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Common Sheep Lambing Signs

3/19/2015

7 Comments

 

5 Sheep Lambing Signs Too Obvious to Miss

Sheep Lambing Signs
While there are many resources which detail common sheep lambing signs, we thought it would be useful to offer the most important and the clearest signals in a short and clear list. From changes in behavior (like pawing at the ground) to physical changes like bagging up and the swelling of teats - there are plenty of clear signals that can save you time (and late night trips to the barn) if you know what to look for.


While using a lambing calculator or sheep gestation table is helpful, when the big day is near watching for these obvious signs of lambing will let you know if your ewe is getting ready.

Sheep Lambing Signs You Need to Watch For

  1. Bagging Up - Your ewe will start to develop an udder about 4 weeks prior to lambing. As due dates approach, get in the habit of walking behind your ewes when you feed them their grain and reaching under them to check for the first signs of an udder. Mark the date on your calendar to get a clear sense of when your ewe might deliver. As that date nears watch their udder closely - within 24 hours her udder will become firm and her teats will become large, swollen and filled with milk. This is a clear sheep lambing sign.
  2. Sunken Loin - 1-2 days prior to your sheep lambing the lambs will "drop" inside the ewe, offering the appearance of sunken cavities between her hipbones and last rib. This happens as the lambs move into position for delivery and is a clear sign of lambing.
  3. Not Eating - Immediately before lambing it's common for many ewes to skip a meal while standing off by themselves. While missing several meals is cause for concern, skipping grain and hay one morning or night is usually a signal that your ewe has other things on her mind: namely delivering lambs.
  4. Nesting - Just before your ewe begins labor it's common that she will seek out a secluded area and begin pawing at the ground. Some ewes paw gently while others will create huge mounds of bedding in an effort to create a welcoming area for delivery. This is usually one of the last sheep lambing signs before your ewe goes into the final stages of labor.
  5. Passing a Water Bag - Typically your ewe will pass at least one water bag (in humans it's referred to as a woman's water "breaking" but in sheep many times the sack of amniotic fluid will remain in tact). When this happens you know labor has begun in earnest and the first lamb should be delivered within 20-30 minutes. If it takes longer than that after your ewe's water has broken you may need to assist.
One of the most commonly overlooked aspects of correctly identifying lambing signs in sheep is your regular presence in the barn. If you aren't used to your sheep's routines and appearance you won't notice the subtle changes which can serve as clear signs your ewe is about to lamb. To learn more read our in depth article on tips for lambing, and if we've missed a common lambing sign that you always look for please share it in the comments below.

Pay Attention or You May Miss these Common Sheep Lambing Signs

7 Comments
carl benham
1/13/2016 08:58:26 am

i have a ewe that got some food stuck in her throat the other day and i thought she got it cleared. But she isn't eating now for two days. she is up moving with the herd but is slow and droupy.No signs of runny nose nor runny stool. need advise,please!

Reply
Joe link
1/19/2016 09:31:04 pm

Hi Carl,

Not sure from the description - I would contact a vet and separate her from the flock. If she isn't eating or getting calories you might try mixing some molasses with hot water in a 5-gallon bucket to see if she'll take that ... will give her some calories and energy and could help to turn her around.

Reply
Hannah link
3/17/2017 11:54:41 am

My pregnent ewe is going to lamb soon I hope she'll be ok, because she is smaller then most sheep,and I hope I i'm reddy

Reply
sharon link
4/5/2017 04:39:09 pm

Hi Hannah

Just keep a eye on her when she starts, you might have to help.
I have Baby dolls waiting on my to lamb any day now.

Reply
Grace
2/25/2018 01:03:26 pm

I have a ewe and how will I know if she is in labor im not out there all the time so how will I know

Corisma Jenkins link
12/5/2019 11:00:52 am

Good afternoon, I wanted to reach out to you in hopes of some relief of anxiety of the not knowing. I rescued an older bred haired ewe this Summer (2019). The gentlemen that gave her to me let me know that my only concern with her being pregnant, is that she had been attacked by 2 dogs last Fall of 2018. She wasn't supposed to get bred. However, a ram got to her and now here I am scared to death that I will not be able to save either of them when the time comes.That is another issue. The man gave me a delivery date of end of November first of December. I know she is getting to deliver because she's hollow in her HOO HA area, sunken in on both back sides of her hips, her tail looks like its just dangling and she is squatting to urinate and pooping is very often than usual. I have been watching her very close since last Wednesday and everyday she is looking more and more miserable. She is still eating, drinking, but I cant see her Hoo Ha for her tail to see if it's swollen or red etc( other signs) , but I can see on each side her tail which is hollow. I'm so scared she is going to need assistance and I will not be there when her amniotic bag burst. Is there usually a specific time in the day or night they usually deliver? Or is she at all close to delivering? I check on her every hour when I am home and it's so exhausting. I don't want to miss something and it be too late. Any advise would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you,
Corisma

Reply
Joe from RaisingSheep.net link
2/17/2020 08:04:30 am

Hi, Corisma

Sorry I'm just seeing this now! I hope everything turned out ok. The biggest sign that lambing is imminent and will happen within days is that their teats will swell and enlarge. When that happens you're a day or two away usually.

There's no specific time that sheep like to lamb (though mine always seem to prefer the middle of the night on the coldest night of the month).

If your ewe is acting sluggish or mopey then that could be a warning sign of toxemia, which is dangerous. You can learn more about that on our Sheep Diseases page (see the menu at the top of this site).

Thanks for visiting and commenting!

Joe

Reply



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