Well, its been a crazy busy day, the morning was very full, getting ready to head out to friends this evening, so we went to do barn chores in early afternoon, and Funny Face ewe was clearly in labour, she is a fully mature ewe, this would be her third year in breeding and she is a good mom, typically smaller active lambs with lots of milk. She was did very well until the lamb was coming out, it was in a good birthing position, head an front feet first, so at first I was not worried.. but then it just stayed that way and I was by myself trying to get her to hold still enough for me to get in and help, but she was having none of it, but was clearly in hard labour, finally she stopped long enough to really push again and I was able to break the sack and she was up and moving again, then pushed hard again (baby still not coming out) and I was able to get the little feet out.. and on the next strong push, I gave a helping hand with getting baby out and can see why she was having a issue, he is HUGE.. the biggest lamb I have ever had born and he is alive and kicking, but mom smell’s him and walks away.. this is not good..  I am calling her back and rubbing birthing fluid’s on her nose and she loves peaple time so would come to get pats but wanted nothing to do with that little big boy, who’s face is swelling from where momma clamped down on his little head..

So start working on him and trying to get him to nurse, check mom’s bag, its huge and so I strip the teats of the waxy plugs and get the milk flowing, get baby in again, get a little colostrum in his mouth, normally most lambs attach as soon as they get a taste of the milk, and they are off, not him.. he say’s no way man..

So the big issue appears to be that he is really tall and his momma has short legs with a nice big full bag and great milking teats but he say’s he was born knowing that he needs to stand, lift his head up and butt the bag and drink in a certain way, and he can’t do that with his momma, who still does not want him but also is such a good girl that if I am there, she is letting me put her in the stand and help the wee one..  Get him to latch on and finally here that wonderful suck sound but only for a second or two and he back’s right out..

ahhh, so make sure he is having a little milk put in his mouth ever time he stands up and goes looking but he is not really drinking and unless held, FF is having none of him, she will give him a good head thump unless I am there and then she sniff’s his rear and I swear roll’s her eyes and goes well if you are sure farmer ma and chew’s my hair.. sigh..

So after a good while, I finally give in.. Puffy Daddy (named by Dear Hubby because he is male and has a Puffy face) comes in the house, and I went back out to milk out FF on the milking stand, she is such a good girl, she has 3/4 cup on her first milk out, and that’s after what I had gotten out on the other milkings, I would guess another 1/4th cup

Got Puff Daddy in and warmed up, dried off and his first full feeding of 3 oz in him.. he is picky, he needs that bottle in JUST this way to work with, and he does not seem to smell milk like a normal baby lamb does, normally just the smell of milk will draw them to the teat but that is not the case here.. 

Now a few hours later, he is settling down and his swelling is much better, he has meet the hounds and of course got licked all over.. I am not quite willing to give up,  one he is going to be on his momma’s milk and two, I will bottle feed him as required but will keep trying to teach him to go on his momma, so that if needed, he can be a baby that goes out 4-6 times a day to nurse his momma to see if I can get that bond there.. otherwise, my first bottle baby of the year..  Don’t worry, I will get you cute lamb face photo tomorrow when I update on him.

On the other hand, my dear hubby was with Spot, a first time momma, who was also having a lamb, she had a little ewe, a picture perfect birth, a nice little but active baby, who was right up and nursing, mom and baby totally bonded already and doing well.

So our first lambings showed how its done, and what you hope won’t happen, but the end result, two mom’s that delivered safely, who are eating, drinking and acting at the moment just the way you want in terms of health, two live lamb’s..

So Spot and L1 are in a nice jug and settled in perfectly and FF in a different jug so that she is easy to catch in regards to leading her to the milking stand  an Puff Daddy is sleeping on a big old towel in a pen in the kitchen.. aw the joy’s of being a farmer ma 😉