Common Problems When Having Lambs!

In today's episode of our daily sheep farming vlog at Ewetopia Farms, we address several common problems that can occur during lambing season with your ewes and lambs. We begin by focusing on a newborn lamb who hasn't had its first bowel movement. This seemingly simple issue can actually lead to hypothermia and even death in lambs. Therefore, it is crucial to know how to recognize and address this problem in order to save lives. We demonstrate the proper remedy for this situation.
Next, we encounter a ewe with blood instead of milk coming from one side of her udder. This can be caused by either mastitis or ruptured blood vessels in her udder. We explain how we deal with this problem and provide effective solutions. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of checking the ewe's udder to ensure it is producing milk. We demonstrate how to remove the waxy plug, allowing the lamb to nurse properly.
During the video, we also encounter a backwards lamb during delivery. We guide you through the safe delivery procedure for such cases, ensuring the well-being of both the ewe and the lamb. Furthermore, we discuss the topic of ewes rejecting their lambs and provide valuable insights into the signs to watch for.
Lastly, we delve into the various positions in which a lamb can be presented during delivery. We explain how to determine the position of the lamb as the ewe is giving birth, enabling you to better understand the process.
Join us in this informative and educational video as we tackle these common issues faced during lambing season. Gain valuable knowledge and skills that will help you ensure the health and well-being of your ewes and lambs. #SheepFarming #LambingSeason #ewetopiafarms
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Lynn McKay & Arnie Droogh
3606 6th Concession Road
Kingston (Joyceville), Ontario
K0H 1Y0

[@craigpacker7171]

A classic Lynn/Arnie argument: "Let's say exactly the same thing in two different ways!" 🤣🤣🤣

[@cindyboard7816]

😂

[@EwetopiaFarms]

🤣🤣🤣

[@scootytamra]

You have to literally have eyes in your fingertips, to guide a newborn out of the birth canal! Arnie, you must have eyes in your fingertips with the years of experiance you have helping ewe's give birth! Excellant!!!!!

[@KS-ip5xn]

One thing that might be interesting to show if the opportunity comes up is how you knew the lamb needed the enema.

[@KateMedland]

Remind Arnie, "I'm a man, but I can change " 😂 I understood what you both said, but I like the way Lynn describes it.

[@LavenderLushLuxury]

Hopefully momma ewe with the 🩸 in her milk and udder that got milked out feels better soon 💛 Nice vid guys

[@jocastaguyon6857]

Thank you for showing us everything, including the enemas and the bloody udder. It’s good to have a complete picture of farming life. 🙏 🐑 ❤

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, it is not always pretty, unfortunately, but I am hoping that by showing and explaining our methods , others can get tips that otherwise can take years of trial and error to get right 🙂

[@ritahawkins2336]

lol.... I think that you two are both right, but just talking about two different ways of looking at the hooves. For instance, one looking at the tips and front of the hooves, and the other looking at the tips and the bottoms of the hooves. So, you are both right.

[@norwalfarm]

Great video! You're both correct, just describing it differently. Perhaps a compromise: if you see the bottom of the foot/hoof, it's coming backwards; if you see the top of the foot/hoof, it's coming correctly (assuming the head isn't turned back). I hope the ewe with the bloody udder comes around for you. Keep warm!

[@debwoods6011]

I think both of you do a great job with all your animals

[@sunsetstella8917]

Another great video ! I think you were both right.

[@bohammarberg4072]

Good morning! 🌹🌹🌹🌹

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Good morning!

[@elizabethswanson7767]

I think you are both right, just explaining it differently. If the bottom of the hoof is up the points are up lamb is backwards and if the top of the hoof is up the points are down lamb is in the right position. At least that is how I understood it.

[@elizabethswanson7767]

Thanks!

[@kathybradbury]

It dawned on me that the bloody milk is likely from a burst blood vessel in the udder. Excellent save of that lamb Lynn!

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, it could be for sure. She was a cull ewe that fell through the cracks last year somehow. It is dried up now but no milk on that side. I am now supplementing her lamb as the other side isn't great either 😔

[@sondragingery5949]

I liked that little etiquette talk to the ewe. The lamb looks perky and bright at just a few minutes old. I'm interested in knowing what number these will have. I'm curious to see if there's any difference in behavior with that precocious little guy, and his sister. Yeah, different descriptions. Arnie's talking about the very tip/point of the hooves, you're looking at that first joint that bends downward. But easy to understand what you both were showing. You both are really great shepherds!

