I might add to that a box of OB gloves, a bottle of lubricant, and a box of exam gloves is a good combination to have around. If you put the exam glove (x-large) on OVER the OB glove, it makes the OB glove a lot more usuable. I have one of those lamb pulling cable and tube apparatus, but I think they were made to sell, not to use. I have not had much luck with them.
I also keep a bottle of Listerene mouthwash nearby for when I have to perform mouth to mouth respiration on a baby. But I must warn you that the lamb tastes much better than the Listerene. Cecil Piedmont, OKla ----- Original Message ----- From: "Christine Handley" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 10:08 PM Subject: Re: [blackbelly] Dealing with Difficult Births > > > A small "suction" ball is handy for clearing nostrils and mouth of > mucous.(found in the baby supply at the pharmacy) > I always have my Ketchum tagger and the little lamb tags. > Right after the lambs are born is usually the only chance you have to > catch > them and tag them. Also, Mom is usually watchful enough to be close at > hand > , and I can see her tag #. Then you can record them in a lambing book. > **my method is to tag "R"ight ear for "R"am lambs and > Left ear for ewe lambs. That way it is much quicker to sort the boys from > the girls if needed. > I also tag with larger plastic tags when the girls are sorted into > breeding > groups or at the first sort for worming (when their little ears are big > enough) This way I have two tags in the ewes. If I am lucky one or both > will > stay from one year to the next. They are sometimes brutal at getting them > torn out. > Chris. > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Carol J. Elkins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: <[email protected]> > Sent: Wednesday, December 21, 2005 12:10 AM > Subject: [blackbelly] Dealing with Difficult Births > > >> There is an excellent article in this month's Maryland Sheep and Goat >> Producer ezine at http://www.sheepandgoat.com/news/Index.html . Its title >> is "Dealing with Difficult Births." It is valuable reading whether you >> are >> a new shepherd facing your first lambing season or are more experienced. >> >> Usually, blackbelly ewes will have their lambs with no need of human >> intervention (or even worry!). However, you will, as a shepherd, >> inevitably >> have a lambing problem to deal with. Whether it is a tough delivery or a >> weak or chilled lamb, we've all experienced the frustration of not >> knowing >> when or if we should help, let alone WHAT to do! >> >> I thought I would reprint for new subscribers my list of things to have >> on >> hand in preparation for lambing. You might never these items, but sure as >> shootin' if you don't have 'em, you'll be needing them. Just call it good >> insurance. >> >> 1. A bag of lamb milk replacer; once opened, keep it in sealed gallon >> jars, >> preferably in the freezer. If left too long on the shelf, it becomes >> rancid. A couple of bay leaves lain on top before you seal will help >> prevent weevils. You sometimes can buy lamb milk replacer from a feed >> store, but BE ALERT: do NOT buy calf milk replacer. If your feed store >> does >> not stock lamb milk replacer, you can purchase it from Pipestone Vet >> Supply >> (http://www.pipevet.com/lamb.asp?cat=9) >> 2. Also get a bag of colostrum replacer (Colostrx) while you're there. >> Colostrum contains immunoglobulins that prevent infections; nutrients >> that >> fuel heat production and help prevent hypothermia (chilling); and growth >> factors. By the time you have a bottle baby on your hands, it often is >> too >> late to milk the mother for colostrum. If you can milk her, get all you >> can >> during the first 24 hours after lambing and freeze it in an ice cube tray >> for up to a year. Trust me, you will need it later on. >> 3. Two Pritchard Teat (nipples). They fit nicely on a glass or plastic >> pop >> bottle. Lambs seem to nurse more willingly on these nipples. >> 4. I personally like giving each newborn lamb a couple squirts of Baby >> Strength Oral or Nutridrench It contains Vitamin E and is a rapid energy >> source for weak or starving lambs. >> 5. 140 cc syringe. Used for tubing a lamb and also for collecting >> colostrum >> when you need to milk a ewe. Get a syringe that has both cc and oz units >> of >> measure so that you don't have to do so much math. Premier >> (http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=136&criteria=syringe) >> sells these for $5.00. They are much more convenient than a 60 cc >> syringe. >> 6. Stomach tube. Connect to the 140-cc syringe to feed lambs that are too >> weak to nurse or suckle a bottle. Premier's is $1.15 >> (http://www.premier1supplies.com/detail.php?prod_id=25&species_id=ALL&criter >> ia=syringe) >> 7. Digital thermometer >> 8. The absolute best book I've read on lambing is Laura Lawson's >> "Managing >> Your Ewe and Her Newborn Lambs" >> (http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/096339231X/critterhavenesta) >> Every >> lambing season I end up hauling it off the shelf and out to the barn. >> Even >> if I don't actually need it at the time, it is comforting having it handy >> when I'm worrying about a problematic ewe who has just begun her labor. >> >> Does anyone else have items they wouldn't want to be without at lambing >> time? >> >> Carol >> Carol Elkins >> Critterhaven--Registered Barbados Blackbelly Hair Sheep >> (no shear, no dock, no fuss) >> Pueblo, Colorado >> http://www.critterhaven.biz >> T-shirts, mugs, caps, and more at the >> Barbados Blackbelly Online Store http://www.cafepress.com/blackbellysheep >> >> _______________________________________________ >> This message is from the blackbelly mailing list >> Visit the list's homepage at [email protected] >> http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info >> > > > _______________________________________________ > This message is from the blackbelly mailing list > Visit the list's homepage at [email protected] > http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info > _______________________________________________ This message is from the blackbelly mailing list Visit the list's homepage at [email protected] http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
