lambing question

[Richard Devon]

Any suggestions on how to get an unborn lamb out when its head keeps going back around and not coming with the feet......had one this morning and its head kept going down around, not enough room for me to keep its head up and tried one of those "vee sticks" with the nylon rope.....

What do you all do to help the head follow the feet?

 

[Woolless]

Little rope round the head. Never got on with those V things.

Use a rope with a running loop. Put the front of the loop in the lamb's mouth then work the back of the loop over the top of its head and behind its ears. Tighten it then use it to keep a bit of tension on the head to keep it in place as you bring it into the pelvis. You'll feel it almost pop as it engages properly.

Easier said than done, mind you!

 

[puppet]

Rope on both feet and head. One leg, then head forward into pelvis to get it fixed then pull other leg up to allow room. Either that or a small hand wrapped over the face as you pull the legs wit a rope

 

[Timbo]

Any suggestions on how to get an unborn lamb out when its head keeps going back around and not coming with the feet......had one this morning and its head kept going down around, not enough room for me to keep its head up and tried one of those "vee sticks" with the nylon rope.....

What do you all do to help the head follow the feet?

Noose.

On the right- worth every penny-

 

[Mc115reed]

Tend too just take 1 leg and head if I can’t get them all

 

[Jerry]

Those V lambing aids are worse than pointless.

I use a wire lambing snare, much better as you can mould it to the shape you need and it grips well on head.

Get one leg and head and most Come ok like @Mc115reed says. Especially if you can depress the missing legs shoulder as it enters the pelvis so shoulder blade does not snag.

 

[yellowbelly]

As said above, those v-shaped lambing gadgets are worse than useless.

I use a bit of electric fence lead out wire. Pop it round the back of the head and cross it under the chin. A cord on both legs so you can 'walk it out' by pullung on one amd then the other.

I did a video for our breed society in lockdown, when we had a lot of new breeders who'd never lambed anything before and couldn't go anywhere to get some experience.

I'll see if I can dig it out.

 

[yellowbelly]

There you go...

The bit with the lead out cable is at the end.
I prefer the stiff cable as you can push it in with your other hand, rather than 'balancing' a slippery lambing cord on your finger ends.

 

[Norfolk Hill Farmer]

Is that the old farming diary music ?

 

[Guleesh]

I think the V things are okay. Used them successfully several times, they have the added benefit over a rope of being able to twist the head a little.

 

[Wood field]

I am no expert by any means and head back is my worse nightmare, I made a noose with a few feet of earth wire , it holds a shape but is easy enough to get “ in “ without the plastic v type attached
Mk 2 version is 6” of broom handle with the wire passes through a hole drilled through the middle, it gives a handle to grip when your hands are covered in slime

 

[Jimfandango]

My tool of choice in that situation is some stiff rope from an old sash window. I would be devastated if I ever lost it.

 

[yoki]

Lambing snare is essential.

Get at least two, even three so there's always one to hand at the moment you need it.

Son-in-law 'borrowed' mine in the middle of lambing one year and I had to improvise in the middle of a difficult delivery with a bit of electric wire to save the day.

He got such a bollocking that he turned up the next day with three new ones for me.

 

[sheepwise]

My tool of choice in that situation is some stiff rope from an old sash window. I would be devastated if I ever lost it.

Washing line rope does same job. Vet’s tip from years ago.

 

[Optimus]

I just use baler twine,plenty about at lambing time.

 

[yoki]

Washing line rope does same job. Vet’s tip from years ago.

To be honest, no I don't think it would.

The stiff wire of the snare allows it to be pushed forwards over the ears in a way that something flexible wouldn't.

I've been able to essentially "hook" an ear with it a time or two when it would have been much more difficult to have to feed something flexible around the ear.

 

[Agrivator]

In the absence of any other aid, I put my thumb just inside the lamb's bottom jaw, and a finger just under its bottom jaw. Even without pulling, it's often just enough to keep the lamb's head coming forward as you pull on the front leg/s.

 

[sheepwise]

To be honest, no I don't think it would.

The stiff wire of the snare allows it to be pushed forwards over the ears in a way that something flexible wouldn't.

I've been able to essentially "hook" an ear with it a time or two when it would have been much more difficult to have to feed something flexible around the ear.

I mean the plastic coated washing line rope. Also easy to clean/disinfect.

 

[Woolless]

I mean the plastic coated washing line rope. Also easy to clean/disinfect.

Never used it but I can see how it would work very well

 

[neilo]

Used to always carry a loop of baler twine in my pocket, but when lambs went up in value a few years back, I invested in a length of nylon starter cord and tied it in a loop.
It's a sad day if I ever lose my precious and have to buy a new bit, and I was over the moon to find an old one in a stubble turnip field a few months ago (must have gone out with the muck there 3 years ago).

I've never disinfected one though, just rinse in a water bucket and away you go.