Time between waters breaking and lambing

Siamsa Sessions

It's a bit like asking 'How long is a piece of string?' but I was wondering how long should you leave a hogget before intervening after her waters break (or the pre-cleaning appears)?

Had one who was showing signs last night but no legs/head appeared til 10.00 this morning. It was too late then and I took a dead single off her.

Username John

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

It's a bit like asking 'How long is a piece of string?' but I was wondering how long should you leave a hogget before intervening after her waters break (or the pre-cleaning appears)?

Had one who was showing signs last night but no legs/head appeared til 10.00 this morning. It was too late then and I took a dead single off her.

Sorry to hear Siamsa. Always sickening to lose any animal, but especially in this case where you might be beating yourself up about it...
As everyone says you have to try not dwell on it (although I do tend to dwell on things too much... Anyways...)

I know some people might disagree with this, and say I leave too little time...

But once a sheep starts lambing (you see the water bag, she's wheeling around, pawing, looking for lambs)
If she isn't making a decent effort herself I'd have a look myself after 1 hour...
If all looks right, you could leave her more time again, but sometimes you'll find that the lamb is twisted, or coming backwards, and so on...

So right or wrong - my answer is 1 hour.

Siamsa Sessions

Username John wrote: »

Sorry to hear Siamsa. Always sickening to lose any animal, but especially in this case where you might be beating yourself up about it...
As everyone says you have to try not dwell on it (although I do tend to dwell on things too much... Anyways...)

I know some people might disagree with this, and say I leave too little time...

But once a sheep starts lambing (you see the water bag, she's wheeling around, pawing, looking for lambs)
If she isn't making a decent effort herself I'd have a look myself after 1 hour...
If all looks right, you could leave her more time again, but sometimes you'll find that the lamb is twisted, or coming backwards, and so on...

So right or wrong - my answer is 1 hour.

Thanks for that. I remember a vet telling me years ago that you'd loose more by intervening too early compared to leaving it too late.

Now, he was talking about cows but I guess the idea stuck with me.

Tis always a judgement call I guess.

Thanks again for the insight.

Arrow in the Knee

If I see a ewe with the water bag out I would hang around for 1-1.5 hours to see if she's trying to push and lamb herself.

If nothing is happening I would intervene.

Usually the lamb is positioned wrong or a big lamb so the ewe won't even try.

rangler1

Siamsa Sessions wrote: »

Thanks for that. I remember a vet telling me years ago that you'd loose more by intervening too early compared to leaving it too late.

Now, he was talking about cows but I guess the idea stuck with me.

Tis always a judgement call I guess.

Thanks again for the insight.

I suppose it's important not to force it, but i'd like to find out after an hour what way the lamb is positoned, even putting in your hand to investigate can trigger stronger contractions and help open her up. but everything has to be done gently

Siamsa Sessions

Thanks again folks.

Only 2 hoggets left to lamb now so hopefully there'll be no more issues. Will be keeping a very close eye on them thou as one of them is very big.

The big lesson I'd take is that scanning is almost a pre-requisite. It would have given us a heads up on the one earlier today and we could have managed her diet and herself better.

(Scanners are scarce in our part of the country - tried 3 lads this year but no joy. We'll definitely be better organised next year)

arctictree

If her bags are out, I give her about an hour and then gently put my fingers in slightly. If nothing is there, I give her another 15 minutes and then try again. If nothing there, then I do a full investigation.