Just when it seemed that our lambing days were over for the year, a quick check of the barn this afternoon revealed...yearling ewe "Easter" in the middle of delivery.
This delivery unfolded much like Easter's own, just over a year ago. The lamb's head was out, but there was no breath, no movement, and labor was seeming to go on forever.
And then I saw an eyelid twitch. Another long wait.
The lamb's tiny jaw moved. And more waiting.
Easter did a fine job, but I suspect that her birth canal is built a bit like her mother's. Last year, when May gave birth to one very large lamb (Easter) after a rather difficult and drawn out delivery, I had the vet come out to check her. He announced that there was a sharper curve or angle that the ewe needed to push the lamb through, rather than a straighter birth canal that would be typical.
This year May had twins, and there was no problem at all. The "problem" is only when the Southdown ewe from this line is having her first or second baby, and it is larger than twins would be. It is something to watch in the daughters of these two girls.
And then, Easter gave that tremendous shove, difficult to watch, obviously more difficult to endure on her part, and the little lamb was lying, apparently lifeless, on the straw.
Easter was not too pleased with me, but I quickly stepped over the low fencing and vigorously rubbed the little one. Made sure her nose and mouth were clear. And...she gave a tiny breath. I realized that I had been praying to God and begging the lamb to breathe, for about as long as I had been out there watching.
Another miracle birth!
I had to leave, to pick up our son from high school, and when I returned, it was obvious that the little one had not been nursing yet. Easter snorted and tried to even growl at me (which is funny, from a sheep).
The plugs in her teats were still in place, so there had been no colostrum to warm up the baby, so far. It is cold, windy, and damp out there on this particular April day.
I held Easter still and positioned the little lamb's head to where she could taste the milk (squeezed out right onto her tiny nose) and then guided that nose to the nipple, where she finally got the idea.
Mama Easter is doing great. She may snort at me or stamp her front hoof, but I will be over-vigilant with this one. It might be because the 2 week old lambs are so much larger and already very boisterous, but this little one somehow seems more fragile than usual.
She is tiny, but such a sweet surprise.
Laura
