The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: morri2 on January 16, 2011, 04:32:35 pm
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Had a phone call whilst having a very rare lunch to say there was a LAMB in my field. :o Ewes not due to lamb until 1st week of April. But sure enough, one of my ewes has had a lovely robust little ram lamb. I thought she was looking a bit fat and thought it was me overfeeding!! How did this happen so early?? Well, must have left my last ram lambs in the field with their mums too long I think. Have to make sure none of the others are due to drop now too. Still, its lovely to have a new arrival. Stops me feeling too left out when I read about everyone else's when were not due to have any for another two and a half months! :D
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No worrying, no intervention, just a healthy lamb. Congratulations!
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oops ;D well done mum :sheep:
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Congratulations!
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Do you know when you took out the last ram lambs? if no more lambs by that date + in-lamb time.... But this little one will not have had a Heptavac booster? I would possibly worry, and make sure he gets the full course as soon as possible (it may actually fit in with the ewes' booster!)
Anyway, congratulations, if only all the lambings would go that easy.....
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Snap, same thing here last week. have come to the same conclusion ram lambs left to long.
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ohh fantastic
I wish my first had gone that smoothly, do you think you will have any others
andy
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i found a baby rabbit in my pregnant does nest a week before she was due, and it was a few moments before i realised it had escaped from the neighbouring mums run. ;D ;D that was a slight shock too ;D ;D
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It's a wonder she didn't kill it, PP! ::)
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Looks like another one, possibly two due to go today (groan!!). Not sure about the second one because I can't get hold of her but she looks very wet and dirty around the rear end so waters could have gone. Have just have to call OH out of work to help me move them to the field next to the house - they are on rented land three miles away at the moment. At least its not raining now but there's mud everywhere. Really must get my timing right when I move the lambs out next time. ::) I note I'm not on my own there!!! :D
Anke, yes, you're right, I'll have to get the Heptavac organised, although I've not quite got my head around that one yet.
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Hi Morri2. Can you remember what age your ram lambs were when you separated them from the ewes? I always suggest that 4 months is about right, but it would be interesting to have some evidence, at least as to when is too late ;D Hope you get them home and settled ok.
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Hi! Fleecewife, they were five months or so and were mounting the ewes, which alerted us to the fact they had to be moved - quick!! Obviously not quick enough though - another little ewe lamb arrived earlier today, managed to get hold of OH via the people he was working for who kindly lent him their stock trailer as ours was stuck in the mud, so we managed to get the two of the 'suspect' ewes home. Don't think the second one is due to go though - looks like she just has a dirty rear end. Hope that's it now, until lambing proper, in April.
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I guess this also depends on the breed of sheep you keep, my shetland ewes did not come into season until well in November, they were the last ones to be tupped. The txl crosses were all done early in November.
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Yes, we started with Jacobs and that is when we decided on 4 months - keen little devils they were :o We haven't had any problems so far with the primitives - sometimes the first born tup lambs can be nearly 5 months when we take them out, but I always worry there will be consequences ;D After your experiences Morri2 I will make sure they all come out at 4 months. Still, lambs - how lovely !!
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It's a wonder she didn't kill it, PP! ::)
i know. but she had it all cosied up in the hay, and was rather suprised herself, she had an expression on her face like - "its nothing to do with me!!"
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Yep!! 4 months definitely next time. Looks like its only the two for now. At least its two less for the next session. :wave:
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Any reason why you didn't castrate? Means you don't have to force wean them just because you are worried about them working.
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Hi Morri, yep I'm still here. Been distracted a little recently. Watching the forums but not posting much. Polls are doing well thanks. Have three lovely ewe lambs from last spring that I plan to get rid of if you hear of anyone looking on Hampshire. I can sell them easily to a big breeded but they would be great for a small starter flock. Very friendly.
Spring seems to be around the corner, Hazel is nearly in flower and the bees keep leaving the hive. Even sawa hedgehog the other night. I think we may be in for a shock though
Hope all good with you. How's the lamb and ewe?
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Hello again! Lamb and ewe improved greatly last day or so, thank goodness. No signs of spring just yet here. We're a bit behind you guys down there, probably by about 2 weeks or so. Only just getting snowdrops peeping through the frozen soil at the moment. At least the sun is shining.
I hope you find a suitable home for the ewe lambs, I'm afraid I don't have any contacts your way, spent all my life in Wales! I rarely sell my lambs, ewes or rams until they are over a year old and, like you, I prefer to sell them to smallholders due to their friendly nature. I've got four Bowmonts now too - they are in lamb to a Dorset ram this year, but hopefully I'll sort out a Bowmont ram for next season.
All the best, Caroline :wave: