The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Blackbird on September 19, 2012, 07:46:42 pm

Title: Fat and feisty sheep?
Post by: Blackbird on September 19, 2012, 07:46:42 pm: I wormed my tiny flock last Thursday and moved them on Sunday from fairly sparse grass (hay aftermath) onto better ground - not all that long and lush, as the ponies have been on it. They've all been scoffing away and the 3 GFDs are steadily gaining condition - including my poor lamb who last week was scouring to the point where I thought I'd lose him (lament in a separate thread).

I managed to catch and check my other 2 - a Shetland ewe lamb and Heb wether lamb and they are like barrels! They are both lively, but the Shetland is boinging and pogo-ing around the paddock like a baby lamb (she is about 5 months old) and challenging all comers to a head butting contest before springing off again, despite being by far the smallest sheep! They aren't more swollen to the left side than the right and are so lively I'm guessing it's not bloat - just full of it and happy? Is she cycling and flirty? I've never seen her behave like this and very curious.!
Title: Re: Fat and feisty sheep?
Post by: in the hills on September 19, 2012, 08:10:24 pm: My Soay, lambs and mums, have been really frisky this week. Butting, chasing, bouncing like Bambi and running everywhere.

I wondered whether they could be starting to cycle, too. ???
Title: Re: Fat and feisty sheep?
Post by: Mallows Flock on September 21, 2012, 12:37:19 pm: Mine do the springing and rub against the other ewes a lot then butt them when they are coming into cycle. Minxes! :D
Title: Re: Fat and feisty sheep?
Post by: Blackbird on September 21, 2012, 01:04:03 pm: Aha! the wee strumpet, that'll be it then-she's also rubbing up against the boys (all wethers) and wondering why she's not getting any response! Given the risks of proximity to rams discussed in another thread, I'm glad she's 2 paddocks away from my sheep farmer neighbour's Kerry Hill ram! Mind you, he's been in with their ewes for weeks and so far only 1 has a crayon mark.
Title: Re: Fat and feisty sheep?
Post by: Mallows Flock on September 21, 2012, 01:37:04 pm: My ram has only crayoned one so far..... this could be either because a) he got the others before I got the raddle on b) the others haven't cycled yet. Lasy year mine came in late Sept and esrly oct so I am guessing the latter there!
Title: Re: Fat and feisty sheep?
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on September 21, 2012, 03:34:03 pm: Weirdly one of my geese has started laying eggs again which Ive never had before in the autumn!