Newborn baby with mother, outside in their shelter. It is like a lambing jug, but they are not confined and can leave when they are ready.
His mother was huge and looked as though she was carrying at least twins if not triplets, yet if she had even quads, it would not be surprising. In comparison with the other three Cotswolds, she looks as though she is on steroids, fat and rolly, almost too fat. Her little fellow was born last night at 10:30 pm. The ambient temperature was a balmy -5 and mother was a first timer. She was nervous and uncooperative, so I left her on her own for a while and returned just after she had given birth. I thought if she was having problems, I would easily be in time to help and if not, she just wanted some privacy.
Because of the cold, I brought two towels and helped to dry the little boy off as well as two towels would . He was yellow from the amniotic fluids, but on his feet and attempting to nurse. This upset the mother, who then proceeded to wrap the placenta around his neck, at which point I did intervene, moving both the placenta and the lamb. Mother would not hold still long enough for baby to latch on and nurse. I was tired of these new moms after the 3 Angora goats gave birth. Two lost their babies, one set of twins and the other a weak ram lamb, which the mother stepped on and killed accidently in her stupidity. I was surely hoping the sheep would be easier. I went to get a rope to tie her up so the lamb could nurse, but did not find one, so I tackled this Helga, and laid her down. Then baby was being stubborn and fighting. By this time, I was covered with amniotic fluid, excrement and then colostrum. I milked some right in my face! Well, milking sideways is not what it should be.
Baby would have nothing to do with that position, so I let mother go and shouldered her into the corner. Baby cried and mother bowled me over. I gave up. He had a sucking reflex because he did latch on and suckle two or three times, but was disinterested. I began to think he nursed when I went to look for the rope and was not hungry, so I packed up and went inside to have a warm bath. Whew!
This morning, baby and mother were bonded and happy and I was relieved. She still looks as though she could have twins though. Her lamb is a little boy about 10 pounds. And isn't he ever so cute! Cotswold lambs are one of the cutest, I think . Don't you?
Because of the cold, I brought two towels and helped to dry the little boy off as well as two towels would . He was yellow from the amniotic fluids, but on his feet and attempting to nurse. This upset the mother, who then proceeded to wrap the placenta around his neck, at which point I did intervene, moving both the placenta and the lamb. Mother would not hold still long enough for baby to latch on and nurse. I was tired of these new moms after the 3 Angora goats gave birth. Two lost their babies, one set of twins and the other a weak ram lamb, which the mother stepped on and killed accidently in her stupidity. I was surely hoping the sheep would be easier. I went to get a rope to tie her up so the lamb could nurse, but did not find one, so I tackled this Helga, and laid her down. Then baby was being stubborn and fighting. By this time, I was covered with amniotic fluid, excrement and then colostrum. I milked some right in my face! Well, milking sideways is not what it should be.
Baby would have nothing to do with that position, so I let mother go and shouldered her into the corner. Baby cried and mother bowled me over. I gave up. He had a sucking reflex because he did latch on and suckle two or three times, but was disinterested. I began to think he nursed when I went to look for the rope and was not hungry, so I packed up and went inside to have a warm bath. Whew!
This morning, baby and mother were bonded and happy and I was relieved. She still looks as though she could have twins though. Her lamb is a little boy about 10 pounds. And isn't he ever so cute! Cotswold lambs are one of the cutest, I think . Don't you?
This morning, the new Cotswold ram lamb, sweet and happy.
RSS Feed