Even though it’s cold, dark and I’m sleep deprived, seeing a lamb being born is one of the best feelings. It’s joy at how incredible nature is, mixed with a sense of relief that everything has gone okay. I find myself smiling at mum and the little one doing just fine. Only then do I pour myself another cup of coffee to stay alert for the next ewe about to lamb.

It’s never completely smooth sailing, of course. This year some lambs were orphaned when their mum got mastitis but thankfully, they’re doing really well on a shepherdess lamb feeder.

Lambing checklist

I love a good list and my lambing checklist has been honed to include the basics I cannot do without: Colostrum, milk powder, bottle and teat, shavings, prolapse spoon, castration rings and pliers, marker spray, ewe rolls, lamb starter pellets, lamb creep feeder.

I also use the Denis Brinicombe pre and post lambing tubby and the stock Blok sheep plus luck bucket which produces wet, strong lambs that try to stand within seconds.

Quick guide

Tupping: Ewes and rams mate.

Lambing: From December but generally early spring.

Time for lamb to develop: Around 145 days.

Birth: Indoors or outdoors. New mums are usually indoors for their first time.

Standing: Getting a lamb to stand and start suckling on the ewe is vital so they take in colostrum – the first kind of milk full of good stuff including antibodies to fight infection.

Adoption: Sometimes lambs die however hard you try and then that ewe can help another mum who has triplets or is struggling.

Weaning: Between two and four months.

We’ve got all you need for this spring’s lambs and ewes including feed. Get in touch or call into the country store. We’re always happy to help.