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Can anyone plz explain to me about lambing?
I am hoping to get experience in lambing this spring and don't have a clue what to expect?
What would I have to do?
Does the births happen during the day or at night or all the time?
Also if there was about a 100 sheep, how many sheep would give birth every day etc?
Does lambing experience mainly involve helping the lambs give birth or is more to do with after the birth?
Thanks. Please give any details or experiences. x x
What would I have to do?
Does the births happen during the day or at night or all the time?
Also if there was about a 100 sheep, how many sheep would give birth every day etc?
Does lambing experience mainly involve helping the lambs give birth or is more to do with after the birth?
Thanks. Please give any details or experiences. x x
Scroll to see replies
Reply 1
You will most likely be involved in assisting ewes which have difficulties in giving birth (lamb in wrong position, etc.), making sure lambs born naturally are ok (do not have membranes covering their faces, start to breathe normally, etc.) and post-natal care of ewes and lambs. This may involve assisting lambs to suck, stomach tubing if necessary or fostering lambs onto other ewes.
Lambs are born at any time of the day or night really- the number/frequency depends on whether you are there during the peak couple of weeks or at the beginning/end of the lambing period on that farm.
Lambs are born at any time of the day or night really- the number/frequency depends on whether you are there during the peak couple of weeks or at the beginning/end of the lambing period on that farm.
Reply 2
Hello!
The answer to most of your questions is: Depends on your farmer! With the actual birth: some farmers like to leave their ewes to it unless theres real problems, others get there hands in straight away to get the job done.
Ewes lamb day or night - and as to how many will lamb per day it depends on the farm - how many tups there were, when they were put with the ewes - probably an average of 5-6 a day with that kind of flock size.
When I go lambing my jobs include: taking the (pregnant) ewes in and out of the barn morning and night, feeding them, feeding and watering the ewes in the lambing pen who had there lambs a couple of days ago, docking and castrating 2 day old lambs, moving lambs and ewes into the field when they're old enough, drenching the ewes, bedding up and cleaning out lambing pens, bottle feeding orphans or trying to get them onto an adoptive ewe (which isn't easy), moving ewes and lambs inside to lambing pens if they gave birth in the field, and of course helping ewes who are clearly in trouble eg: head out, breach, back legs first, one leg only etc. After lambing a ewe it's common that you give it an antibiotic injection (I/M back of neck).
Think thats about it - if you go lambing, its likely you'll just be watching for the fist couple of days - the shepherd will want to get to know, and trust you. Make sure you do whatever he/she says, and do it well, then hopefully you can have a go at lambing by yourself!
oh, and finally, lambing is great, the best work experience I've done - do all you can to get work exp on a BIG sheep farm 400+ ewes. Theres more to do and it's even more fun!
The answer to most of your questions is: Depends on your farmer! With the actual birth: some farmers like to leave their ewes to it unless theres real problems, others get there hands in straight away to get the job done.
Ewes lamb day or night - and as to how many will lamb per day it depends on the farm - how many tups there were, when they were put with the ewes - probably an average of 5-6 a day with that kind of flock size.
When I go lambing my jobs include: taking the (pregnant) ewes in and out of the barn morning and night, feeding them, feeding and watering the ewes in the lambing pen who had there lambs a couple of days ago, docking and castrating 2 day old lambs, moving lambs and ewes into the field when they're old enough, drenching the ewes, bedding up and cleaning out lambing pens, bottle feeding orphans or trying to get them onto an adoptive ewe (which isn't easy), moving ewes and lambs inside to lambing pens if they gave birth in the field, and of course helping ewes who are clearly in trouble eg: head out, breach, back legs first, one leg only etc. After lambing a ewe it's common that you give it an antibiotic injection (I/M back of neck).
Think thats about it - if you go lambing, its likely you'll just be watching for the fist couple of days - the shepherd will want to get to know, and trust you. Make sure you do whatever he/she says, and do it well, then hopefully you can have a go at lambing by yourself!
oh, and finally, lambing is great, the best work experience I've done - do all you can to get work exp on a BIG sheep farm 400+ ewes. Theres more to do and it's even more fun!
Reply 3
Wow, outrageous, that was a much better description of the job!
My head is too full of revision to remember! Stupid January exams. Grrrr.
My head is too full of revision to remember! Stupid January exams. Grrrr.
I did work exp on a sheep farm with 1200 sheep!!! lol it was crazy... but then again so was the farmer!! The little lambs are adorable; i was so close to adopting a tiny black sheep that refused to stay with its mum 
how cute!
