[egglady]

one of my shetland ewes is so pregnant that she is square in shape (honestly).  All the others have now lambed and she's still waddling around.  So i got to thinking that with people, we would probably want to induce at this stage, but never heard of this with sheep.  Does it happen?  and if so, when and why?

thanks

PS - no doubt by the time someone replies to this post she'll have delivered quads!!!

[Daisy]

Oooo take a pic of the square ewe so we can all see her

[herdsman]

one of my shetland ewes is so pregnant that she is square in shape (honestly).  All the others have now lambed and she's still waddling around.  So i got to thinking that with people, we would probably want to induce at this stage, but never heard of this with sheep.  Does it happen?  and if so, when and why?

thanks

PS - no doubt by the time someone replies to this post she'll have delivered quads!!!

We had a very large ewe on the farm when I was a student and we were taking bets as to how many she would have, and your right they do look square. When she did finally get round to it she had a single and a LOT of fluid

[egglady]

we'll have a ready made swimming pool if all she's got in there is a single plus fluid!!!!

[MrsJ]

Not to worry you, but did you see Country File last week?  they had one that had sextuplets! 

[egglady]

OMG!  what on earth would i do with all of them???

my next door neighbour has jacobs and one of her ewes delivered twin lambs this afternoon and then this evening another of her ewes has to be delivered of dead lambs (twins again) - isnt nature cruel sometimes?

[ScotsGirl]

Well my square ewe finally delivered a weeny little lamb in the early hours of Wednesday morning.  It came out nose first and I managed to deliver it eventually with just one leg forward but not until I had called the vet out because I thought it was stuck with head and leg out.

Had she done the deed during the day I could have asked advice about how long to leave before calling vet but we live and learn.  Forty minutes later she had a big contraction and between us out it came however a bit poorly.  No meconium passed or faeces and now scouring and hunch backed.  Any ideas anyone?  I have given antibiotics, 3ml of treacle liquid and approx 100ml milk with some lactulose on advice of vet.

[egglady]

oh scotsgirl well done you!  that's the sort of thing you dread isnt it?  don't have any advice for you i'm afraid but hope the wee one picks up.
laura

[ScotsGirl]

Well she is still alive after four days so fingers crossed.  I am topping up with a bottle and she has started bouncing a bit today although her belly was gurgling when she drank tonight which might be a worry.  May give more antibiotics in morning if not happy.

Might try and swap these ewes for Suffolk crosses if anyone wants them.  Not sure the Wiltshire Horn x Southdown is for me, I prefer my mules and Suffolks.

[egglady]

hey scotsgirl, hope all is progressing well.

just thought I'd update and let you know that our square ewe STILL hasn't lambed.  She's now 2 full weeks behind the rest.  I wonder when i should start to worry?  She's eating and drinking fine and happy to fight with the others over her food - even though it takes her forever to actually get to the trough she's so fat......I'm kind of assuming that the ram probably didnt get to her first time round and she'll now be 3 weeks behind the rest?  Anyone any ideas?

[ScotsGirl]

I had one like that last year and thought she would never produce.  As you say she was 3 weeks later and produced at 4am.  Look at teats, also vulva will be swelling and reddening.  It will get very red and almost look bulging about 24-48hrs before they lamb.

[egglady]

her vulva is definately swollen & been so for a couple of days now so maybe today is the day!  but then I've said that every day for the last 2 weeks.....ho-hum, I'm sure she'll deliver when she's ready.....no thought for me at all!!!!

[fangfarrier]

I've got one too......Welsh Badger faced....was a small ewe now... enormous and our last lambs born on Good Friday! Last year we had a similar one but she lambed ok in the end.

[egglady]

I've got one too......Welsh Badger faced....was a small ewe now... enormous and our last lambs born on Good Friday! Last year we had a similar one but she lambed ok in the end.

thanks for that - gives me a bit of confidence.  spoke to our local sheep farmer and he agreed that the tup maybe just missed her first cycle and got her next time round so 3 weeks between is nothing to worry about.  if it wasnt for the size of her i wouldnt be worried i have to say

[fangfarrier]

Surprise, she must have heard me....my son just rang me at work to say she'd just had twins and all well!