[Jacob-list] over protective mom

[rlynde]

Most ewes seem to be good moms, but this one takes it a little too far. She is a young ewe who lambed a few days ago. I have kept her in a lambing pen because I think the lamb looks a little scrawny. I decided to give the lamb some extra milk in a bottle to see if it would make a difference. When I picked the lamb up the ewe tried to jump the fence to find the lamb. When I held the lamb in the pen the ewe (with spiky 4 horns)  tried to butt me (more like ram behavior). So here's the funny thing. Every time I go out there the water bucket in this ewe's pen is knocked over. When I fill the bucket she noses it and eyes it warily. Eventually it's knocked over. No other sheep have knocked over their buckets in the lambing pens. I also took a harder look at the ewe and decided that she looked gaunt. So I thought that maybe she's not getting enough water because she's knocking the bucket over; therefore she doesn't have as much milk as she should. I filled a bucket that hangs on the fence instead of being on the ground. The ewe sniffed the bucket and drank about 3/4 of it all at once. It hasn't been knocked off the fence yet. I think that she was protecting her lamb from the bucket. What do you think?
Robin Lynde
Meridian Jacobs
Vacaville, CA
www.meridianjacobs.com 
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