The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: plt102 on June 18, 2012, 06:28:43 am

Title: when to separate little boys from mums
Post by: plt102 on June 18, 2012, 06:28:43 am

Our rams two castrated friends are nice and fat and we'd like to send them off asap. Our castrated boy lambs will take their place. At what age can we separate them from their mums and put them in the batchelor pad so our ram has some company?

Title: Re: when to separate little boys from mums
Post by: SteveHants on June 18, 2012, 11:07:41 am

I tend to wean at about 4 mos.

Title: Re: when to separate little boys from mums
Post by: jaykay on June 18, 2012, 11:10:28 am

and I spean (separate, so wean too ) about 5 months

Title: Re: when to separate little boys from mums
Post by: Rosemary on June 18, 2012, 11:16:27 am

Not before the youngest are 16 weeks  ;D but before the oldest get randy ::)

Title: Re: when to separate little boys from mums
Post by: plt102 on June 18, 2012, 05:57:37 pm

Cool, they've got a little while then. Thanks

Title: Re: when to separate little boys from mums
Post by: Anke on June 18, 2012, 06:26:46 pm

Quote from: Rosemary on June 18, 2012, 11:16:27 am

Not before the youngest are 16 weeks  ;D but before the oldest get randy ::)

Rosemary - do you leave yours entire?

Title: Re: when to separate little boys from mums
Post by: SteveHants on June 18, 2012, 06:53:14 pm

I'm not her, but I do.

Title: Re: when to separate little boys from mums
Post by: Rosemary on June 18, 2012, 08:58:58 pm

I am she, and I do too  ;D

Confused yet?

Title: Re: when to separate little boys from mums
Post by: plt102 on June 18, 2012, 09:47:59 pm

Hee hee!
I am neither he nor she....
We castrated the shetland crossed with GFD baby boys (wish we hadn't as they are soooo lovely- but at least it means they can stay with us a bit longer until D-day) and kept our full GFD boy entire, just in case he can make the grade and skip going into the pot for a while and have some fun - fingers crossed for him. So we'll have 3 little boys going to join bernard when they are weaned off and we think we will keep all the little girls this year (2 pure GFD's and 5 shetland cross GFD's which look like great strong, feisty little girls) and let Bernard see his ladies once more before we hopefully swap or sell him - couldn't bear for him to go to slaughter as he is such an adorable gentleman.....(then we'll be looking for another gent to let his daughters have their turn for some fun). If anyone knows anyone who might want a proven GFD gentleman who would be in his third season next year. Please let me know. I really want him to find a good home once he's had his autumn with us this year

Title: Re: when to separate little boys from mums
Post by: YorkshireLass on June 18, 2012, 10:27:07 pm

Sorry to hijack, but what on earth does a shetland x gfd look like? How's t he fleece?  ;D :thumbsup:

Title: Re: when to separate little boys from mums
Post by: plt102 on June 19, 2012, 07:22:52 am

They are pretty young yet but I would say their fleeces look like they are going to be very gfd and white. Shame as it would be nice if they were more shetlandy. They are 10 weeks old and nearly as big as their mums already. I have a photo somewhere that someone on this forum sent me. I'll try to find it