The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Bramham Wiltshire Horns on January 03, 2017, 04:46:10 pm

Title: Approaching Lambing
Post by: Bramham Wiltshire Horns on January 03, 2017, 04:46:10 pm
so as the time nears what is the one essential thing that you put in your lambing box first!
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: Marches Farmer on January 03, 2017, 05:09:48 pm
Sterilised lambing ropes in tear-open plastic bags.  Things like iodine for navels can wait for a bit if necessary but if you need a rope you need it NOW!
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: Sbom on January 03, 2017, 05:44:55 pm
Lube..and a snare as a close second
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: VSS on January 03, 2017, 09:14:01 pm
Impossible to choose one - can't get it below four.
Lubricant, obstetric gloves, backtakill, thermovite.
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: Tim W on January 03, 2017, 09:18:18 pm

Binoculars ---- Psion a close second
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: Badger Nadgers on January 03, 2017, 11:18:52 pm
Stuff for the shepherd - hot food and drink, PPE.
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: ThomasR on January 04, 2017, 12:47:26 am
Can't narrow it down to one, there are so many things that If I hadn't of had at that moment then I would have lost either the ewe or the lambs or even both.
1) lambing ropes
2) Spectrum
3) Combivit
4) Ketosaid (Had it in the box for years and never new what it was Until I needed it. If I hadn't of had it to give tot he ewe she would have died before the vets was open and for a bottle which is under £10 or a call out from the vet over £100)
5) Pen and strep
6) Twin lamb drench
7) Iodine
8) lube
those are just the very essentials but I do have more than this, I couldn't go into lambing season without a full box. I have shoulder length gloves but if you are clean then I find it easier with out gloves. Everybody will have their own individual make up of a lambing box though
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: BenBhoy on January 04, 2017, 07:19:11 am
Wow if the first thing you need are ropes, lube etc I'd say what you really need are new sheep!!

Patience
Flask of something hot
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: mowhaugh on January 04, 2017, 11:01:05 am
This is interesting. I've never used ropes yet, and I lamb a lot of sheep,  but never say never. I can't just think off the top of my head if I had to pick just one thing. Thinking about it.
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: pharnorth on January 04, 2017, 11:19:01 am
Iodine. Needed for all lambing, easy or difficult.
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: Womble on January 04, 2017, 11:34:16 am
I have shoulder length gloves but if you are clean then I find it easier with out gloves.


Yes, the big orange gloves are really difficult to work in. HOWEVER, if you put a pair of nitrile surgical gloves on over the top, that works well, with no loss of feeling or grip.
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: Foobar on January 04, 2017, 02:11:27 pm
Patience and binoculars.
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: Rosemary on January 04, 2017, 02:42:08 pm
This is interesting. I've never used ropes yet, and I lamb a lot of sheep,  but never say never. I can't just think off the top of my head if I had to pick just one thing. Thinking about it.

Me neither. I have them but never used them.
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on January 04, 2017, 03:02:02 pm
Always orange long gloves and lubricant, plus vit and mineral and calcium just in case. Rubber rings and marker spray are very good, plus shears in case wool around udder is too long. Also an empty, sterilised, dry lamb feed bottle and teat in case lamb has trouble suckling. Also a warm blanket in case of an orphan lamb, difficult birth or rejection. Hope this helps. Ditto all other suggestions  too. :)
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: Womble on January 04, 2017, 03:22:46 pm
I haven't used ropes, but I have used this rather interesting looking contraption (https://www.fanevalleystores.com/product/150156/lambing-aid-rubber-lamb-puller) instead, which worked perfectly:


(https://www.fanevalleystores.com/processed/images/products/270-270-1--150156.jpg)


Luckily it was delivered in plain packaging, for ultimate discretion  ;)
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: shep53 on January 04, 2017, 04:48:36 pm
Wow if the first thing you need are ropes, lube etc I'd say what you really need are new sheep!!

Patience
Flask of something hot
   I have ropes ,the puller that womble has  plus a hard plastic tool  and lube BUT Ive only ever used them on dead lambs , which I think most members would need the vet for
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: Bramham Wiltshire Horns on January 04, 2017, 05:37:53 pm
That's great
Thanks some good stuff to get
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: Marches Farmer on January 04, 2017, 07:19:35 pm
This is interesting. I've never used ropes yet, and I lamb a lot of sheep,  but never say never. I can't just think off the top of my head if I had to pick just one thing. Thinking about it.
Me neither. I have them but never used them.
Our aim is always zero losses between scanning and weaning.  Most years we succeed.  A rope helps identify one tangled twin or triplet and helps us get lambs out quickly before their survival is compromised by a lengthy lambing process.  If a ewe has a problematic lambing she'll go to cull and her lambs won't be retained for breeding but the first priority is for all to survive.
Title: Re: Approaching Lambing
Post by: Jukes Mum on January 05, 2017, 11:13:26 am
Torch!