Head Out, Breathing

[Clive Tee]

Had two today, one was head out but not breathing, so pushed it back in, got the legs, pulled out and all is well.

Second one was breathing, but the ewe was open so just managed to get one leg forward then out and all OK again.

Question is, what do you do when you have a lamb with head out, but can't come out legs back because it's too large, but it's breathing?

TIA

 

[sherg]

You've got to push it back in and get at least one leg sometimes a bit of string around its head to pull the head back out with is useful I find when you push it back in the head can flop to one side or downhill, dad always used to use one of those weird looking y shaped plastic things for the job I cant get on with them though. You've normally got a bit of time to get them out

 

[Clive Tee]

You've got to push it back in and get at least one leg sometimes a bit of string around its head to pull the head back out with is useful I find when you push it back in the head can flop to one side or downhill, dad always used to use one of those weird looking y shaped plastic things for the job I cant get on with them though. You've normally got a bit of time to get them out

Won't it suffocate as it's breathing ?

 

[llamedos]

Not normally, speed and lube are your friend with a hung lamb, push the head back in between contractions, then flex the shoulder elbow & fetlock of one leg, and bring it fetlock elbow shoulder into correct position, then same with the otherside. You can usually get them out. if its tongue has swollen, stomach tube, it will take a while for swelling to subside before it can suck.


oh and for some reason closing your eyes when you do it helps does anyone one else work better with their eyes closed when extracting a lamb?

 

[neilo]

Won't it suffocate as it's breathing ?

I don't there are many alternatives. As @sherg said, a bit of string ready to go round behind the ears helps. I've gone all fancy though, and have upgraded my string to a loop of starter cord (which is a bit stiffer) ........ until I lose it in the straw anyway.

 

[neilo]

oh and for some reason closing your eyes when you do it helps does anyone one else work better with their eyes closed when extracting a lamb?

That's just daft. Why on earth would having your eyes closed help?


(Yes, another 'eyes closed' lamber here, usually whilst talking her through it. Just yesterday, I was telling one how smelly her huge rotten lamb was).

 

[Komatsu]

Eyes closed here to for those tricky ones! As above though if no room to bring legs forward then has to go back in breathing or not, speed does help , plenty of lube and hold ewe up by back legs to allow gravity to assist, easier with helper though, didnt Someone on here make a contraption for holding ewe upside down to assist lambing?

 

[llamedos]

I don't there are many alternatives. As @ sherg said, a bit of string ready to go round behind the ears helps. I've gone all fancy though, and have upgraded my string to a loop of starter cord (which is a bit stiffer) ........ until I lose it in the straw anyway.

hoodie cord here through a piece of thin hose & a toggle from hoodie to keep it tight one of the press button jobbies & just chuck the lot in a pan of boiling water after. I might upgrade one day

 

[Cooper3075]

Also tend to closes eyes and imagine what is what suppose it focuses you to what you are doing with your hand not what the ewe in the next pen is doing.

 

[Dafydd]

+1 for the eyes closed, same when ai'ing.

 

[Hesstondriver]

Have been in the middle of calving a cow before , calf half out and it decides to wake up , start breathing and also kicking and wriggerling . What a great help to the situation ...Not !!

 

[Jerry]

Stiff cord and a castration ring around it to help it stay in place works a treat at times. Easy to push ring up cord with tips of a finger if needed

 

[neilo]

didn't Someone on here make a contraption for holding ewe upside down to assist lambing?

@exmoor dave claims that's what he built it for.

 

[sherg]

@exmoor dave claims that's what he built it for.

Or get another piece of string (I like string) about 3 foot long and tie one end to one of its back feet and the other end to the other foot, stick your head through the string and pick her up its a bit uncomfortable but it works, or get her in the corner of a pen and pick her back legs up against a wall, if you are outdoor lambing just use the quad, a fence or a tree

 

[llamedos]

Or get another piece of string (I like string) about 3 foot long and tie one end to one of its back feet and the other end to the other foot, stick your head through the string and pick her up its a bit uncomfortable but it works, or get her in the corner of a pen and pick her back legs up against a wall, if you are outdoor lambing just use the quad, a fence or a tree

and hope your neighbour does not turn up

 

[Spartacus]

No one else just pull on the lambs neck/head (gently) pulling to one side then the other slowly bringing it out enough to pull a leg out then use the leg and hold it neck/head (as if the other leg) to pull it out?

 

[llamedos]

No, assumed we were talking about a true hung lamb with shoulders back creating an anchor.

 

[Spartacus]

No, assumed we were talking about a true hung lamb with shoulders back creating an anchor.

me too, by moving from side to side the shoulders move too and (hopefully) give to let the lamb out.

 

[llamedos]

"hopefully" #like

 

[Spartacus]

"hopefully" #like

ita all anyone does when lambing sheep isnt it?