Watching Emmi
We have been in a holding pattern for the past day. Yesterday (Tuesday) morning I went out to the barn to notice that Emmi had gotten much more pregnant looking overnight. More of the largeness seemed to be on the left side. But it was solid, not a big, gassy balloon so it wasn't bloat. I just wondered if maybe the lambs were sitting more to her left side all of a sudden. She also suddenly had a big, full udder. The udder-thing is great. I was actually really concerned that she had the smallest udder of the group of 4 ewes left to lamb and she was due first. She was still eating fine yesterday morning.
Photos cannot adequately show her sudden hugeness.
Then by last night, she was eating less and standing around looking "odd". I kept checking the barn every 2 hours, but then at 11 PM went to bed and then went out again at 6 AM. The theory is that most ewes do not have their lambs at night especially if you don't keep bothering them and waking them up. So at 6 AM, no lambs. And at 8 AM still no lambs. I have the feeling it will be today and may be later this morning. The ultrasound tech said she had "at least 2 lambs" and I am guessing three given her size, shape and past history. (She had triplets when she had lambs before.) I think that the "odd" look is because the ewe is starting to have some small contractions. This can start about 24 hours before real labor begins. I have the feeling I will get a lot of exercise walking back and forth to the barn today!
Yesterday, I also put Eeva, Mara and their 4 lambs in a little nursery pen with an attached creep. The creep is an area where you put special lamb food. The lambs are starting to taste their mothers' grain when they eat and most of them have gone in and out of the creep gate a few times. But I haven't seen them show interest in the creep feed so far. Usually one lamb will figure it out and then they will all start. We will watch and see who the smart lamb turns out to be. I have a feeling it will be one of Mara's little black lambs.
The gate to the creep is the blue thing toward the right/rear that has adjustable bars so you can set
the size to allow lambs to fit through but not their mothers.
Then by last night, she was eating less and standing around looking "odd". I kept checking the barn every 2 hours, but then at 11 PM went to bed and then went out again at 6 AM. The theory is that most ewes do not have their lambs at night especially if you don't keep bothering them and waking them up. So at 6 AM, no lambs. And at 8 AM still no lambs. I have the feeling it will be today and may be later this morning. The ultrasound tech said she had "at least 2 lambs" and I am guessing three given her size, shape and past history. (She had triplets when she had lambs before.) I think that the "odd" look is because the ewe is starting to have some small contractions. This can start about 24 hours before real labor begins. I have the feeling I will get a lot of exercise walking back and forth to the barn today!
Yesterday, I also put Eeva, Mara and their 4 lambs in a little nursery pen with an attached creep. The creep is an area where you put special lamb food. The lambs are starting to taste their mothers' grain when they eat and most of them have gone in and out of the creep gate a few times. But I haven't seen them show interest in the creep feed so far. Usually one lamb will figure it out and then they will all start. We will watch and see who the smart lamb turns out to be. I have a feeling it will be one of Mara's little black lambs.
the size to allow lambs to fit through but not their mothers.
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