3-20-13

This morning, before leaving to take the boys to school, I went to the barn to check on the ewes. I could see that Ewe #514 was in labor and could see one hoof. After taking the boys to school I went back to the barn to check on her. She had had no progress while we were gone. After a while I put her in a stall so I could check her. I had to straighten the lambs legs and then the ewe was able to push her out. She was such a tiny thing weighing 5lbs 9oz. I dried her off and helped her to stand. I threw my glove on the stall floor and the ewe ate it. This ewe was a crazy licker. She was licking me too. The tiny lamb was having a hard time nursing so I tubed a couple ounces of colostrum in her. I waited for awhile and went to the house for something. By the time I came back she had just delivered another, much bigger, lamb. This was a boy weighing 11lbs 7oz.  Soon I could see a hoof coming out. This lamb was coming out hind feet first. I broke the sack and then pulled the lamb. Another big boy that weighed 10lbs 4oz. This same ewe had triplets last year. Adam's school then called me to say he was sick with diarhea so I went to school to pick him up. He said, I've had diarrhea 9 times. When we came home the tiny lamb looked lifeless and was cold. I brought her in the house to warm up. I put her in a dog cage with towels around it. She warmed up quickly in front of the corn burner. I also put a heated rice sock under her towel. Then I tube fed her some colostrum. She was doing much better but her temp dropped when she was away from the heat. She did well using a bottle. This evening we took her outside and her mom was happy to see her. But her temperature dropped so we brought her inside for the night. 

Eli loved helping me take care of the lamb.