lambing wish granted

Only yesterday I was hoping Sharona would get on and lamb as she seemed so uncomfortable and down.. and at quarter past midnight - just into the due day! she began.

Unfortunately it was a pretty bleak night.. first very cold and then later rain.  We have opted to lamb outdoors, as statistically there is a better  outcome, but there is a field shelter in the orchard, for a little protection from the elements.

She spent ages at first wandering around with a bag of fluid, which eventually burst, but she did not appear to be straining at all. An hour later we decided to check her out, and she went into the field shelter.. which was not a bad idea since it has started to rain.  I could feel a couple of hooves, and  much further back a head. I managed to bring the nose forward, but it took both of us to help the lamb out.. himself pulling on the legs and me easing the head out. Sharona produced a pretty good sized ram lamb, which I quickly took around to her head so she could lick and bond etc.

This being our first time and hers we hung around, after trimming and spraying the cord, to make sure he got a bellyful of milk. She certainly had plenty, but was not keen on him suckling, and kept kicking him away. Eventually I pinned her against the wall and he got a good drink in. She was much more willing to accept it after that, as if she just needed to get used to it.. As the lamb was not a bad size for a single and nothing else was happening after an hour, we decided to got to bed, and check on her after an hour.

An hour later they were doing fine, she was still attentive.

A further hour later and she was standing there with another two! They are smaller than the first, but not overly small - so no wonder with all three she was so huge and uncomfortable!  They were already on their feet, but still wet so not very old. Triplets are a little unusual for first timers!

All three are ram lambs. One of the lambs was very yellow, which is a sign of distress, and although he is the littlest of the three, has the loudest bleat and the biggest attitude. In fact he came out running to greet us when we came to do their cords (learn a little stranger danger!), so I am optimistic for him, and he seems just fine.

So a little baptism of fire for us - triplets with a first timer as a first experience - including assisted delivery, although thankfully normal presentation, if a little large, and surprise arrivals.  We are lucky that it is Sharona, as she is the one of the three that is very happy with being handled. She was not too keen on the actual intervention (understandably)  but otherwise she is happy with us being nearby and handling her youngsters. So far she is being a great mum, seems to know she has three, is ‘talking’ to them in that special rumble they use, now is letting them feed at will and has milk, and keeping them in the shelter out of the rain. We just need to watch her condition now, as carrying triplets is a strain, and feeding them will be too. We are spoiling her with ewe nuts galore and fresh ivy..