Its great, have they got quads at the farm you're going on?!! They let me drive theirs (with so much land thats how they got round everywhere!)! Ask loads of questions and remember to make a few notes on what you see, lambing is a common topic at interviews!!
how cute!Its great, have they got quads at the farm you're going on?!! They let me drive theirs (with so much land thats how they got round everywhere!)! Ask loads of questions and remember to make a few notes on what you see, lambing is a common topic at interviews!!
Reply 5
As everyone said but its the best fun ever!!!!!
im going back for this feb half term cos i enjoyed it so much lol
I nearly drove the quad bike into a ditch
im going back for this feb half term cos i enjoyed it so much lol
I nearly drove the quad bike into a ditch
Reply 6
I can't wait do do lambing again this year, it is brill! 
I think what makes it so good is that you get to be a lot more involved in what's going on than when you're at the vets. Farmers are a lot more relaxed when it comes to letting you actually do stuff - obviously because they are working independantly, they are not so restricted by health and safety, so you can really help out out rather than just get in the way (although i probably do that too!
)
The first time i ever did lambing i hadn't even been there 5 minutes before i found myself with my hand inside a ewe, fumbling around for lil' lamby legs!
I think what makes it so good is that you get to be a lot more involved in what's going on than when you're at the vets. Farmers are a lot more relaxed when it comes to letting you actually do stuff - obviously because they are working independantly, they are not so restricted by health and safety, so you can really help out out rather than just get in the way (although i probably do that too!
)The first time i ever did lambing i hadn't even been there 5 minutes before i found myself with my hand inside a ewe, fumbling around for lil' lamby legs!
Reply 7
Gammon
OP
ok thanks everyone. I'm in year 11 and aren't a vet yet so do u think a farmer would allow me to do those type of things. It all sounds so interesting and i'm so enthusiatic but I honestly would not have a clue what to do? Were you guys all taught by the farmer how to assist the ewes or did he just chuck you in at the deep end!!! I'm just a bit nervous as to what to expect.
Its always a bit nerve-racking to go do something you've not done before bt dont worry too much you'll be told what to do and anything your unsure of just ask and enjoy yourself.
When I went to do lambing last year it was at quite a small farm there was 240 sheep bt they did the lambing in halves so 120 were all due in feb and the 120 in april or something like that. I was only there for a couple of days during the weekend.
Only one sheep lambed while i was there luckily i got to get my hands stuck right in lol. I spent most of my time docking/castrating the newborns and any other general jobs to do with lambing (stapling back eyelids and putting iodine on the stomachs where the umbilical chord is i fink). However if it is a small farm chance you might not see much at all. The farm i went to was smalls o they brought every ewe inside to lamb.
This year im going to a friends farm who have a lot more sheep and lamb outside only helping those who are having problems it will be really different bt im looking forward to it.
Lambing is great and quadbikes are fun. When i did my dairy experience the guy said u learning to drive arent you? I stupidly said yes and the next thing i knew i was trying to reverse a tractor. Scraped the bucket right along a wall oppps gt the hang of it by the end of the week though
When I went to do lambing last year it was at quite a small farm there was 240 sheep bt they did the lambing in halves so 120 were all due in feb and the 120 in april or something like that. I was only there for a couple of days during the weekend.
Only one sheep lambed while i was there luckily i got to get my hands stuck right in lol. I spent most of my time docking/castrating the newborns and any other general jobs to do with lambing (stapling back eyelids and putting iodine on the stomachs where the umbilical chord is i fink). However if it is a small farm chance you might not see much at all. The farm i went to was smalls o they brought every ewe inside to lamb.
This year im going to a friends farm who have a lot more sheep and lamb outside only helping those who are having problems it will be really different bt im looking forward to it.
Lambing is great and quadbikes are fun. When i did my dairy experience the guy said u learning to drive arent you? I stupidly said yes and the next thing i knew i was trying to reverse a tractor. Scraped the bucket right along a wall oppps gt the hang of it by the end of the week though
xxxLucyxxx
As everyone said but its the best fun ever!!!!!
im going back for this feb half term cos i enjoyed it so much lol
I nearly drove the quad bike into a ditch
im going back for this feb half term cos i enjoyed it so much lol
I nearly drove the quad bike into a ditch
Haha, me too!!! The farmer left me to my own devices and told me to meet him on the road by going across the field at the bottom of a hill... what he 4got to mention was the huge gulley across the middle of it, i was perched on the edge of the drop, with a trailer full of carrots, and didn't know how to reverse, I had to wait for the family who owned the field to come and rescue me
! I'm going back in easter half term i think!! God knows why they're having me back hehe!--------------
Melissa
ok thanks everyone. I'm in year 11 and aren't a vet yet so do u think a farmer would allow me to do those type of things. It all sounds so interesting and i'm so enthusiatic but I honestly would not have a clue what to do? Were you guys all taught by the farmer how to assist the ewes or did he just chuck you in at the deep end!!! I'm just a bit nervous as to what to expect.
