The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: ScotsGirl on June 28, 2014, 07:35:04 am
-
If I can catch the rest of my black welsh I wanted to wean the lambs off as already taken commercial types away. Is 13 weeks too early? I normally leave them nearer 4-5 months but a couple were late lambing and it would be easier to separate all together rather than leaving 2 lambs to catch in a few weeks.
-
I wean my BWM ewe lambs (last years ewe lambs that lambed this year I mean :)) before 14 weeks. This year I'm weaning this weekend which means an age span of 10-17 weeks (had one very late lamb, otherwise it'd be about 12-17). All depends on the CS of the ewes really and whatever matches your management style, i.e removing ram lambs etc, or whatever time you have some really good grass to put the lambs onto. I've left them much longer in the past but I didn't see it made much difference.
If your lambs seem big and strong enough and aren't calling for their mum's milk very often now then you should be ok, otherwise I'd be tempted to leave it a bit longer.
-
Its a good answer above but as discussed on a recent thread anything down to 8 weeks can be fine in certain circumstances. Mine were away from their mums younger than your lot this year with no problems
-
Great thanks. Will be much easier to do now. Failed miserably last night and only managed to take two and as one of each there is now one black in each group of whites and they are calling like mad. Must be driving my neighbours mad! :fc: I can find some better helpers today. Got a bad knee so can't run and they know it.
-
We wean in August. This then gives us a few weeks drying off period, then a good few flushes before tupping.