The second was a ram lamb had its head back, so I dug around and got its head pointed the right way but had to help pull that one out.
By the third lamb, a little ram, Gregor was too tired so I pulled that one out shortly after, rummaging about inside poor Gregor up past my elbow.
The whole process including ensuring the lambs suckled, giving everyone jabs and cleaning navels, then setting up the maternity pen took five hours, but Gregor did all the hard work.
The ewe lamb is standing on her brothers
Look at these heartbreakers! The ewe lamb is in the middle
Her reward is, now that the babies are out, she can lie down again instead of sitting up like a dog. She greedily ate a bowl of barley, oats and sugar beet that I offered her. I made a pan of Rice Krispies treats as my reward (and for a necessary sugar high).
Now I'm off to sneak a look at my neighbour's set up, to see how he gets another mother to take a lamb using an adoption pen. Grumpy may yet get her lamb! I'll keep you posted.
Congratulations!!! To both you and Gregor. Triplets, wow.
ReplyDeleteI think the ewe is less impressed with having triplets!
DeleteHaha, I can't say I blame her - but now you have fostered one off/away, so she can take it (slightly) more easy.
DeleteThere is a story in my family - my grandmother only found out she was having twins the day before she went into labour - the story is she went into labour from the shock of it! (it was the 1950s - before the advent of lots of pre-natal care & scanning).
well let me be the first of your readers to say that the miracle of life is totally gross. Up to your elbows in blood and whatever that yellow business is... bleh.
ReplyDeleteAnyhoo, now that you have some of Grumpy's milk on hand, can't you feed it to one of those baby rams and get Grumpy's smell coursing through him? Then Grumpy won't be able to tell he's not her kin, right?
You stop noticing it, and weirdly it doesn't smell like it looks. I have no idea what that yellow stuff is either, it's like an amniotic pudding.
DeleteGoing to cut out the middle man and let lambs suckle straight from Grumpy, which means I built her some head stocks - two posts that I slip her head through then tighten the top with baling twine - so she can't headbutt the lambs. Cheap, makeshift, and slightly draconian: that's our motto.
That sounds like a Kodak moment if ever I've heard one, I look forward to pictures of the look on Grumpys' face once she's been subdued.
DeleteKatie - I put Grumpy in the stocks and she looked anything but subdued, and immediately tried to lever both posts out of the ground with her head and front legs, and sheer spitefulness.
DeleteIt was a promising start as my posts held and the babies got some extra milk. Will attempt Round two with G in the morning.
amniotic pudding. Now that one is going to resurface for me sometime whilst I'm making custards.
DeleteMegan - I must stop comparing gross animal secretions to food. It's dangerous.
DeleteWell done ewe!! Sorry, couldn't resist that xx
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful. I have no idea what goes on with lambing. I find this fascinating (the bad along with the good). Now, both you and Gregor are my heros! And Grumpy - well, I'll bet she makes a fine foster mommy eventually.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to put some chocolate icing on those rice krispie treats. You deserve it!
Congratulations ewe mama! Please post photos of G in her bondage. She sounds like quite the gal.
ReplyDeleteNext time I wrestle her into the stakes to milk her, I will take a photo. You can judge the expression on her face for yourself.
DeleteIt sounds like G's vying for best Wrestler. Poor you. I mean, poor ewes. Or lucky lambs. I bet she lives to be 100 w that determination.
ReplyDelete