Poor Roxy has used another of her lives today. We were worried about her as she got massive, a clear sign that she was carrying twins, unusual for Ryelands. A couple of days ago she was going through the pre birth behaviours, isolating herself, nesting, walking round in circles and so we waited. And waited.
The bag of fluid came out, usually followed by the lamb, but it didn't follow. The bag went back inside. We waited, she ate, slept and behaved like all was well. Yesterday two bags fell out, twins then, but nothing happened. It got to the point where yours truly had to do the James Herriot bit and put my hand inside and have a feel around for the lamb. Poor Roxy grunted at the intrusion, but no sign of life could be found. We waited.
This morning the white fluid in the bags was red, or black and she had her head down. There was a smell, of bad things. Fearing the worst the vet was summonsed. He diagnosed our worst fears, Roxy was carrying dead twins. Even the vet had trouble getting the poor mites out, it seems they had been dead for days, and were massive, seriously bigger than Berry who is now over a week old. How Roxy our smallest ewe carried two such massive fully formed lambs is a wonder, as is the fact she is still alive. The vet spent an hour fishing bits out of her and washing her insides out with iodine solution. The end result is that she just might make it. More TLC is being lavished on her, we have had Roxy almost as long as we have been here so despite the fact she has a serious death wish we are very fond of her.
She is up on her feet, drinking her pink medicine but its still only 50 50 that she will make it. We have done all we can, lets hope the small god of Ryelands does his/her part.
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