placenta was passed. it was a big, single baby. I did go in and look just now, and she's now starting to squat for him, but still won't hold still, so I know the instinct is there.
She "could" be feeding him while we are not there, but every time I sneak up on them, she's already moving in circles around him as I approach. She is also our most tame ewe, and was not freaked out when I handed her her wet baby last night. Otherwise, she was just standing there, in shock, 8 feet away from him, and ignoring his cries for more than 5 minutes. When I handed him to her, she sniffed and instantly knew it was hers, and started cleaning him. -Michael, Perino Ranch Blackbellies. On Wed, Mar 31, 2010 at 8:27 AM, Liz Radi <lizr...@skybeam.com> wrote: > Michael, > Did she pass the placenta, and has no other lambs in her? > She should not be shivering, and should be more interested in her alfalfa > and other hay. > I have had goats side step and not hold still for babies, as first time > moms, my husband will hold the mom, and I will help the baby latch on. > Sometimes have had to do this for several days. We would do this every > couple hours or so, until they catch on. > The lamb needs colostrum by 24 hours old or the antibodies will not be > absorbed from the gut. I intervene with my alpaca if I have not seen > cria(baby alpaca) nurse within 4-6 hours of birth. It is good that she is > attentive to baby, are you sure that she is not nursing the baby when you > aren't around? You may have to start bottle feeding, and need a source of > colostrum, but leave baby with mom and she may start nursing. > Liz Radi > idar alpacas and nubians > 100% ARI and homegrown > Nunn Colorado > 970-897-2580 > www.alpacanation.com/idaralpacas.asp > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Smith" > <mwsmotorspo...@gmail.com> > To: "blackbelly" <blackbelly@lists.blackbellysheep.info> > Sent: Wednesday, March 31, 2010 9:04 AM > Subject: [Blackbelly] New momma will not hold still to feed lamb after > 10hours > > >> we witnessed a ram's birth last night and it was about 10:30. >> >> He is still a bit wet and unclean this morning at 8am--but mostly dry. >> She's still >> bonding , but will NOT hold still for him to eat and it's 10 hours >> since birth. She keeps side-stepping like she's being invaded, but >> will talk to him and clean him. >> >> I am wondering if it's time to go in and check her udders and maybe >> hold her while he tries to latch? >> >> It's also fairly cold, 45* with steam coming out their mouths, and I >> am sure she was shivering, so I set up a large room propane space >> heater, and gave her a good cup of oats whole grain, which she ate. >> She's not really touching the alfalfa or other food. >> >> -Michael, Perino Ranch Blackbellies >> _______________________________________________ >> This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list >> Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info >> > > _______________________________________________ > This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info > _______________________________________________ This message is from the Blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at %http://www.blackbellysheep.info