I was on year 11 too the 1st time I went lambing so don't worry you'll get to do it all hopefully, it all depends on the farmer but most of them are glad of the help!!! I was kind of chucked in at the deep end but was with the farmers son so he explained what to do, its not difficult- they won't expect you to know everything, just have a good time!
Reply 10
Vet In Progress
Wow, outrageous, that was a much better description of the job!
My head is too full of revision to remember! Stupid January exams. Grrrr.
My head is too full of revision to remember! Stupid January exams. Grrrr.
well, i try....the worrying thing is my head should be full of revision too! eek...
Reply 12
Well I was taught everything, not just thrown in at the deep end although theres a lot going on and a lot to take in so its still pretty hectic!
I was shown the routine once (feeding cake, hay n water) then expected to get on with it. Same goes for stuff like giving antibiotics, navel spraying, moving lambs from pen to pen (though was told which ones to move).
when it came to lambing itself I watched the farmer a couple of times then got stuck in with him there to tell me what to do. I always tail docked and castrated with the farmer near by but not in direct supervision as he'd be doing other lambs.
I was shown the routine once (feeding cake, hay n water) then expected to get on with it. Same goes for stuff like giving antibiotics, navel spraying, moving lambs from pen to pen (though was told which ones to move).
when it came to lambing itself I watched the farmer a couple of times then got stuck in with him there to tell me what to do. I always tail docked and castrated with the farmer near by but not in direct supervision as he'd be doing other lambs.
Reply 13
Melissa
ok thanks everyone. I'm in year 11 and aren't a vet yet so do u think a farmer would allow me to do those type of things. It all sounds so interesting and i'm so enthusiatic but I honestly would not have a clue what to do? Were you guys all taught by the farmer how to assist the ewes or did he just chuck you in at the deep end!!! I'm just a bit nervous as to what to expect.
ok just remember that castrating a lamb yourself is illegal if you are under seventeen.
The farmer is more than likely going to let you in at the deep end just to see how compatent you are (my dad is one, i learned first hand). but if you can't do something or have trouble lambing a ewe there is no substitute for admitting failure early. this could well save a lamb's life.
Also, the side of the job that has been explained to you is the jolly side of it.
would you be able to cope with being asked to kill a weak lamb yourself? (this probably won't happen but you never know) i have seen at least 2 methods, cutting the throat and shattering the skull. Killing a lamb may seem like an awful thing to do but generally it is probably the most humane thing to do in circumstances where the animal would suffer if it were allowed to live. As with all animal enterprises, death is a very big part of life and you'll see plenty of death if you go lambing.
towards the end of lambing tends to be a bit manky as sheep with foetuses that have been dead a while tend to start giving birth. Assisting with one of these lambings can be a pretty difficult and disgusting experience. expect the smell to be the worst thing you've ever come across. it also hangs around you for days afterwards.
if you want more info on lambing, i live on a sheep farm and have worked as a lambing assistant on other farms so hopefully will be able to answer any other questions you might have. pm me. gt
and not to be pessimistic but agreeing with gt dont forget the mutated foetuses - make for great stories when you return to vet school/school but not so present at midnight when youre tired and dirty and spend hours trying to remove half a lamb or something (we had one that was abdomen and 3 vestigial legs only - no upper thorax or head at all and when you pulled on a leg it came off in your hand!)...not pleasant but reality.
Reply 16
Yes, I was forgetting the manky bits. It can be demoralising at times too (not just squelchy and messy), when you've been tube feeding an orphaned lamb and restrained his grumpy adoptive mother every couple of hours (for a whole week) to give the little chap half a chance to suckle, and sorted his inturned eyelids and then his "mum" lies on him in the night and kills him. Just one of a multitute of things that can have the lambs dying all around you, no matter how hard you try to keep them alive!
I'd say it was more good than bad though, on the whole.
I'd say it was more good than bad though, on the whole.
Reply 18
oo coolio, i missed out this year with a lot riding on our exams for which subject choice you get to do for intercalation but i'm looking forward to getting back to it next year. Going dairy and horses this summer.
Dan
Dan
ah lambing is great - i was only supposed to be doing two weeks this holiday due to exam revision but because i only lived 10 minutes away i semed to be at the farmers beck and call..which i cant really say i complained about...although im not sure quite how much revision i got done whilst sat on a hay bale!
Ah bring on next year!!!
Ah bring on next year!!!
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