A Big Thanks to Elsie

Elsie went into labor Thursday afternoon.  I was surprised because I thought there was no way Elsie would lamb before Cashew.  Although it did seem to take her forever for a ewe who has lambed three times in the past, she had a completely normal birth with twin ewes.  She had them up and nursing in no time.

Elsie & her girls

The first born is Vanilla Bean.  (She was going to be Vanilla but the boys insisted on Vanilla Bean.)   She is  all white.

Licking Vanilla Bean

Next came Cinnamon Bark.  I checked and checked because I couldn't believe it, but Cinnamon is definitely a ewe as well.  She appears to be brown, and she is a katmoget like many of her half brothers.

Cinnamon Bark curled up with her sister.

Elsie was bleeding a little more than usual, so we decided to do a midnight check.  At this time, we found Cashew with a head hanging out but no hooves (a big surprise because we heard nothing on the monitor).  If you're a long time blog reader, you'll remember that this was the position Peat was in.  Henrietta ended up going to the vet hospital, which was not an option for Cashew.  The lamb had been in the birth canal a much longer time, and we were 99% sure Cashew was carrying a twin.

After much struggle, we managed to pull the lamb, a boy we named Fennel.  I went to work on reviving him.  Soon afterward, a tiny ewe lamb (Lavender) was born. She was breech but Scott had no issues delivering her.  Cashew was not able to get up, so we moved the lambs to where she could lick them.  That perked her up, and when she attempted to get up, she staggered.  Nevertheless, Lavender was nursing quickly.

Lavender (the smaller one) and Fennel

We noticed that Fennel was not sucking, even when we placed Cashew's teat into his mouth.  We tubed him and continued to do so.  We knew he lacked oxygen during the birthing process and his head was definitely swollen.  As the swelling went down, we expected him to be able to suck.  It didn't happen and upon further inspection, he had a cleft palate.  It is not fixable in sheep, and he would never be able to nurse, so we had to euthanize him.  We are sad, but we know that had not Elsie lambed Thursday we never would have made it to the barn in time to save Cashew and Lavender.

Lavender and Fennel

Cashew's problems with her back legs are a bruised nerve.  Her legs are getting better already, but she still is struggling.  Having a lamb pulled is traumatic for the ewe.  Lavender seems to be doing well.