The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Bionic on April 28, 2013, 10:43:49 am

Title: My big boy
Post by: Bionic on April 28, 2013, 10:43:49 am
Just weighed my first born, Taffy, for his Vecoxan dose. He is 5 and a half weeks old and weighs 16.6 kilos.
He is a sturdy little fella and I am very proud of him.
 
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on April 28, 2013, 10:46:27 am
Cor! Look at him!! a credit to you! I don't think my shetlands get that meaty...well...ever! :excited:
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Blinkers on April 28, 2013, 11:14:33 am
Nice lookin chap  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Marlboro on April 28, 2013, 05:03:59 pm
He's lovely :)
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Buffy the eggs layer on April 28, 2013, 06:18:45 pm
He is lovely. What do you weigh him with? I rigged up a sling for my lambies using my hay scale but it only goes up to 2 stones and they were way over that by week 3!
I am thinking of holding them in my arms and standing on the bathroom scales but they are 4 and half weeks now and getting rather big. I wont be able to lift them much longer.
 
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: kanisha on April 28, 2013, 06:50:39 pm
He's lovely! :thumbsup:
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Mammyshaz on April 28, 2013, 08:21:13 pm
A big handsome boy  :love:
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: allyb on April 28, 2013, 08:22:38 pm
Put one of our zwartble lambs in weight crate today 8 weeks old and 33kgs. :)
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: MAK on April 28, 2013, 08:30:06 pm
Blimee - what are these sheep eating? Great weight gains for their age. Imagine if our children had grown so quickly.
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Pedwardine on April 28, 2013, 11:15:14 pm
Flippin' 'eck he's a big lovely bugger. Hope he continues growing well for you.
We used to do the bathroom scales thing but now have a hanging scale with a harness attachment that goes up to 25kg. Mind you the harness doesn't look THAT adjustable. After that it's the weighing crate we use.
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Bionic on April 29, 2013, 08:21:58 am
He is lovely. What do you weigh him with? I rigged up a sling for my lambies using my hay scale but it only goes up to 2 stones and they were way over that by week 3!
I am thinking of holding them in my arms and standing on the bathroom scales but they are 4 and half weeks now and getting rather big. I wont be able to lift them much longer.
Buffy, I did use the bathroom scales. Weighed myself first in the stable yard then picked him up, which is no mean feat, and got the right weight. I think its the last time I will be able to do it with him though as he is getting very heavy and is at the stage where he doesn't want to co-operate anymore
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Buffy the eggs layer on April 29, 2013, 09:51:33 am
Mine like to eat anthing that they shouldnt so I better get the scales out and weigh them before they are too heavy to lift!
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Bionic on April 29, 2013, 10:00:43 am
Love those pics Buffy  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Buffy the eggs layer on April 29, 2013, 10:07:14 am
Thanks Bionic,
                    I hope your big boy grows into a super big registered ram. Will you take him to some local shows and see how he compares? I would like to take a couple of mine just for the experience. Will have to see if they are good enough as they grow.
                   
 
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Bionic on April 29, 2013, 05:21:40 pm
Buffy, I would take him to a show but I haven't got a clue where to start. Do you have any info for me?
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: kaz on April 29, 2013, 07:27:57 pm
Try the local Carmarthenshire shows. I'm sure there is someone out there who shows locally to you. Dot might even have a list if you ask her nicely.
If you show him in a Ryeland Class he has to be registered as far as I know.
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Buffy the eggs layer on April 29, 2013, 08:49:43 pm
You can enter him in a ram lamb class though many of the ram lambs are fed a significant amount of feed so some of them might be a bit bigger than your chap especially if they were born a month or so earlier.
You need to get him used to walking on a halter and to standing before you and being handled if he isnt already. You may want to do a bit of tidying and trimming of his fleece as it grows. If you show him in around the end of July and August then he should be a good size and weight with enough fleece to shampoo and style.
Check out the closing date for entries in the show of your choice and remember to complete your movement paperwork on the day. My suggestion would be to visit an early show in May time if poss and chat to the sheep exhibitors for tips and advice.
Most importantly...relax and have fun!
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Greenmoor on April 30, 2013, 02:22:47 pm
Beautiful pics!
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Fronhaul on May 01, 2013, 02:26:50 pm
St Clears YFC is at the Carmarthen showground on 18th May if that helps. 
Title: Re: My big boy
Post by: Bionic on May 01, 2013, 02:28:13 pm
Thanks for the info Fronhaul but I think I will need more time than that to get my head round the idea.