The first lamb of this new year has been born.Naomi, my oldest and favorite ewe has given birth to a healthy ram lamb.The sire of this ram lamb is Goth.
As I was handing out soda crackers tonight, one of my sheep's favorite snacks, Naomi, who will push her way through the flock to be first for her crackers, stood apart. Oh-oh, when Naomi won't approach me for her soda crackers something is up. Sure enough, I saw she had pawed the bedding and earth to make a hollowed out area, and was in a cramped-looking postiton. I left her for awhile to let nature take it's course.
Half hour later I saw a head poking out of her rear area , hmmm, I hope this little lamb comes soon.
I checked on her in another half hour and the head was still hanging out but there seemed no progress. Oh dear. I ran into the house and got my youngest sister to help out. I had her hold onto Naomi's horns while I soaped up my hands and carefully slipped them into Naomi to see what was going on. I could feel the lamb had broad shoulders and it was not going to be born without assistance, and without assistance Naomi would die too. I did not want to lose either.
It took some doing, but my sister held firmly onto Naomi's horns while I worked at the other end, and after a LOT of pulling, slowly, carefully, but firmly, the big lamb slid out. Poor Naomi. I will begin giving her penicillin shots tomorrow to prevent any infections from taking hold because I had to insert my hands into her and manipulate the lamb, and pull, pull, pull.
The lamb is big for a Jacob sheep lamb, his horns are already protruding from his head.I was surprised all the pulling on his head, shoulders, and sometimes even his neck did not cause him to be strangled or suffocated. Happy beginning, a new little ram lamb is now suckling milk from his very old mother who is tending him like the very good mother sheep she has always been. The first lamb of this year, my youngest sister helped, and all is well for now. God is good, praise Him !
Welcome to the world little one.
Way to go!
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