Happy February 1st. May this month be better than last. May we never have another prolapse nor mastitis every again!! Mentally we both need a GOOD month!
A couple of days ago, Gizmo had a white girl. Due to circumstances out of our control she lost her. She has been crying for her ever since.
Yesterday afternoon when Jerry got home from work, we had 2 in active labor. Unfortunately for them, the lambs were huge and we had to help with the delivery. Both ewes went to work cleaning up their ram lambs.
Peaches, a registered Horned Dorset, had the 4th generation ram from Fruitcake Farm in Grafton. We bought Cornelius from Marguerite as a lamb. He created Christopher at 4 and at 5 Corny went on to a large farm in northern NH as a breeding ram. Christopher created Chip at 4 and shortly after he turned 5 we lost him from issues created when he was cast in the woods for who knows how long. Chip created this new ram lamb, yet to be named, this past year. Unfortunately for him, the 3 months I was in the wheelchair he did not get a lot of human interaction. He decided he did not like Jerry and started swinging his head and horns at him. At 20 months he become sausage.
Ebony, a Dorset/Romney ewe, had been giving us issues with her prolapsing for the last 2 weeks. We have gotten real good at holding her up against a wall and putting it back in and then putting in a prolapse paddle. Jerry delivered her ram lamb, all appeared good. He checked her a couple of hours later, still good. We went out to feed and put in and she had prolapsed again. This time was severe. This is the 2nd time in the 20 years that we've been here that we had a uterine prolapse due to the placenta NOT detaching from the uterus. Unfortunately, he had to put her down. But, she did get to nurse her baby and give him life giving colostrum.
We brought Gizmo back in the barn and introduced her to the lamb. He went right up to her and started nursing. So, a little Vicks vapor rub under her nostrils and some on his rump and anal area and into a small pen they went. Almost 12 hours later and he is doing great. Gizmo is not so sure about this, but her bag was so full she is thankful for the relief. We are taking turns getting up every couple of hours to make sure he is nursing.
As I type this at 12:45 am I have another ewe in active labor. Her water has broke and she is wandering the stall through sleeping ewes looking for her lamb not yet born. I am sitting here listening to the baby monitor for her to get closer. While I was making sure the lamb was nursing, I set up a light and secured it in a pen. After she delivers, I will put her and the lamb in there, turn on the light and close up the gate. She is still nickering for her unborn lamb, but not pushing yet. It could be a long night!!
Pictures will come later. TTFN.
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