By Baabaara's Handspun and Handwoven Rugs | January 27, 2014 at 12:19 AM EST |
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Today I had another lesson in being a shepherdess....This one was a hard one as i lost a lamb. Out to check my ewes about 0630 and the one (Sweet Pea, my registered Romeldale), that had been hanging off to herself on and off yesterday, had a "waterbag" showing. I came inside, referred to my book on raising sheep, and moved her into a lambing jug and allowed her more time. On a different level I was stressing as I had been assigned to help out at church this morning and could not plan to leave the ewe. I had no indication there was a problem with this ewe, but knew church could find someone to cover for me. it was now 0730. Sweet Pea had finally laid down and was actively pushing. I reached the entrance, found legs and a nose and assisted minimally to help the lamb out. I did reach in and felt a couple more feet. Thinking there was no problem, I left her to work things out on her own after taking a couple pics of the lamb. My mentor texted me and told me that since I knew there was another lamb in there I should pull it out......and that is where I had trouble. I could not feel a nose or head to go with the legs and thought the lamb was backward. Continuing to feel around I found a head..... and still could not figure out how it was attached. Long story short, I tried to pull and it would not come. Head was there but twisted around. My neighbor came to my call (0830) and helped me get the lamb out. He was a large (13.5 lb) ram lamb that was beautiful......but quite dead.
Thankfully, ewe roused, and she and the ewe lamb are both doing well.


So, my gracious mentor asked me what I learned from this........
*that water bags showing mean get "em out.......
*waiting for nature to take it's course is not the best plan of action when it comes to lambing
*books are not always the best source of information as they cannot answer questions
*call friends and neighbors for assistance earlier rather than later. Rather owe them a favor than lose a potentially great animal.
Tomorrow I head to "the valley" to pick up my fiber I sent off earlier this month to Columbia Custom Carding. A dear friend, another fiber nut, will be taking a couple of her fleece over and we will bring mine back.