The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Lilljoho on January 26, 2017, 05:08:07 pm

Title: Turnout of lambs this time of year
Post by: Lilljoho on January 26, 2017, 05:08:07 pm

Hi

It's the first time I've lambed this time of year. Lambs are a week old now and I've kept them inside.

When does anyone else turnout them out? I'm not sure if I'm just being soft but it's blinking cold.

The field has some grass as it hasn't been grazed since early August.

Thanks
Jo

Title: Re: Turnout of lambs this time of year
Post by: Foobar on January 26, 2017, 05:21:52 pm

Whereabouts are you and what breed are they?

Title: Re: Turnout of lambs this time of year
Post by: Lilljoho on January 26, 2017, 05:40:55 pm

The lambs are Southdown and Southdown crosses   ;D

Title: Re: Turnout of lambs this time of year
Post by: shep53 on January 26, 2017, 07:12:34 pm

Dry cold won't bother them in the slightest , wet cold over a continuous period is  the killer

Title: Re: Turnout of lambs this time of year
Post by: Marches Farmer on January 27, 2017, 03:00:48 pm

If you're worried could you put them out during the daytime and bring them in at night or if it gets really wet or snows?  Last year I put out our first batch at 2 to 3 days old but then the weather got seriously wet, cold and windy and we all buckled to and cleaned out a section of the shed in a morning (normally takes two days by hand), rebedded and kept the next batch in for a fortnight.  hard work fetching and carrying but we didn't lose a lamb, and no coccidiosis either.