SUMMARY: A number of 237 Barki ewes of 2, 3, 4 and 6 years of age and weighing 25–45 kg were put under close observation so as to study the subjective and objective aspects of their behaviour during parturition.During the choice and preparation of the parturition site ingestive behaviour ceased and an investigatory behaviour took place using the visual and olfactory senses. Ewes showed preference for the less illuminated and less disturbed places. They pawed the chosen spots with their hooves so as to prepare them for parturition. The parturient behaviour was characterized by signs of uneasiness and of pain, which increased gradually until the lamb's expulsion.The overall average pre-partum time of labour was 46·1 plusmn; 1·6 min. The 2-year-old ewes took longer to give birth than older ones. The pre-partum labour was not significantly affected by body weights of ewes. The overall average duration of the post-partum labour was 143·27 min. Age and weight of ewes had no significant effect on the duration of the post-partum labour. Births were not evenly distributed over the period of observation.