Portland Sheep at Beer Mill Farm Lambing 2003 (part 3)

To return to Part One click HERE

click on any picture to enlarge it

(use the back button to return to this page)

Yesterday evening (22nd) we had to call the vet to look at a shearling ram who was not well. We suspected a buildup of urinary calculi (stones in the urethra) although we are very careful not to feed anything that contains calcium.

Also on Saturday evening, Bramble Prudence seemed about to produce a lamb. Hilary got up several times during the night but by the morning she (Prudence) had gone right off the idea. Prudence is a three year old ewe who has not lambed before. Last year we thought she was in lamb but turned out not to be. This year because we had scanned them, we knew she was definitely going to produce.

After lunch she got going again and was making good progress although at the last minute we had to give her a bit of a hand. Another nice little ewe lamb.

Monday March 24th

Called the vet out again to look at the sick ram. He was getting no better and the hard desicion was made to put him down to prevent any further suffering. A terrible blow after keeping him through a whole summer and winter and seeing him just about to become an adult.

Keeping stock does involve losing them sometimes despite the very best efforts. But after two decades, each one we lose before its proper time is dreadful blow. Some people become used it perhaps, but we never will. No expense or effort is spared to save any animal but sometimes it just is not enough.  

It would be easy in keeping a diary for a web site such as this, to gloss over or not mention some of the problems that occur. But keeping stock involves responsibility and worry as well as all the magic moments. If you can't cope with the downside you shouldn't be doing it at all.

In the late afternoon Bramble Fortuna started to go into labour. Perhaps as compensation she gave birth so fast that she did it while Hilary went inside to put on her overalls! Another ewe lamb. Bramble Bounty was obviously going to lamb overnight so another broken night ahead.

Tuesday 25th Hilary got up about 2.00am. Bounty is the only ewe in the flock we know will have twins. She is a single and the ram we used was a single so why twins? Who knows. The genes are in the breed so twins can occur in pretty much any ewe although it is not very common. We reckon about one in ten on average.

By 4.00am it was obvious that Bounty was struggling. Hilary had a look and found that Bounty was incredibly tight and although the first lamb was ready to come through there was no way it was going to be born. We considered calling the vet. Three visits in three days! There was no question of not doing so because the welfare of the sheep always comes first but Hilary decide to try manipulation around the cervix which we have found has helped in the past in these situations. After some manipulation we left Bounty for 15 minutes and then had another look. Hilary's efforts had worked there was definitely more room. After more work the lamb started to come through but got stuck as it was a head and one leg only. Hilary finally got the lamb out at 5.00am. Another ewe lamb! About ten minutes later we helped another ewe lamb to be born. Relief all round, particularly from Bounty!

The dawn chorus was starting and it was beginning to get light. Things always look better in daylight.

As this is being written hopefully we look forward to a less eventful day and a sleep tonight after being up for nearly 48 hours.

Tuesday 26th No lambs today. Weather absolutely beautiful. Unseasonally hot with clear blue skies. Perfect for all the small lambs. When the rain comes, as it will. It will be such a shock to everybody. There was a bit of a breeze so we spent some time flying our kite. Wonderfully relaxing.

Wednesday 27th March

Orchid showing signs of doing something to day. Orchid is one of the few ewes in the flock who we did not breed ourselves. Over the last few years we have had a policy of not buying in stock if we can avoid it. All the home bred ewes have the prefix 'Bramble' in front of their name. That is our flock name and is used when they are registered as pedigree animals. They always retain this even if they go to another flock.

Thursday 28th Orchid had a ewe lamb at 8.00am no problems at all. We bought Orchid at the National Show and Sale auction at a very reasonable price eight years ago and she has been a wonderful asset to the flock. Never a 'Show Sheep' but a good solid animal with a docile and friendly character who has done us very well.

Friday 29th Mindy had a lamb at 7.30am. Another ewe lamb! It really is a ladies' year this year. Only two ram lamb lams out of 13 lambs. Mindy is another bought in ewe who has been with for some years but is still probably one of our less well adjusted ladies. Not wild but slightly suspicious.

We spent the day working on our new pond (see the Conservation page (ponds) which will be updated shortly). Late afternoon there was a very short shower of rain. The first for weeks. Not enough to do much good but quite welcome. We never thought we would say that in March! Bramble Grace will lamb tonight.

Saturday 30th  Grace got going late yesterday evening so Hilary stayed up to keep an eye on things.  By 2.00am it was obvious there was a problem and Hilary found that only a head was coming through.  By going in and extracting one leg Hilary was able to deliver the lamb safe and sound.  Another ewe lamb and a very pretty one.  Grace is a very stylish sheep who won a number of class and championship awards when she was younger.  

Two years ago she was very ill.  Quite literally at death's door.  She was on antibiotics and when we said to the vet how much should we give her, he said "it dosn't really matter I don't think she will make it".  Anyway she pullled through and won a show championship three months later.  It just shows you that sometimes things work out.

Sunday 31st March Two more ewes to go.  In the evening a sheep by the odd name of Bramble No Name got going.  This is an odd name even by our standards.  She was not meant to stay in the flock but ended up with us anyway.  We just nevr got round to giving her a name, so she is always called No Name!  Just after midnight she gave birth unassisted to a very nice ram lamb.  Rams are of particular interest to us and we do look for rams from particular ewes.  No name has an outstanding mouth and is a good solid sheep .  Not large but sturdy.  We hope she passes these characteristics on to her son.  So far he looks good but you never know.

One more Ewe to go.  Poppy is due Tuesday 8th April all being well.  She is a ewe we bought some years ago and has produced good lambs for us. She did not take when the others were put with the rams but is in lamb to a ram lamb from last year who went in afterwards as a 'sweeper'.  He is known as 'number 11'.  No doubt we will think of a name for him some time.

Weather still amazing.  Lots of sunshine and no rain.  Quite the best lambing weather we have had in twenty years.  Just a bit of rain would be nice now to bring on the grass and get the vegetable garden growing.  Not too much though....

April 8th After looking suspicious and getting us up for several nights, Poppy produced al mab exactly on time at the very civilised time of 9.00am. Hardly any fuss and totally on her own. Something of an anticlimax really. But better than having a drama. Yes, another ewe lamb! 16 lambs born and 13 of them ewe lambs.

That's it for another year. Probably the least number of lambing problems we have ever had and weather that could not have been better. Now we need a bit of rain to set off the spring grass. Of course once it starts raining we shall complain that it is too wet but stock keepers and farmers in general are never happy about the weather for very long.

More information about lambing in general and additional pictures will be added to these pages shortly. Go to the summer 2003 pages for the continuing story