Pictured is Tucker, one of our new pups. Since we are getting up at all hours to check the sheep, we figured might as well make the most of our interrupted nights and get two puppies that would need to go out, too. A bit tiring, but efficient!
Today I was on duty for the 2AM sheep birthing check. One ewe had given birth to a single since the last check by Scott at 10PM. Another ewe was in the process (I could see two little hooves peeking out). I moved the new arrival and mother to the heated “birthing booth”. The “birthing booth” is actually an old tack/storage room that Scott remodeled and insulated. With just a little milk house space heater the room stays around 40 degrees. Birthing booth is actually a misnomer, because the sheep give birth in a larger unheated pen in the barn. Most ewes pace and paw as part of the birth process, plus there is a lot of fluid involved. So it is safer and cleaner to move them to the smaller, insulated room after the lambs are born. But the name birthing booth is so catchy, if not accurate, it stuck.
After treating the new lamb’s navel with iodine and giving it a squirt of “go-go” juice (a vitamin/energy liquid), I stripped the mother ewe’s teats. The teats are protected by a waxy plug that fills the milk canal. Sometimes the plug is really lodged in place so we go ahead and strip or milk the ewe until the plug is removed and the milk flows. It is easier and more rewarding for the new lamb to get milk with the intial few suckles, instead of nursing without getting anything at first.
While I was busy with the new lamb, the second ewe was in active labor. I watch from a distance as she worked for about ten minutes and then pushed her lamb out. We do not see everything birth, but it is good to be there in case the mother ewe is slow getting the membranes off the lamb’s head. This ewe did a good job so no assistance was needed. The vigor of a healthy baby is amazing; within 15 seconds the lamb had its head up and gave a little blat. Ultrasound had indicated the ewe was due to have twins so I returned to the house for about 30 minutes to give her time to clean the first lamb and refocus on delivering the second. When I returned there were two lambs already toddling about the pen. I moved all three to the birthing booth and did the usual newborn processing. Unfortunately, I discovered the mother ewe had damage to one half of her udder (aka a half-bagger). We will have to keep a close eye on the lambs to make sure they are getting enough to eat. By the time everyone was settled and I returned to the house, it was 4AM. My decision was go to bed and try to sleep for 2 1/2 hours or just stay up and get some office work done. I decided to take care of some email and paperwork, but I sure hope to squeeze in a nap later today!
