We're getting ready........for lambing

[BCSnob]

Here is our checklist to be completed by early February

Purchase hay square bales for lambing jugs: done
Purchase heat lamp bulbs: done
Repair tilt table: done
Purchase & install rolling stop gate: done
Check and restock lambing supplies: done
Clean and rebed lambing jugs: not done
Give ewes CD&T booster: not done
Purchase grain to feed pregnant ewes: not done

Lambing jug: small pen in our barn to keep ewe with her lambs together but separated from the others just before or just after delivery to ensure good bonding of ewe and lambs, lambs are healthy and well fed, ear tagging of lambs and recording information, and deworming of the ewe. Once all has been completed and the lambs look strong the family is turned loose into the field with the rest of the flock. If one or more of the lambs look weak we might place a heat lamp in the lambing jug to help keep the lambs warm while they are weak. We have 7 permanent lambing jugs, can make use of 3 more locations, and can put up a few more portable pens.

Lambing supplies: USDA Scrapies ear tags, syringes, needles, dewormer, powdered milk, bottles & nipples, tube feeder, injectable antibiotics, lamb puller, nutrient rich liquid, injectable calcium and vitamins, and ewe halter.

The Tilt Table is used to squeeze/confine and flip sheep on their side for checking feet; it saves my back. A rolling stop gate in a sliding gate placed along a cute where the sheep pass single file; the gate will allow use to load the cute with 5-10 sheep, stop them in the cute, and then vaccinate the group before letting them out and reloading.

CD&T Vaccine is for Clostridium perfringens type C and D (overeating disease) and Clostridium tetani (tetanus). Mothers should be vaccinated prior to delivery to increase antibodies going to lambs in utero and in their milk. We haven't had issues with the first two bacteria but tetanus is endemic on our farm.

We are delaying when we start feeding grain because our sheep are "well fed" just on grass and last year we had a few gain too much weight contributing to prolapse (look up sheep prolapse images).


I'll probably rebed the lambing jugs just before the start of lambing.

We’re expecting at least 100 lambs

[dturm]

So sorry.

[BCSnob]

Will leave work early today to help bury the ewe.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

Sometimes, learn-as-you-go, sucks..... crossing my fingers for the ewe

[BCSnob]

Still not up, at this point I will be surprised if she recovers.

[BCSnob]

This is new for us. Every year we see/learn something new. Last year it was Schistosomus reflexus; I won’t post pictures.

[dturm]

It's been about 50 years (OMG) but I remember my large animal rotation that happened in Jan/Feb. We attended a few downer cows. It's really amazing what a little glucose or calcium will do. We see an eclampsia in post-partum dogs infrequently, but I saw several in 40+ years. A little calcium IV turned them around, really amazing to witness.

Do you see the downer ewes more often with twins? I assume if she survives this will be her last breeding.

[BCSnob]

Yesterday my wife found one of our ewes laying down and unable to get up. There are two likely causes: ketosis (Pregnancy toxemia) or hypocalcemia (milk fever). We initially treated for ketosis (which would do no harm if not ketosis); oral dose with propylene glycol/molasses/vitamin mixture but there was no change. Later we started treatment for hypocalcemia (which would do no harm via subq infections instead of IV). She did not die overnight; we will continue treating with subq injections of calcium borogluconate.

Emergency on farm vet visits cost more than the value of one sheep. We consult with our friend (large/small animal vet) and treat by ourselves.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

BCSnob wrote:

On a personal note; my wife and I are heavily involved with our Episcopal church and the bishop is coming for a visit next weekend. I keep suggesting to my wife that the bishop comes to see a real life example of shepherding a flock.

I suspect your farm will offer topics for sermons for a while 🙂

[BCSnob]

Feb 4th is the first date when we could have lambs. We unloaded our first weekly batch (400lbs) of sheep feed and started feeding the ewes. Our friend who is a large/small animal vet will be coming on Feb 9th to help my wife with lambing for a week (I have a full time job off the farm with a ~1hr commute each way). Our friend travels with most of her dogs (>4 plus a few pups from a recent litter) so she comes to visit with her suburban and trailer; we’ll put her trailer near our house and run electric to her. I have not let checked the lambing jugs to made sure they are cleaned and ready for use (to be done next weekend). The extension cord that provides power for lights and heat lamp to the barn is ready to be plugged into the outside outlet of our trailer (which is parked between the barn and loafing shed which has safe/newer wiring than the barn). My order for new insulated overalls has arrived (:C); still waiting on new insulated work gloves (these will get very messy carrying wet newborn lambs).

I even managed to get a couple of RVing comments in this post.:)

There will only be videos; I gave up my photobucket site and am reluctant to post photos to the site used here. A friend has had her photos stolen (taken from an online posting on other sites and sold commercially without her consent).

On a personal note; my wife and I are heavily involved with our Episcopal church and the bishop is coming for a visit next weekend. I keep suggesting to my wife that the bishop comes to see a real life example of shepherding a flock.

[Scottiemom]

Anxious to see new pix!

[BCSnob]

We still have a couple of weeks before lambs.
The forecast, right now, is for us to be on the western edge of the storm and to get <1” of snow.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

In light of the miserable weather headed your way - are you expecting births this weekend?

[BCSnob]

Meanwhile, Sam and Wendy are enjoying the cold weather. We see them out playing with each other or laying out in the field (either on exposed grass or on the snow). Occasionally, we see them curled up on the hay the sheep have pulled out of the feeder and let fall on the ground (typically when it’s windy). They have the choice to go into the barn (that is where their feeders are); but they choose to be outside. I have seen them carefully walking across the ice.

[BCSnob]

We might be going to plan b for vaccinations. We got snow, then rain, then freezing rain, and the the temps dropped below freezing. For the past 2 weekends there has been frozen slush and smooth ice in front of the barn where we vaccinate. It’s too dangerous to bring the sheep into that barn.

Plan b is vaccinating right after they deliver. It’s not the ideal method but since it’s a booster for the pregnant ewes it would boost the antibodies in their milk but after the lambs get the colostrum. Delay in boosting is safer than risking a fall and injury on ice for us, the dogs, or the pregnant ewes.

[Deb_and_Ed_M]

I will add that Mark's valuable insight into all things "canine" has been a tremendous help to those with questions while RVing and far from their Vet 🙂