure but I also don't think her udder looks like she's about to lamb. BUT when I just checked on her, she was the only one in the sheep shack I don't know if I've made posts on here before saying this, but normally the sheep in really bad weather (like heavy snow or rain) all go in there and crowd Ciqala out so she's outside a little bit getting the worst of the weather. But all the other ewes were outside near the gate and Ciqala was in the sheep shack by herself which is very unlike her. Even when I walked over to the gate making it look like I was feeding, it took her a little while to decide to come out and walk over to check things out.

And her belly looks pretty W I D E and low now so who knows? Maybe we'll have lambs here in the next day or so.

 

[SheepGirl]

No lambs as of yet, BUT we have 12 inches of snow so far. It's only been snowing for like 12 hours.

 

[Roving Jacobs]

With that much snow she's definitely going to lamb soon! They always wait for the worst weather. Now all you have to do is tell her you're leaving for a while and not to have them until you get back. That should have her popping them out pronto

 

[SheepGirl]

Still no lambs and I got a look at her vulva earlier today when I fed. Haven't checked on them since. Don't think we will have any lambs today or tomorrow based on the looks of her vulva. This darn ewe I want lambs NOW! hehehe just kidding. I can wait. But not for long.