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Thanks. Our sheep average around the 1.8 lambs/ewe - both breeds.

[@patriciaruppert201]

Good morning Arnie and Lynn. Wow so many things to watch with the lambs to ensure good results. Angel has some pretty little girls. Holy cow blood in the udder. Does that clear up then and then become milk or dry up. I would definitely want one as my first baby. Oh so glad she decided to love her baby. Must be a big experience the first time. Quite interesting that the other ewes gave her space. That lambie was telling you all about being dropped in the pen. Ouch. Arnie is such a stinker. 😂😂😂. Good selfie Arnie. Great explanation of positions lamb s can Bevin and length of labors for the moms. And the lambs are all worth a lot in my opinion. Great job again today. The professors at Ewetopia University were stars. Big big hugs to you both. 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰😉😉❤️❤️❤️

[@scootytamra]

pointed down diving postion=right way, hooves pointed up = backwards wrong way

[@marycomeau9364]

Pointed down is how I see it.

[@cindyboard7816]

Both you and Arnie are correct, just describing the position differently. I guess before this video, had I been asked, I would have said to look at the pads of the hooves being down or the pads being up. I'm the person though that disregards the instructions and looks at the pictures to assemble things.😂😩 Hope the ewe with mastitis does okay!! Thanks for sharing a great video!! Stay safe!!🙏❤

[@Mary-F]

Fantastic vid, Arnie and Lynn! I hope the ewe with the bloody teat heals and doesn’t end up with a massive infection. That looked so painful 😢 The lambs coming in are huge! Beautifully proportioned too. 🐑 As to which way the hooves should come…you’re both right. What I always looked for with our cows when I was growing up was if the top of the hooves were facing the underside of the mom’s tail. 😁

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, I had never considered that there could be so many ways of explaining hoof positioning!😆 As long as people know what we meant, that's all that matters!😁

[@JABn4e]

I never imagined that watching a lamb 💩💩 would be that interesting. Like you said Lynn, you and Arnie were saying the same thing. I have always heard it the way you explained. Always good to learn a new or different way. THANK YOU for the video.

[@pathowes32]

You guys are the best

[@LadyLithias]

Thank you Thank you Thank you for your videos. My at-work firewall had a bit of a conniption and suddenly let me watch your video. The only downside is that I could only watch about 15 minutes before the next class. But I looooove your videos. They're the best. This may sound weird, but I loved the first-poop/enema part --- it's so real.... in fact this whole video hits that mark. I really like the way you share. So critical, so important, and yeah, so much "to be continued" :) Today I visited my girls (ewes) and tried to figure out if they were pregnant. 2 or 3 will be first-timers, 1 was open last year, and two of the ewes I saw being bred by my ram. Not sure if they're all bred, or none.... but one of my 18 month old ewes who didn't get bred last year.... she has a certain rotundness that seems to not be due to obesity. I wonder.... do you know how many of your first timers end up having twins? (or multiples?) ... seems to me as if you might have more luck since you wait until they're good-n-ready to breed. Also wondering if you make a note of "Stinky" from last year's crop. I was wondering if her mum was still with you, and wondered if it was a genetic trait, or a learned behavior, or what? Just curious. Do you think the ewe with the blood could have just strained while giving birth and burst a minor blood vessel feeding her teat? Bunch of questions, but hope you know I am super patient. Whenever you have time. :)

[@EwetopiaFarms]

I will try post numbers when we are done lambing but singles are common for first-timers however they can still have twins and triplets. Being "in season" increases the chances of multiples. The actual breed also determines this. Most of our sheep are lambing out of season.

[@EwetopiaFarms]

I am not sure if I ever did record Stinky or not but I am pretty positive that trait was developed not inherited 🙂. That ewe could have burst a blood vessel but she was a cull ewe that snuck by us and she already had other issues. The udder has dried up on that side now.

