The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: ScotsGirl on November 27, 2011, 10:44:11 pm

Title: Bagging Up - how early?
Post by: ScotsGirl on November 27, 2011, 10:44:11 pm

I have two pedigree Suffolks which we bought in lamb.  They are due mid January supposedly but for the past couple of weeks there udders have shown signs of bagging up, one today probably about a quarter of size I would expect at lambing.  Teats are huge on both!

I am now doubting the due date. Does anyone know what the earliest this should happen?  Both vulvas look quite swollen but as they are dark skinned it is impossible to see how pink they are.  As shearlings I don't want to leave them out too late in case they get in trouble.

Title: Re: Bagging Up - how early?
Post by: feldar on November 28, 2011, 10:28:34 am

If they are bagging up a lot i would suspect an earlier due date but saying that we had an old girl who used to bag up weeks in advance of producing. keep an eye out for a string from the vulva and them doing the usual lambing things like not coming to the trough, staying in the corner of the field and getting up and down a lot.
Could you ask the previous owner if there was any chance they went to ram earlier than expected?

Title: Re: Bagging Up - how early?
Post by: daddymatty82 on November 28, 2011, 02:32:01 pm

about  a month of bagging up max  but could be as little as 7 days before dropping. if vulva has swollen up also id say max of 2 weeks maybe?  my betting is 7 days depending on size of bag? is it hard? teats sticking out to side?  how big are there bellies?  look for them laying down alot and star gazing  then your immanent of a birth. good luck i think you will get the lambs in the next week or 2. but i could be wrong. 

Title: Re: Bagging Up - how early?
Post by: ScotsGirl on November 30, 2011, 05:57:43 pm

Well teats would suckle a calf they are so big! I think I will call the bloke we got them from and ask if there was any chance of an accident.

My older ewes do bag up a good 4 weeks out but they have lambed 3 times, normally my first timers have very little to show until they lamb.

Thanks all

Title: Re: Bagging Up - how early?
Post by: feldar on November 30, 2011, 07:23:25 pm

I think you are wise to go back to the seller and ask.
Our shearlings don't usually show much udder first time sometimes they hardly bag up at all until almost ready to produce.
I would also be concerned that the teats on these are so big, the lambs might find it hard to suck them at first.
could these girls have lambed as lambs?

Title: Re: Bagging Up - how early?
Post by: ScotsGirl on November 30, 2011, 09:39:10 pm

Seems she must have been caught by first tup and due w/c 21st December!  Will need to bring in week before as Suffolks supposedly lamb early.  Definitely not lambed before just hope all goes smoothly.

Title: Re: Bagging Up - how early?
Post by: feldar on December 01, 2011, 09:28:57 am

Good luck!    i'm sure you'll be fine

Title: Re: Bagging Up - how early?
Post by: landroverroy on December 03, 2011, 08:41:52 pm

 :sheep: Looks like being a happy Christmas :thumbsup: