[Jacob-list] Lambing tales

[Susan J Martin]

We have observed some interesting behavior this lambing season.  One of
our ewes delivered a full term, dead lamb........first thing I noticed
was that the lamb was in a very thick sac that was abnormal looking with
round, plaque-like growths on the sac.  About an hour and a half later
she labored and delivered a "blob" - a lamb who had died some time
earlier and was small, without fleece and slightly decomposing, although
physically normal in every way.....it all was pretty gross.....and this
dead lamb was also in a very thick, abnormal sac.    She delivered the
placenta and I put her on a regimen of several injections of  Liquamycin
LA over several days............however, this poor ewe was devastated.   
I left the full term dead lamb with her for about 2-3 hrs. to help her
"realize" it wasn't going to move..........and during that time she
worked feverishly to bring him back to life - talking to him, licking
him, pawing gently at him, etc.  When I removed him she was devastated
and every time she heard someone else's lamb cry she perked up her ears
and wanted to be there.  After a day or two of observation, during which
time she was obviously depressed, although her vital signs were
normal..........we put her in with the other sheep hoping that would perk
her up.......and it certainly did.  She became much more animated but was
still very fixated about having a baby, and eventually decided to
literally shadow the lamb of another ewe.   She literally pasted herself
with the two of them...........and eventually I had to separate her again
because I suspected she was having this little lamb nurse from her, as
the real mother was becoming engorged.  I put her with the ewes who have
not delivered yet, although their meadow is next door to the meadow with
the ewes with lambs..........and she can still be seen visiting babies
through the fence.  I never wish for orphans, but had I had one I would
certainly have tried it with this ewe and I really think she would have
taken it..........she wants to be a mommy in the worse way!!

Another interesting incident - a yearling ewe was starting into labor and
the little liquid-filled sac appeared ..........and promptly another,
much older and experienced ewe started playing midwife with
her.........licking her, cleaning up this sac, and literally following
her around with her nose up her behind.  This older ewe appeared like she
also would lamb any minute herself.  As time progressed this older ewe
was seeming to be almost too vigorous in her attempts to clean up the
younger ewe and I became concerned that she might actually do some harm
and I separated her - and both of them in separate lambing jugs.  The
yearling delivered a very healthy little ram...........and a short time
later the older ewe went into labor and delivered a ram and a ewe.  AND,
I suspect that had they stayed together, the older ewe would have claimed
the yearling's lamb as her own if I had not intervened.  A similar
situation happened to us several yrs. - an older ewe (different ewe)
claimed a lamb from a younger ewe, and then within 24 hrs. she lambed and
refused one of her own.............she seemingly knew she should have
only two and she refused the third one, which subsequently out of
necessity became a bottle baby!!

Another one of our yearling ewes delivered a beautiful little ewe and for
the first 12 hours she literally "talked" nonstop to her baby.........at
times sounding almost like a lama!!  She constantly nickered and make
moaning, guttural sounds as she licked and cleaned and fussed over her
little one.......it really was touching to see her!!  Now two days later
she has calmed down into a relaxed mommy/baby relationship and all is
well, although she is still quite proud of her baby!!  And she should
be..........it's beautiful.   However, as in previous years, I'm sure
this year's lambs are the most beautiful ever!!!   (AND YES, THEY ARE FOR
SALE..........717-738-3747!!!)     ;-)

Besotted over these sheep & lovin' every minute of it~
Sue Martin
Stonecroft

________________________________________________________________
The best thing to hit the Internet in years - Juno SpeedBand!
Surf the Web up to FIVE TIMES FASTER!
Only $14.95/ month - visit www.juno.com to sign up today!