The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Declan on January 20, 2010, 04:46:32 pm

Title: What do you feed ewe lambs
Post by: Declan on January 20, 2010, 04:46:32 pm

I only have two zwartable ewe lambs born last spring and not put to the ram this year- maybe next year. Every tiem I go to the feed shop I forget what bag of food I got the previous time. I have a choice of 2- Hi-Lamb Champion Mix or Ewe mix.

I am told the ewe mix is more for breeding ewes and for finishing sheep. So I have been buying the Hi Lamb Champion mix. Am I buying the right stuff?

Declan

Title: Re: What do you feed ewe lambs
Post by: woollyval on January 20, 2010, 08:08:47 pm

Personally unless they have very little grass available or are thin or somesuch I would feed only good quality hay or silage/haylage.....as much as they can eat. They are not being fattened to finish nor are they carrying lambs so really do not need lots of concentrate feed!

Title: Re: What do you feed ewe lambs
Post by: shetlandpaul on January 20, 2010, 09:01:06 pm

but they do love it. good for taming them to come to you.

Title: Re: What do you feed ewe lambs
Post by: Declan on January 21, 2010, 10:50:20 am

They are getting hay but they do love the feed- when you go down the field they come running but when they see you with hay instead of the wee blue feed bucket they kinda stop look at you as if to say "huh- where's the bucket??" Then they walk away in a huff!!

Seriously I take it its not that important given they only get a little feed every day.

Declan

Title: Re: What do you feed ewe lambs
Post by: little blue on January 21, 2010, 06:03:18 pm

put the hay in the blue bucket?! or at least, some of it

Title: Re: What do you feed ewe lambs
Post by: shrekfeet on January 22, 2010, 10:37:47 am

Declan if money is no object then keep feeding them concentrates. Otherwise give them hay and take them some concentrates once in a while so you can keep a bond with them. Nothing more handy than sheep that will follow a bucket

Title: Re: What do you feed ewe lambs
Post by: morri2 on January 22, 2010, 10:47:03 am

I second that!!  VERY handy.

Title: Re: What do you feed ewe lambs
Post by: woollyval on January 22, 2010, 07:45:40 pm

I don't feed hard feed to my sheep that are not 'working' or fattening in winter.....however about once a week I take a handful of nuts in a bucket and rattle them and spread them around.....means I can always catch the blighters as they would kill for the nuts!!!

Title: Re: What do you feed ewe lambs
Post by: VSS on January 23, 2010, 01:18:16 pm

Nothing, except the have access to a mineral block.

Title: Re: What do you feed ewe lambs
Post by: cooper956 on January 31, 2010, 02:08:24 pm

ours get some  sugerbeet and rolled oats now and again to keep them interested in folowing me to where i want them  and ad lib hay anything will do to keep them folowing u only reson thay get that is becase thats what the ewes are on and i just give them a hand full of that.