The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: novicesmallholder on January 14, 2013, 08:57:09 pm
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Hi all,
just about to start lambing again.
Is there a comprehensive list on this website to what's recommended to have in a lambing kit?
Regards,
Mark
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Scats and Mole Valley Farmers usually have a list or most smallholder books. There have been several posts on here with good lists but not sure how you find them. Supplies forSmallholders no doubt will get you everything you need.
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Lambing kits are on here - go to the top of the page, you'll find a search box - type in Lambing kit hit the magnifying icon the you need to hit/click the search forum button - mega info there - sorry kidding at the moment so no time to type list out - good luck on with your lambing.
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The list is as long or short as you want it to be, Hopefully, each lamb will pop out unaided and be looked after great by the ewe. (in an Ideal world)
there are certain items deemed to be "essential" and others for "Just in case" its how far you decide to stock up on the "just in case" equipment. Each person will have their own view on essential and nice to have's.
We have set up two basic lambing kits but also offer individual items - as there is no deinitive list of what you will or wont need.
Good luck
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Tim Tyne's book has a pretty comprehensive one.
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Tim Tyne's book has a pretty comprehensive one.
;D
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Thanks, the one on Scatts is very good. Had 75% of the items, but feel confident we will have what we need now ordered the rest.
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:wave:
Being new to lambing myself and only having 5 ewe's, I bought the small kit from Supplies for Smallholders.
I think it covers all the bases apart from castration rings (not sure I would be confident to do that first year anyway).
I'm sure I will be posting on here in a panic when the time comes ;D
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Does anyone know what the elasticator rings and ring applicator are for in the SFS lambing kit?
thanks
Sally
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Does anyone know what the elasticator rings and ring applicator are for in the SFS lambing kit?
thanks
Sally
Sally, they are for docking your lambs' tails and castrating your tup lambs. Do not attempt to work out how to do it on your own - get someone experienced to show you how and to check that you are doing it right.
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Agnes Winter's Lambing Techniques book has a good list too - plus instructions on how to make your own ropes.
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Does anyone know what the elasticator rings and ring applicator are for in the SFS lambing kit?
thanks
Sally
Sally, they are for docking your lambs' tails and castrating your tup lambs. Do not attempt to work out how to do it on your own - get someone experienced to show you how and to check that you are doing it right.
Sally I certainly wouldn't attempt either without experience but wonder if they need to be done anyway.
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Tails are generally docked where there is risk of flystrike - it's much harder to keep backsides clean, and much harder to see flystrike, when tails are long.
The problem with not castrating is the need to be able to keep tup and ewe lambs seperate - and the tup lambs away from their mums, too - later in the season. Even where you expect to be able to fatten all your lambs before their hormones kick in, there'll always be one or two go lame or sick and end up staying longer than you'd planned. Or, if you plan to sell them as stores before they get old enough to become hormonal, there'll be a disease outbreak and nothing will be able to be moved except direct to slaughter - it happened in 2001 and again in 2007.
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Does anyone know what the elasticator rings and ring applicator are for in the SFS lambing kit?
thanks
Sally
Sally, they are for docking your lambs' tails and castrating your tup lambs. Do not attempt to work out how to do it on your own - get someone experienced to show you how and to check that you are doing it right.
Sally I certainly wouldn't attempt either without experience but wonder if they need to be done anyway.
Hi Sally,
I have not yet come across a Ryeland that hasn't had it's tail docked as it is far easier to keep them clean. It must be done before they are 7days old, both tails and the other bits. On a ewe you must allow enough tail to cover both the vulva and the anus. It is a main requirement of the flock book society that they are covered. We allow just a bit more, to allow for growing. You don't need to do the ram lambs if they are going off to slaughter or you are going to sell on if they meet flock book standard, but you must be able to keep them apart from the girls when they get bigger.
A local farmer might help or even your vet. On their tail we make a mark with a crayon in the approx area that the ring is to go and then check & check again that it is in the right area. If you are unsure about doing this please get someone else to help.
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Karen, thanks for this info. We have a friendly farmer who we could persuade to help.
Sally
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Karen, thanks for this info. We have a friendly farmer who we could persuade to help.
Sally
If your friendly farmer lambs before you I would go and volunteer for a couple of days - it is incredible how much more relaxed you will be for your own lambing. And they can show you how to ring - both tails and balls.
Is there a lambing course you can go on?
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Sally - I know we're a bit away from you but we're lambing at the moment if you fancy a day up in Market Drayton...
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Does anyone know what the elasticator rings and ring applicator are for in the SFS lambing kit?
thanks
Sally
Sally, they are for docking your lambs' tails and castrating your tup lambs. Do not attempt to work out how to do it on your own - get someone experienced to show you how and to check that you are doing it right.
Sally I certainly wouldn't attempt either without experience but wonder if they need to be done anyway.
I don't do either. Because I lamb outdoors I interrupt ewe and lamb as little as possible, If I wasn't performance recording, I wouldn't bother catching them to tag them, but that is all I do.
Seems to work for me, I have very few mothering problems. I find entire rams finish quickly - although they are a management problem after weaning, and regular worm counts should stop scours before they start.
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shropshire blue, thankyou for the offer nut you are a bit too far away from me. I will see how busy the local farmer is and if he would mine me under his feet for a bit.
Sally