HOW TO TELL IF YOUR SHEEP IS IN LABOR

I love sheep. I adore being a shepherd. And one of my favourite times of the year is lambing. However, many ewes need help when it comes to giving birth and it’s not always as simple as stepping back and letting nature take it’s course. Even if the lambs are arriving in perfect order and in ideal health, it’s worthwhile knowing when your sheep is in labour so here are, in my experience, some signs to look out for.

A ewe having recently given birth

DISCOMFORT

Heavily pregnant ewes are in pretty much constant discomfort, from kicking unborn lambs to trying to carry the huge amount of weight around. You’ll notice ewes having difficulty getting up and down in particular. However, once they have found a spot to sit in, they’ll happily sit and chew the cud for hours.

This is not the case when your ewe is in labor. You’ll notice sheep getting up and down, fidgeting and unable to get into a comfortable position. In addition, I’ve often noticed ewes tend to find a corner and will push themselves against the wall or hurdle.

NESTING

When ewes are in the beginning stages of labour they’ll also begin to nest. This includes paw at the ground, kicking straw and dirt out of the way, and moving around in circles. You may notice your ewe walks away but later comes back to the spot.

I do find, however, that heavily pregnant sheep often pick a preferred spot way before they give birth. In a group pen, some ewes will lay claim to particular areas and they’ll often paw at the ground weeks before their due data. So I wouldn’t use nesting as your go-to labour symptom.

LACK OF APPETITE

You’ve probably noticed your sheep at pretty hungry. After 5 months, they’re ready to pop and are keen to get to that food trough. Any ewe that seems off her food is one to watch. Ewes may avoid their food 12 or so hours before they give birth, indicating very early labour.

It’s important to keep an eye on any ewe off her food. It can also be a sign of twin lamb disease, and if it continues for several days, it’s essential to seek veterinary treatment and provide her with the right nutrition.

LIP CURLING, LIP LICKING & STAR GAZING

A good sign that initial labour is progressing is if you sheep has one or more of the above signs combined with lip curling, lip licking and/or star gazing. Sheep use lip smacking as a way to deal with pain; it’s a good characteristic to recognise as it can help throughout the year when your sheep, perhaps, isn’t very well. When active labour occurs, you’ll notice the upper lip on your ewes curl as they deal with the pain. They will also throw their heads back and stare towards the sky - known as star gazing. This often happens when contractions first begin to occur.

CONTRACTIONS

Initial contractions are not always that obvious in sheep due to their fleeces. If you have a recently sheared ewes, or an easy care breed such as Wiltshire Horns, you’re more likely to see the first contractions. These can look like a heavy breath but you’ll notice the entire sheep go rigid as the contraction wave comes. As they become heavier and more frequent, ewes will begin to lay down and properly push.

MUCOUS

Mucous from your ewe is a very good sign that your sheep is in labor. It's not always a tell-tale sign of immediate labour, however, as some ewes will produce a mucous plug several days before they actually give birth. This is a relatively small amount of ‘gunk’ however, and if you start to see quite a lot of mucous and liquid coming from your ewe, it’s a good sign labour is progressing.

WATER BAG

The final and most obvious way to tell if your sheep is in labour is when the water bag appears. Normally before the lambs actually begin to appear from the birth canal, the ewe passes a small water bag. This will hang between her legs and may or may not pop. Be aware that sometimes the water bag can be passed and up to an hour can pass before labour continues. But sometimes the water bag appears swiftly following by, hopefully, a head and feet of the coming baby! If you need lambing supplies, I’ve made a handy recommended list.

After the water bag, the lamb should appear

As with all nature, every ewe is different. Some will give you multiple signs that labour has begun, whilst others will give you little warning. By using the symptoms above, you can get a better idea that the exciting process of lambing has begun. Good luck! And if you have any questions, please ask below.

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