Prepare for Lambing-What Signs to Look For

Newborn Tunis lambs. Photo courtesy of Susan Husk, Ferrisburg.

The Purdue Animal Science Department offers some good pointers on signs that your ewe is preparing to lamb.  A link to their complete lambing web page is provided at the bottom of this page.

• separation from other ewes
• acts more territorial than usual
• pawing the ground
• restlessness, nervousness and acting uncomfortable
• udders filling out
• increased breathing rate
• sides caving in and ewe “drops”
• expelling the mucus plug
• water breaking
• straining to push lamb
• expellation of the mucosal plug
• straining and pushing
• cervical dilation
• passing of the water bag (delivery should be 30-60 minutes from now)
• arrival of lambs (twins should take at most 2 hours to be delivered but no longer)
• expellation of afterbirth (usually occurs within a few hours but may take as long as a day. If not passed after two days assistance may be needed

Since the normal gestation period of sheep is around 140-145 days, look for these signs around day 135 or so. These signs usually mean that delivery will be during the next 2-15 hours. The ewe will feel most comfortable if not disturbed and the birth may proceed more smoothly.

For more details visit http://ag.ansc.purdue.edu/sheep/ansc442/Semprojs/lambing/lamb.html

Reprinted from a page developed by Robert Pearl, Melissa Heckart, and Chris Wehmer. Spring 1998. Purdue University