Generally, gestation period of sheep is between 148 and 152 days, it is generally accepted as lasting five months. During this period, and especially during the 4th and 5th months of the pregnancy, sheep should be fed with quality dry grass, clover and straw. Transporting the sheep, keeping them in wet places, feeding them with moldy and spoiled food or not feeding them enough, letting them drink too much cold water, hitting them and some diseases might cause miscarriage.
A pretty sheep
The ewe which are about to give birth should be taken to seperate pens. These pens should be warm, bright, clean and without air movement. Ewes give birth very easily, lambing takes place in 1-2 hours after contractions start. When lambing, the lamb gets out of the birth canal in this order: front legs ,head and rest of the body. Human assistance should only be provided when anormal situations such as folding of lamb’s legs or having it’s head in a wrong position. After lambing, the ewes dry their lambs by licking them. If the ewe doesn’t accept the lamb, after cleaning the lamb’s mouth and nose, some salt should be sprinkled on them in order to make their mother lick them.
All the newborn lamb must recieve vital colostrum milk
The amniotic sacs of the newly born lambs should be buried as soon as they are thrown away. Like many animals, sheep will eat their own amniotic sacs. The ewes that lambed should be fed with various soups and soft dry grass for 2-3 days. After the birth, the lamb must learn to nurse. If the ewe doesn’t accept the lamb, coaxing the lamb to another ewe with enough milk. All the newborn lamb must recieve vital colostrum milk. When they are a week old, giving them sheep food and clovers will make them get used to grazing.
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