Lambing Season Checklist for Sheep and Goats: Step by Step
A lambing season checklist for sheep and goats: due dates, lambing pens, the lambing kit, colostrum and when to call the vet, so you lose fewer newborn lambs.
To prepare for lambing, work out due dates from mating dates (about 147 days for sheep, 150 for goats), set up clean, dry lambing pens, pack a lambing kit, secure a colostrum supply, plan night checks and keep your vet's number ready. Then record every birth on the day: dam, number of lambs, weight and condition.
Most newborn losses happen in the first few days, and many are prevented by preparation rather than treatment: a lamb that did not get colostrum in time, a cold night, or a ewe that lost her lamb in a crowded pen. This checklist takes you from a month before the season to the end of the first week after birth.
Four to six weeks before lambing
Work out the lambing window. Gestation is about 147 days in sheep (roughly 142 to 152) and about 150 days in goats (145 to 155). If you know when the ram went in and when he came out, you know the first and last expected birth dates. More detail in gestation periods for sheep, goats and camels.
Sort the pregnant ewes. Move ewes close to lambing into their own group near the house, and separate expected twins if you have scanning results.
Review the ration. The last weeks of pregnancy are when the foetus grows fastest. A ewe carrying twins that is underfed is at risk of pregnancy toxaemia and of weak lambs. Raise ration quality gradually with advice from a nutritionist.
Check the vaccination plan. Some vaccines are given to the dam before lambing so that immunity reaches the lamb through colostrum. Type and timing are set by your local vet or the ministry schedule, so arrange this with your vet before the season.
Pens and equipment
- Individual lambing pens where a ewe stays with her lambs for one to three days so they bond. About one pen for every 8 to 10 ewes is usually enough for a compact season.
- Clean, dry bedding changed between ewes.
- Protection from draughts and night cold, and from direct sun by day in hot regions.
- Clean water near every pen; ewes drink a lot after lambing.
- Good lighting for night checks.
The lambing kit
| Item | Use |
|---|---|
| Long and short disposable gloves | Hygienic examination and assistance |
| Clean lubricant gel | Assisting without injuring the ewe |
| Navel disinfectant recommended by your vet | Treating the umbilical cord after birth |
| Clean towels | Drying and warming the lamb |
| Clean lambing ropes | Helping a stuck lamb, ideally under guidance |
| Bottle and stomach tube, frozen colostrum or replacer | Feeding a lamb that will not suck |
| Thermometer and small scale | Monitoring weak lambs |
| Ear tags and numbers, notebook or phone | Identifying and recording straight away |
| Your vet's phone number | Difficult births |
Lambing day: when to step in and when to call the vet
Signs that birth is near: a swelling udder, a relaxed pelvis, the ewe moving away from the flock, restlessness and getting up and down, then the water bag appears. Most births need no help, and stepping in too early does more harm than good.
Step in or get help if:
- Strong straining continues for about 30 to 60 minutes with no progress.
- The water bag has appeared or burst and a similar time passes without a lamb.
- You see a head with no legs, a single leg, or only a tail (abnormal presentation).
- The ewe is exhausted, weak, feverish or has a foul-smelling discharge.
If you are not experienced at correcting presentations, do not keep trying: call the vet. Force and long delays harm both ewe and lamb.
The first hours: colostrum comes first
- Clear the lamb's mouth and nose, check it is breathing, and let the ewe lick it.
- Disinfect the navel with the product your vet recommends.
- Make sure it gets colostrum as soon as possible, ideally within the first few hours of life. The gut's ability to absorb antibodies from colostrum falls quickly as the hours pass.
- Check the udder: milk on both sides? Teats open?
- Watch twins: a ewe sometimes accepts one lamb and ignores the other.
- Keep ewe and lambs in the individual pen for one to three days, then move them to a small group before the main flock.
A weak, cold or non-sucking lamb needs warming and colostrum by bottle or tube; tube feeding should only be done by someone trained. If scours or general weakness appears in several lambs, call your vet straight away.
Recording: next season starts now
Any birth not recorded on the day loses its details within a week. For each lambing record: dam, date, number of lambs (single, twins, triplets), sex, weight if possible, sire, and any assistance or death.
In Throf a ewe moves automatically into the "close to birth" stage based on her mating date, so you know which ewes to watch this week. You then record the birth from your phone in the pen, linking the lamb to its dam and sire and giving it a number and tag colour. By the end of the season you have a clear report: lambs per ewe, losses and their causes, and which dams need attention. Those figures drive next season's decisions, including raising the twinning rate and the timing of weaning.
FAQ
How long is a sheep pregnant?
About 147 days on average, ranging roughly from 142 to 152 days depending on breed and litter size. Goats average about 150 days.
When should a newborn lamb get colostrum?
As soon as possible after birth, ideally within the first few hours, because absorption of antibodies from colostrum drops quickly over time.
When should I call the vet during lambing?
If strong straining lasts about 30 to 60 minutes with no progress, if the presentation is abnormal and you cannot correct it, or if the ewe is exhausted or feverish.
How long should a ewe stay in the lambing pen?
Usually one to three days, until the bond with her lambs is secure and every lamb is sucking well.
General guidance only — it does not replace your veterinarian or the competent authority in your country.
