The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Jamie12 on July 13, 2015, 10:01:20 am
-
Having a dilemm, my first set of twins was born on the 20/3/15, mum is a Hogg and doing well but I feel they are too big now to be on mum (almost as big as her), should I be weaning them off her? I've a few born in the first week of April who look ready too.
I would have had a bigger batch, but I was offered good money for some of the others.
-
Wait until the youngest looks ready to be weaned and do them all at the same time. The mum of that big one will keep it in check, if she thinks it doesn't need milk or is too rough she'll kick him off.
-
Youngest was late, born in may. Tip did most of hisbuisness in April. August will be early enough I assume? Keeping my ewe lambs on, selling the four male lambs who happen to be the youngest four.
-
My last one was born 6th May, and I'll be weaning that at the beginning of August. I usually aim for 12-16 weeks old, but will go as early as 10 weeks if need be.
-
Hoping to leave them until august, though one of my hoggs with one lamb at foot (refused to take ewe lamb) is losing condition. lamb was born on 3/5/15
-
You might be wise to wean that lamb then, you don't want it to bring the hogg down too much. You just have to use your own judgement really - have you weighed the lambs recently? are they doing ok?
-
Haven't got a weigh crate as yet but they are certainly getting larger by the day!.
-
Only one years experience but I have a first timer with twins born exactly the same day as yours, 20/3. She's my thinnest ewe but seems to be actually putting on condition at the moment. The others are all fat as butter, even with lambs still in. I hardly see them feeding so I'm just going to leave them depending on condition of ewes. I don't have lots of paddock options for weaning, I should add.