[Jacob-list] squatting ewes/ premie?

[linda]

Penny and all,

Most of my ewes will squat for the lamb.  In fact, if I reach under and tickle their udders, 
they will also squat.  Some don't squat at all.  Both types raise healthy fat lambs, so I just 
consider both types of behaviour as "normal."

One of my ewes lambed at 149 days after the last observed breeding. It is possible that there 
was another breeding that I did not see as I do not use a marking harness.  The lamb had 
little pointy tips on her hooves and walked right down on her rear fetlocks the first day.  
This lamb was in no way weak.  She was up nursing within 10 minutes and doing all the normal 
lamb bounces and twirls within two hours.  Her stance was perfectly normal by two days old. At 
eight days old she is only slightly smaller than other lambs the same age. A friend told me 
that the turned up tips on her hooves meant she was a premie.  Any thoughts on this?

Linda
On Sat, 10 Mar 2001 07:53:34 -0800, Penelope wrote:

>    My spouse thinks that the sheeps hooves are often soft when they are born.
> He adds that he thinks the ewe squatting is a good mothering instinct.
>Our one ewe who has lambed so far this year squats a bit for her lambs, and
>she did last year for her one larger lamb.  None of the lambs have shown
>any difficiulty reaching a teat without the ewe (Jadzia) squatting.  We've
>got another ewe due to lamb any day now -- she's had an udder like a dairy
>goat since tuesday, so we're just waiting.
>
>    I'm interested in seeing other folks comments too.  What's the norm?
>
>peace
>penny
>
>ps -- how's the Llama?
>--  --
>Penelope Jacob, Doula (& John Nanci, Alchemist) pcj at efn.org
>Quality horned milk goats & registered Jacob Sheep:  Stonering herd & flock.
>Year-And-A-Day Farm, Umpqua Valley, Oregon
>radical, fundamental, ornery & friendly poly pagan folk
>
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