What I really don’t understand is why ewes, who at the present time have at least 12 beautiful hours of daylight, decide that the best time to lamb is between the hours of 10pm and 4am. Totally ridiculous in my book, but then I suppose all is quiet, Classic FM is playing softly in the background …….and just like us humans, it’s the body which makes the ultimate decision.
Whilst we don’t keep a vigil all night (because our numbers are relatively low), we check every few hours, as every ewe deserves the same chance as those who lamb during the day. I was on duty the other night and trotted down to the yard with my trusty spaniel Tilly who always hopes she might catch sight of a long-tailed individual – her luck is normally out thank goodness! A Black Welsh Mountain ewe was just starting to lamb and it wasn’t long before a smashing little lamb
came into life. It was blinking cold down in the barn and the steam was rising off the lambs’ wet coat as the ewe quickly started the task of readily cleaning the lamb up, a job which never ceases to amaze me. The black lambs are always speedy to their feet looking for the teat and breakfast. I never like to interfere with this critical bonding process, so I took advantage of 5 minutes to nip indoors and make a 
quick cup of hot chocolate before lamb 2 arrived into this world. Literally, I was just a few minutes as there is always near boiling water on the Aga for a hot drink and with cup in hand, I was back down in the barn to oversee proceedings……but too late. No.2 lamb had not only been born but was struggling to its feet after what looked like a night on the tiles. A real treat to see an easy birth, 2 happy lambs and a very caring ewe. You really can’t ask for anymore – apart from hoping that you remembered to pull the bed covers up and there might just be a remote chance that the bed was still warm when you eventually got back in!
When I felt all was good and the ewe happy, I only had to put iodine on the lambs navals to prevent infection, check the ewe’s teats for milk and then slowly take all 3 to an individual pen where they can complete the mothering up process in peace and quiet for 24 hours.
Job’s a good’un and off I went for a few hours’ sleep. I know what you are all thinking, and the answer was not what I wanted. My bed was freezing cold- what a numpty!
Janet
