The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: kanisha on April 13, 2010, 04:51:24 pm

Title: lunar cycles and lambing.......
Post by: kanisha on April 13, 2010, 04:51:24 pm

Was talking to someone the other day who plants according to the lunar cycle and also worms their animals according to it. This is quite common here in france but they also mentioned that they thought my heavily pregnant ewes who seem to be holding out on me could be waiting for tuesday / wed 13th which is full moon? this is a new one on me anyone any info on this and does anyone plan their lambing around lunar cycles?

thanks

Title: Re: lunar cycles and lambing.......
Post by: Rosemary on April 13, 2010, 05:17:15 pm

I don't plan it that way but I'll keep an eye on Jura tonight, just in case. :)

Title: Re: lunar cycles and lambing.......
Post by: kanisha on April 14, 2010, 06:43:31 am

thanks still no lambs................. :-\

Title: Re: lunar cycles and lambing.......
Post by: shetlandpaul on April 14, 2010, 07:28:13 am

ours seem to lamb just after bad weather.

Title: Re: lunar cycles and lambing.......
Post by: Rosemary on April 14, 2010, 11:42:52 am

Jura didn't do the business either.

Title: Re: lunar cycles and lambing.......
Post by: kanisha on April 14, 2010, 12:41:22 pm

scotch lunar cycles from the calendar then :sheep: :sheep:

Title: Re: lunar cycles and lambing.......
Post by: Rosemary on April 14, 2010, 01:27:02 pm

Jura's waiting for the good weather to pass so she can drop her's on a wet miserable night. Awkward b*gger.

Title: Re: lunar cycles and lambing.......
Post by: VSS on April 14, 2010, 07:43:45 pm

They do sometimes hold on to lamb in tune with the moon phases. Similar to the way in which they sometimes seem to wait for foggy weather. Difficult to know though how much control the ewe has over these things.

Title: Re: lunar cycles and lambing.......
Post by: woollyval on April 14, 2010, 08:03:53 pm

Well we had 2 lamb today......no idea whether it was anything to do with the moon!!!

Title: Re: lunar cycles and lambing.......
Post by: herdsman on April 14, 2010, 08:16:31 pm

When I managed large dairy herds I always tried to leave the cows to calve on their own outside. Far less stress from moving them around and much less risk of infection in the field than a calving pen. Getting to the point the cows always seemed to hang n if the weather was wet or looking like it was wet and then on a nice cold dry night out they would pop lots of calves keeping me busy for the rest of the day. We used to calve about 200 in three months in the autumn and i dont know if it was lunar cycles but they certainly held on until the weather would give the calves the best chance. Nothing like wet weather to sap the strength of lambs and calves. All those born in cold dry weather would be up and sucking in no time :D

Title: Re: lunar cycles and lambing.......
Post by: kanisha on April 14, 2010, 08:17:59 pm

hmm its definately cold and still with a distinct sea fog in the air  who knows maybe lambs tomorrow morning! ;D