Our first lamb of 2022 was safely delivered this morning with no assistance needed. I had checked the ewes at 2.30am and none appeared in labour. Back at 7am and a single ewe lamb was curled up in the straw. Mum was an experienced ewe so it is not unusual that there was no protracted labour.
Mum and daughter were put into a bonding pen and all the reassuring signs were there. The lamb was alert and on its feet. A test of the ewe's udder showed both nipples were producing milk. The lamb suckled so had the all-important intake of colostrum, and the ewe was attentive and licking her lamb. A spray of iodine on the remains of the umbilicus. Safe to go in for some breakfast.
Getting up in the middle of the night to check on pregnant sheep or goats is one of the things I don't miss from smallholding! But watching lambs doing their funny running and jumping thing was a lovely time-waster
ReplyDeleteI hope the rest are as straightforward as the first one. Looking forward to their spring time frolics later.
DeleteOh how beautiful!
ReplyDeleteThis ewe can be relied on as such an attentive mum.
DeleteJust perfect! It really felt like Spring today.
ReplyDeleteYes, we had blue sky and sunny weather today. It was nice to be outside.
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