[@LadyLithias]

@@EwetopiaFarmsiF i EVER get hubs to travel to Ontario, may I visit you? You are so REAL .... and I hope you recorded who Stinky was. (or I'll threaten to watch old vids until I can figure it out!) :D

[@LadyLithias]

@@EwetopiaFarms Cool thanks. But it's okay. I realize that your focus is different. my breed of sheep are Single-first-timers and twins-thereafter and rarely-triplets. and so far I've mostly had a religious adherence to that ..... my first ever lamb needed to be helped.... and I was at work, so hubs had to demonstrate his love for me by going out and pulling the baby (she'd been in labor with the nose/forelegs out for more than 90 minutes)..... which has been the only baby that needed help (keeping in mind, I've had 12 births on my mini-farm). She was the only long-timer who had less than twins, and I had one newbie have twins last year. Sheep are so dang awesome .

[@EwetopiaFarms]

@LadyLithias lol! I kept meaning to mark her down but I seriously don't know if I got around to it or not!😆 No problem visiting us if you make it out this way! Arnie thinks you're a hoot!🥰

[@MaryDivis-nu1im]

Thanks for all the education in this video! As usual you're having such beautiful lambs this year. I love the little Dorset Arnie was holding ("This is a lamb."); so amazingly adorable with that fuzzy face. It's nice to know that you look for the "diver" position in lambs being born, just like in mares. It seems that some things just might be universal.

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, for birthing animals, I think it's universal. People are the worst - head first!😆 The lamb Arnie was holding was Maisie 😍

[@GoldenHayloe]

Could say points on the top pads on the bottom.

[@KateMedland]

Toes on top, pointing down 😊

[@kennethmorgan6591]

i think that the longest part of the hoof should be on top but I think you were both saying the same thing just in different ways. Good job.

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, we were but at least with the visual, I think everyone should understand what to look for 😆

[@530eman]

Arnie; “ we got a pretty small farm here…” Me thinking about my 3 ewes on 1 acre 🤪

[@annnoyez]

Although you are both saying the same thing, i understand more the way lynn explains it. "Feet" 0ointing down, onstead of toes pointing up... the moment the feer and the toes pointing up or down in the same way, thats a big problem... 😮 That lamb is in big troubles and probably will be enabled... so lets hope everything goes smoothly and backward is the only issue. There is a second possibility if the lambs are brown and thats just like with babies, they are to long in the woomb. So they dirty there water... but i never saw sheep that are going overtime... And then both lambs should be yellow or brown... anyhow... i see less brown lambies than in other vlogs... so you both are a 5* maternity ❤ if i was in arnies place i would already be dead by now... i would sleep wherever i stand still for a couple of minutes... 😂 Btw since when is arnie no longer camerashy? He is doing good... well done arnie... And as always my dear lynn, you are doing a wonderful job... glad i can watch you both during lambing amd other shores on the farm... i could use a bit bottlefeeding. So if it is possible 😊... feed the lambie on camera... it is so beautiful... Good luck for the rest of the lambing... see you tomorrow... greetings from belgium... ❤

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Arnie has never been camera shy, he just didn't have a smart phone. I gave him my old one and he finally got rid of his flip phone. He loves to be in the spotlight! He says not, but I think it is pretty evident he does 😄

[@annnoyez]

@@EwetopiaFarms 😂

[@jlovell826]

I’d have to agree With the wording of Arnie, because you would be looking for the top of the lambs hoof (toes/foot) facing upwards coming out the correct way, if it were backwards the hoof would be pointing/facing downward seeing the bottom of the hoof (toes). Just my opinion 🤷‍♀️

[@JuvieJones]

After the "difference of opinion" occured & Arnie came on saying he was gon do a selfie, I told myself "I know he's not bouta come on here STILL voicing his "difference of opinion" against Lynn".. OH, BUT HE SURE DID DO JUST THAT 🤣

[@EwetopiaFarms]

That's Arnie! I knew the same thing when editing!😆

[@eweniquefarm]

You are both right lol but as a sheep farmer I explain it the way Arnie does :) for the birthing complications the one I hate the most is front feet out and no head ( curve on the side of their body ) how do you deal with that one ?

[@alisoncummins2726]

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. (If you don’t take any risks or place any bets, you can’t win. You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.)

