Is this Ewe Pregnant??

[Aschuchert]

We acquired 6 sheep 6 weeks ago.
The more I learn the more I think this Dorper/st Criox mix is pregnant. See attached pic.
We are in AZ, and read these breeds can have out of season lambs...
With no experience we are on a fast learning curve.
We and beginning homesteaders, not planning on paying for a vet for every darn thing, so please don't just say 'call a vet to do a sonogram'.
Seen pregnancy blood tests for early detection for sale, but dont know if they'll work if shes 2 - 3 months in. Any advice?

We call her old momma at 4+ yrs, her 2 yr old daughter is to the left.
The ram is a non related full dorper, also 3 spring lambs we plan on processing in a month.
We separated the rams, but only 2 weeks ago, she looks further along... or just fat from the alfalfa diet the previous owner had them on.... sigh.

 

[cassie]

She either is or she isn't. Does it really matter if she is pregnant or not? My experience is with dairy goats and not sheep, but I suspect a lot of the pregnancy indications would be the same. Watch the top of the rear udder where it joins the body. It will start to fill and change at that point. If you get udder development, she is pregnant. With goats, you don't see much in the way of udder development until the last two months.

 

[Aschuchert]

Well, yes in fact there are things we need to do and consider.
We are new to the homestead, have no barn or shed for protection, are on flood irrigation, she cant have it a field that will have 8 to 12" of untreated water possibly that same night....
We've never had ruminants, so dont have any of basic supplies to help with birth, umbilical cords, all that.
We are reading up on it, but I'd prefer to have 5 months to get up to speed.
Also, we were hoping to breed her in a month... will a ram possibly hurt her if shes already pregnant??
Just a few of my first few thoughts...

 

[cassie]

If she is pregnant the buck won't try to breed her. You will be seeing obvious signs of pregnancy if she is indeed pregnant. You can make a temporary pen out of livestock panels or pallets. Some 7% tincture of iodine is needed to dip the navel to prevent infection and you should probably have some BoSe to give the lamb to prevent white muscle.

 

[sassychickens76]

Did she have a lamb?