[Hillview Farm]

I've got two girls scanned empty. I put them back with the rams for the winter to keep them out the way and if they lamb they lamb but either way they would be going at some point once it was clear if they are in lamb or not.

One was cycling regularly and the other no signs at all. Split them from the rams about 3 weeks ago and they look huge and the udder on one more than the other is altering in the udder.

I've never had barren animals before so no idea what a ewe  who is laying fat down in her udder looks like and how long It would take to do so.

Anyone want to share some experiences?

[Me]

When a daddy sheep and a mummy sheep love each other very much etc etc they are in lamb!

[Hillview Farm]

But they were scanned empty so maybe they had IVF treatment?

[Azzdodd]

When did they scan empty I had one lamb last week who scanned empty

[Me]

Why could they not have got in lamb post-scan in with the boys?

[Hellybee]

Perhaps they were a little early to pick up the scan x

[Backinwellies]

when did you put in with rams 'for winter'?  ....  Ewe's lamb in June ... so must be fertile till Feb?

[Hillview Farm]

They were scanned the 30th of December and put out with the rams on the 3rd of January so would be due next weekend.  I thought  as I saw one being tupped over and over again. I just thought they were incorrectly working.

[sabrina]

Not a sheep but I know a Shetland pony mare who was 12 years old before she had her first foal. She never took to a stallion but ran with one over the winter and bang one very surprised owner. the only foal this mare had.

[Me]

See if you can knock the lamb, gently push your fingers into the belly to the side of the udder and rock your hand back and fore, if something hard knocks your fingers its a lamb - or the sheep has eaten a shopping trolley, suit of armour, tyre etc

[trish.farm]

I had 2 ewes that were barren for 3 years.  Used to leave them with the ram all winter.   After the 3rd winter of "keeping the old boy company" they both lambed in June!!  Nowt such thing as a barren ewe!!

[Porterlauren]

So far had one lamb from an 'empty' ewe lamb at scanning, and another I'm 99% sure is on the way. Also the only older ewe that scanned empty (and has been keeping Boris the ram company on some rough grazing) is looking a wee bit questionable. . . . . but a long way off. Not really too much of a problem, but lambs in august are a pain in the arse!

[Hillview Farm]

Pain in the arse due to flies or just because they are out of sync? 

[Porterlauren]

Both, but more the former.

[Bramblecot]

I let a 'barren ewe' run with the ram last winter (she was destined for the freezer otherwise and I liked her too much).  When she lambed on 10 July I worked out the tupping had been on St Valentine's day  .  I fretted all summer about flies though