[@debgrouette6885]

..oh wait...now I'm thinkin it's not quite as cut and dried as I thought....sheesh!...good thing it's you guys doin it and not me!

[@timelessacres5611]

Exactly, ur both looking at the same thing and just describing it differently.👍🏼 Quick question; how do u know when a newly born lamb is in need of an enema? Is it just something u watch for in those born with yellow/meconium? Loved all the footage and talking /walking thru all of the cares u two did for lambs and mums alike.❤

[@EwetopiaFarms]

I will definitely make a point to mention this in another video. However, if the lamb is cold, hunched up, lethargic or may not have found the teat, etc. It should have an enema just in case. Warm water can't hurt them but not passing that first tar-like poop can cause hypothermia (even in summer) and/or death. Mom's colostrum acts as a laxative to help them pass it. If you are questioning whether or not the lamb drank enough colostrum, you can try it. I will show the best syringe to use next time too. You usually don't have to worry about yellow lambs because that is why they are that color - they pooped in the birth sack.

[@timelessacres5611]

Thank u for this Lynn! Those signs/symptoms make complete, and I did hear u say the colostrum can act like a laxative, which is pretty neat how nature just does…. Stay warm and stay well!❤

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, when nature is working, it works perfectly 😁

[@scootytamra]

Do you think the dorset ewe maybe lost her plug and bacteria got up into her milk duct to cause the blood? I hope her udder can be saved, i always have lots of questions about lactating animals.

[@jeffreypayne9011]

I read your question. That might be a possibility. I have 34 years of dairy experience. This is somewhat common. Mostly due to a broken blood vessel. Usually just continue to milk out and will get better over few days. Antibiotics help if it does have mastitis

[@claymonsterpottery]

So… if I understand these two, Arnie seems to be saying “Upwards” meaning we’re seeing the top side of the hoof as “up”, as if the lamb was already standing. Lynn seems to be saying the toes are pointing down because they’re a bit curled down and the point of the hoof is curving down. Basically, we’re looking for nose over toes as if the ewe were still standing. I get it. These are the “discussions” that happen when couples work together and the hours are long. My husband and I work together and I can’t tell you how often we’ve “discussed “ a point afterwards realizing we were unknowingly agreeing. 😂 Not to make more work but I’d be very curious to see statistics for the percent of lambs that come out correctly vs backwards, breach and upside down in a group.

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, that would be interesting. We actually don't record that so I couldn't tell you.

[@kazholt1]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤😊

[@OleMadsen-evangeliet]

when I watch other channels with sheep they dont use siringe with water to clean out the dirt of the small lambs, why is that?

[@EwetopiaFarms]

They should if the lamb hasn't passed it's first poop. It is probably the number one cause of hypothermia in lambs. If they get lots of colostrum, they shouldn't need it done.

[@debgrouette6885]

about the hoofs.....I get the difference in the way you and Arnie see them during birth....I looked for the hoofs' bottoms vs the "front" of the hoof (bottom is backwards, right?..and front of hoof is the "diving" lamb position that everybody wants, right?)

[@EwetopiaFarms]

That's how I see it!😄

[@justinanovak8040]

❤🐑

[@danielcollins7588]

You want it to come out like superman flies 4H and FFA both describes it that way to kids that take classes, easy to remember lamb is trying to swim out of the birth canal

[@danielcollins7588]

So a lamb wants to nurse immediatly, so you don't give them an enema, OK. BUT the big question is how do they know that?

[@silvershadow013]

You could always rub the foster lamb in the ewes cleanings so they think its theirs since it smells like hers.

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Yes, we do that but it doesn't always work

[@richardblake9241]

I think Aranie is right. It’s a shame we don’t see Lynn doing a night shift.

[@EwetopiaFarms]

No, it's perfect. Lynn doesn't do well with no sleep and can't cat-nap. Arnie is a master catnapper. Lynn used to do night checks but since she does cooking and housework too,and Arnie doesn't, it makes more sense for him to do night checks 😁

[@MichaelB8391]

Hooves should be pointed down.

[@danielcollins7588]

I didn know lambs had such long hair and wore a blue shirt, kinda ugly too. Cute little puppy though😂😂😂😂

[@EwetopiaFarms]

Totally cute!!😂