The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: NewLifeOnTheFarm on April 01, 2019, 03:39:50 pm
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Hi all, lambing finally started for us over weekend. 2 weeks later than planned but better late than never! Was just wondering when people let well bonded ewes and lambs rejoin the flock? Have 2 very well bonded 3 day olds that I think are ready, but the weather is looking poor next few days, so I wondered if it's ok to let them out into the barn with the rest of the pregnant ewes?
Thanks
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Mine go out with the others at 48hrs for experienced ewes and a day later for first time mums.
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They are better off outside so long as mothered up okay. If you’re worried about the weather you can always pop a plastic lamb mac on them. All of my lambs went out in dicey wind and rain this year with macs on and all were fine. If the weather turns and is nasty, don’t check the ewes as they will normally have the lambs tucked into a hedge and going to check them normally disturbs the ewes.
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What breed? Experienced ewes? Any first-timers in the flock they will be rejoining, any hoggs? Good natural shelter for them outside?
I don’t disagree with what others have said, but some breeds, and some mothers, can be very iffy about the plastic macs, and they would be unnecessary on many breeds by 3 days old, especially if there is adequate natural shelter - rushes, trees, hedgerows, walls, etc.
Young sheep, especially hoggs, can be complete idiots around lambs for the first time. I had an innocent pregnant ewe killed in a fracas caused by some giddy hoggs meeting lambs for the first time :'(.
And whereabouts are you? There’s poor weather, and then there’s Cumbria and north of it... ;)
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I'd prefer to put them out in the field than in a barn with loads of in lamb ewes. I like to have mine penned up together for 24-48hrs so I can keep an eye on them and then turn them into a 'communal' pen of ewes and lambs, when it gets to 4-6 ewes and lambs that are well bonded, I turn them out together.
Their all individuals so first time or inattentive mums stay in the communal pen for longer, singles with experienced mums might only have a few hours to bond before going out if the weather is nice.
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I'd prefer to put them out in the field than in a barn with loads of in lamb ewes. I like to have mine penned up together for 24-48hrs so I can keep an eye on them and then turn them into a 'communal' pen of ewes and lambs, when it gets to 4-6 ewes and lambs that are well bonded, I turn them out together.
Their all individuals so first time or inattentive mums stay in the communal pen for longer, singles with experienced mums might only have a few hours to bond before going out if the weather is nice.
I found my ewes too rough with other lambs in communal pens, so they spend an extra 24 hrs in the individual pens before going straight out from there. They are so fiercely maternal they need plenty of space and the communal pens couldn’t provide that.
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I found my ewes too rough with other lambs in communal pens, so they spend an extra 24 hrs in the individual pens before going straight out from there. They are so fiercely maternal they need plenty of space and the communal pens couldn’t provide that.
I think some breeds are better than others, I found Kerry Hill and Lleyn are usually ok, although some of the wilder Kerry Hill had a tendency to trample the lambs if you got into the pen with them. Welsh mountain and their crosses were a nightmare, I have a crossbred now that I need to keep separate when she has lambs, even then she will butt the hurdles if another ewe gets to close! Lleyn are just so easy!
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I found my ewes too rough with other lambs in communal pens, so they spend an extra 24 hrs in the individual pens before going straight out from there. They are so fiercely maternal they need plenty of space and the communal pens couldn’t provide that.
I think some breeds are better than others, I found Kerry Hill and Lleyn are usually ok, although some of the wilder Kerry Hill had a tendency to trample the lambs if you got into the pen with them. Welsh mountain and their crosses were a nightmare, I have a crossbred now that I need to keep separate when she has lambs, even then she will butt the hurdles if another ewe gets to close! Lleyn are just so easy!
Mine are Lleyn :roflanim: easy but send each others lambs flying >:(
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I'm Aberdeenshire, and looks like snow tomorrow. They are Shetlands, mixed ages. I always let all the expectant ewes out in to paddock in front of barn during day, so today have let them ewes and lambs loose in the barn, which they are loving. Will re-pen them later, maybe into a separate communal pen together, but separate to others when I bring them in tonight. Weather looks set to settle again after Thursday so will start letting them out then. Makes me nervous, they look so small!
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have you tried lamb Macs? they work brilliantly in this weather
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all mine are out now
i have a seperate area with poly tunnel that i close them in on a night so they have access to shelter through the night
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Mine have to learn about electric fencing from the start, so I put each family out individually or with one other in a little paddock with electric fencing so I can keep an eye on them for a few hours- then either in overnight or into bigger paddock... I found the plastic macs really helpful this year ... but I only have a few as a hobby so maybe I have more time per family as those who have to do it more commercially
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Agree with electric fence. I lamb in December but if the weather is nice, bring the fat mums up the field where I can see them and use EF, 2 strands to keep them there. They've learnt over the years, used to use 4! Always in at night. Wherever they lamb, they then go into a small pen to be together. If nice, they go out for the day. Usually the lambs stay with the mums, some have wandered and those daft enough to touch the fence yell! I keep the fencer on double power to help them learn! Couple of clouts and then they stay with mum and fresh grass. I never put them back with in lambers. I usually put them into another pen big enough for several ewes and lambs and they make friends like that.