The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: JedM on March 22, 2016, 02:59:46 pm

Title: Orphans with goats
Post by: JedM on March 22, 2016, 02:59:46 pm
I have two orphan lambs now 2 weeks old, and have read that they should now be on grass as well as hay.  I can't put them in the field with my other ewes and lambs as they are kept in by 2 strands of electric and won't keep the orphans in.
I wondered if worming would be an issue if the orphans were kept with the goats at this age?  They would have their own stable at night but run with the goats in a field during the day.
Any thoughts much appreciated.
Title: Re: Orphans with goats
Post by: pharnorth on March 22, 2016, 03:27:43 pm
I can't see they would have had the chance to pick up worms yet and the goats are more vulnerable than the lambs so my guess is should be ok for a while at least. I'll be interested to see other's responses on this. Would be worth doing worm counts in 4 to 6 weeks time and see what you get.....
Title: Re: Orphans with goats
Post by: Anke on March 22, 2016, 07:35:36 pm
If they haven't been outside yet they can't have picked up worms, so should be fine with the goats. When I had my orphans a couple of years ago (living in the goatshed in their own pen) they shared a field with the goats during the day - but boss goat chased them away into another area of the field. Lambs were fine and grew well.
Title: Re: Orphans with goats
Post by: JedM on March 23, 2016, 07:16:15 am
They are in a stable with a small run outside so they do go outside but only on concrete.
I will try them in the goat field at the weekend - hopefully the goats don't push them around too much.  Thanks