Liam found the heat lamp tonight and curled up in a bed of straw and hay to get some rest and stay warm. I think we’ll let the two of them walk around a bit tomorrow if it’s mild. We need to neuter this guy if we keep him, I don’t think Maria will give him up easily.
1. The first step when a lamb is born is to get the mother and lamb inside a heated and dry stall. This is done by holding the lamb in a sling if the distance is long, or if possible, simple to pick it up, hold it close so the ewe can see it and walk backwards, pausing to wait for the lamb to catch up. Mothers bond with lambs by licking them and learning their smell, if the mothers and lambs get separated too quickly, they will fail to bond and the ewe will refuse the lamb at the nipple.
2. Once in the stall, there needs to be clean straw or bedding, fresh water lacked with molasses to help the mother regain her strength, some grain and heat lamps to keep the shivering newborn dry. The stall must be secure from predators and clean.
3. The lamb’s umbilical chord needs to be cut, then iodine applied to it and disinfectant.
4. The lamb needs 1 ccs of vitamin booster and energy supplement.
5. In a day or so, the lamb’s tail will be docked.
6. A male lamb, a ram, must be neutered or sent to sold.
7. In three days, the lamb and mother are released to the flock.
We checked in the lambs just before dark and then again, just before bed. Susie and Liam are tucked in under two heat lamps, the lamp is a bit frail on his feet but is nursing well and Susie finally lay down for a rest tonight. Sheep make the most wonderful mothers, they are attentive, protective and diligent. The lamps give the lamb a chance to be warm and dry out. Maria is thrilled to have a lamb and see the process, I remember it all well and am confident about it, the lamb has his vitamin shot and the umbilical cord was cut and treated with iodine.
The heat lamps are helpful the first day or two, it’s chilly but not cold and the lamb is still getting cleaned up by his mother, so his coat is often wet.
Tomorrow or Saturday I’ll dock the tail with a heated docker, the sooner it is done the less painful it is – there are few nerves in a lamb’s tail the first few days of life. So far, so good.
Maria wants to name our first lamb, a male, Liam. The name was inspired by the actor Liam Neeson. I thought of the name because I admire Neeson, a famous celebrity who is loyal to his friends, intelligent, courageous and compassionate in his beliefs, and a true supporter of the rights and welfare of animals. He speaks his mind without resorting to anger and cruelty, and he uses his fame to do good. He could be out sailing on a yacht anywhere in the world, but he takes the time to remember where he came from and stick up for his friends, and what he believes it right. Liam Neeson is what we used to call a “stand-up guy” when I was a kid.
A worthy name, that, compassion and loyalty is what real men are about.
Within several minutes of birth, Susie’s lamb had found her udder and was feedling – you can tell when the lamb’s tail wags back and forth. Susie is a natural and good mother (you can see the afterbirth still hanging from her uterine canal). We were well prepared, we had the vitamin booster, the disinfectant, molasses for the water and the heat lamps are set up. We were getting a bit restive, we were about two months off in our calculations. I think it will be raining lambs shortly. Susie is thirsty, she is doing well, the lamb looks healthy, hasn’t started squawking yet.
