Lambing 101
Lambing season can be both exciting and nerve-wracking — especially when it’s your first year. I remember stressing about whether my sheep were even pregnant — probably because we struggle with getting pregnant ourselves! There are so many questions and anxieties during this time, so I hope this honest, down-to-earth guide helps answer yours.
How to Prepare for Lambing Season
Provide Year-Round Nutrition
Start by giving your ewes the right nutrition well before breeding season. One of the most important things is loose minerals. Try to avoid salt blocks, which can damage their teeth and often don’t provide enough essential nutrients.
We use a mix of:
- Free-choice baking soda (helps prevent bloat — and yes, it works on human heartburn too!)
- Sheep-specific loose minerals
- A small amount of goat minerals (This is only for Icelandic Sheep. They need a bit more copper than most breeds)
- Kelp
- Free-choice baking soda (helps prevent bloat — and yes, it works on human heartburn too!)
Also make sure they are receiving quality hay such as alfalfa or grass or a mix. We like a mix and then straight alfalfa during milking season.
Count the Days
Once you’ve introduced the ram to your ewes, mark your calendar. Lambing typically occurs around 144–147 days later. That date gives you time to prepare stalls, gather supplies, and breathe a little easier knowing you’re ready.
We will count the days from when we put the ram in and it also is about two weeks later. If this is you too don’t panic. The chances of your ewes ovulating at the exact time you place the ram in with them isn’t likely, but he will get the job done in the next two months. At least he should.
You may also want to deworm your ewes with ivermectin about a month before lambing. This helps prevent your lambs from getting any parasites from mom.
Pro Tip: Studies have shown with cows if you feed them in the evening around 7pm they are more likely to give birth during the day. This is because they are eating and digesting their food at night. So we put this to the test with our sheep. The last two years we fed them in the evening (at least a two weeks before lambing) and every single one of them had their babies during the daylight hours.
Setting Up Jug Stalls
Jug stalls (aka lambing pens) are where ewes give birth and bond with their lambs. If you know your ewes and see the signs move them into this area. They should be:
- 5′ x 5′ minimum (4′ x 4′ in a pinch). We like ours 5×8. It gives us enough room to get in there and help if need be and gives the ewe some space to get comfortable.
- Dry, draft-free, and covered
- Made with fencing panels, wood pallets, or whatever works to keep mom and baby cozy
- Fresh clean straw
And if she gives birth in the compost pile? It happens! Just move her and the lamb to a clean stall and dip the umbilical cord in iodine right away.
Essential Lambing Supplies
While nature usually takes the lead, having the right gear on hand can be a game-changer. Here’s our go-to list:
- Colostrum (powdered, frozen, or milked from the ewe)
- Syringe and feeding tube
- Bottles and lamb nipples
- Milk replacer (sheep-specific)
- Clean towels
- Long gloves & lube (for birth assistance if needed)
- Iodine (umbilical cord care)
- Heat lamp or warm box for chilled lambs
Pro tip: Keep everything in a designated lambing tote so it’s easy to grab when you’re racing to the barn at 2 a.m.
The goal is to let the mother do as much as possible, but life happens and sometimes mother nature needs some help.
Signs a Ewe Is About to Lamb
This will very per ewe
Physical Changes
- Udder: Swollen and firm with full teats
- Vulva: Red, puffy, and stretched
- Pelvis: Hips sink, belly drops low
Behavioral Changes
- Separating from the flock
- Pawing at the ground
- Lying down and getting up often
- Stretching neck or curling lips (yes, that’s a sign!)
- They will also start licking their lips especially if they have lambed before.
Other Signs
- Mucus discharge
- Visible water bag
- Seeking privacy (aka “jugging”)
- A weird one is if you have other pregnant ewes around they will swarm the poor ewe trying to give birth. They will sniff her. This may not happen in all flocks, but it happens in ours.
Understanding the Stages of Labor
Stage One: Dilation (3–6 hours)
The ewe may seem restless and uncomfortable. This stage involves cervical dilation.
Stage Two: Delivery (30–90 minutes)
This is when the lamb is being born. Once pushing begins, things usually move quickly. If she strains for over 2 hours with no progress, call a vet or assist with gloves. I typically know before 2 hours I need to jump in. If the baby head is out but hasn’t budged in 5 minutes I make sure the nasal is unblocked so the lamb can breath. After 15-30 minutes I access the situation and help if needed.
Birth order: If there are twins or triplets, expect 15 minutes to an hour between each.
Aftercare:
- Ensure lamb is breathing (clear nose/mouth). You can use a clean piece of stray and tickle the inside of it’s nose.
- Let the mother lick her lamb clean
- Dip the umbilical cord in iodine
- Make sure lambs nurse within the first 24 hours
Let her eat the placenta — gross, but it helps with bonding and recovery.
Post-Birth: Jug Time and Reintroduction
Keep ewe and lamb(s) in the jug for:
- 24 hours for singles or twins
- 48 hours or more for triplets
This allows bonding, rest, and supervision. I weigh each lamb at birth and daily for the first few days, then weekly for about 40 days to track growth and milk intake.
I like to keep my mothers who have lambed together and the ewes who haven’t apart from each other. There are a lot of hormones going on and the mothers who are expecting will sometimes allow new lambs to drink their babies milk. Some mothers will even try to take over, so that is why I like to keep them separated so no one gets confused.
Common Lambing Complications
1. Dystocia
Difficult labor, often from large lambs or small pelvises. You may need to reposition or assist.
2. Malpresentation
A lamb arrives backward, sideways, or with legs tucked. Watch for stalled labor, and don’t hesitate to call an experienced shepherd or vet.
We had this happen this year. One of our lamb rams only presented with one hoof and head. Luckily, we had some help and we were able to maneuver the baby out safely.
Tip: Learn the correct birthing positions ahead of time so you’re not googling in a panic.
Why I Love Lambing Season
Lambing is my favorite time of year. It’s messy, beautiful, unpredictable, and incredibly rewarding. Seeing a ewe bond with her newborn or watching wobbly-legged lambs take their first steps is pure magic.
Yes, it’s hard. Yes, it’s emotional. But it’s also a time of hope and new beginnings.
If you’re looking to deepen your knowledge, I highly recommend Storey’s Guide to Raising Sheep. I don’t get paid to say that — I just really like the book and used it nonstop my first few years.
Also if you are looking for an amazing breed we have a post all about our Icelandic Sheep. I hope you the best of luck during this lambing season!
Let’s Hear From You!
Have questions? Need advice on a tricky lambing situation? Or maybe you’ve just finished your first season and want to share your story?
Drop your thoughts in the comments — I’d love to hear how your lambing season is going.
