[Jacob-list] Re: [Jacob-list]labor

[Thomas Simmons]

Kate wrote, "How is the snow now?? You are so patient!! After my experience of an exhausted ewe who had 2/3 of the triplets still inside for over 4 hours, I just don't wait that long any more.  I pulled ....Maybe I am over eager??  I gave all of them about an hour and 1/2, and then started "helping"  Do the rest of you just wait and see???"

Kate - Well, I have to tell you, I was NOT relaxed during this episode!  I watched constantly, and called a few folks to ask their opinions.  The reason I did not intervene was that the ewe did not appear to be in distress or pain (any greater then normal labor pains, that is!).  If she had seemed exhausted or behaved in any way other than what i expected, I would have pulled.   I tend to be a very hands-off shepherd in most areas:  when I had shetlands with pink eye, I tried fresh air before I tried medicine; I use pasture rotation and chickens rather than worming medications; and I would rather my sheep lamb by themselves if at all possible.  So, with me, it's a lot of WAIT and SEE.     In the meantime, all are doing fine, and the lambs are all careening off of haybales and doing that sideways-walk-thing and it's pretty hysterical.  And we've only just begun :-)

thom
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