The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Hillview Farm on April 17, 2013, 03:00:45 pm

Title: Checks after lambing....
Post by: Hillview Farm on April 17, 2013, 03:00:45 pm
I just wondered how often you people check your sheep once they have all lambed? I feel I should see them as much as when they were lambing but I do tend to overly worry.

I need weaning from my lambs!
Title: Re: Checks after lambing....
Post by: Rosemary on April 17, 2013, 03:12:11 pm
I check them twice a day when I feed the ewes and at bedtime, when I make sure they are all mothered up. They ARE in the field outside the house, so if I hear ongoing bleating, I'll slip out and check all is well  ;D
Title: Re: Checks after lambing....
Post by: SallyintNorth on April 17, 2013, 03:15:16 pm
Yes, twice a day when the lambs are young.  Once a day is okay later on, unless there is any other reason to see them twice.

Best time to check on families is dawn/very early morning - usually the ewes are curled up with their babes.  Later on it gets harder to check mothering and even to count lambs, as the lambs play their own games! :D

If you feed cake, it's a good idea to check that the families have regrouped successfully afterwards.  Lambies nearly always get a milk feed after mum's had her cake. ;)
Title: Re: Checks after lambing....
Post by: Bionic on April 17, 2013, 03:19:45 pm
Later on it gets harder to check mothering and even to count lambs, as the lambs play their own games! :D

Not difficult to count lambs when you only have 4 like I do. Don't even need to count on my fingers  :roflanim:
Title: Re: Checks after lambing....
Post by: Remy on April 17, 2013, 03:27:46 pm
I do a head count a couple of times a day, and when I have checked them they are always ok.  Every time there's been a problem, it's when I haven't been there  :P .


Monday hubby had been doing the rounds, and yesterday I went out to check them and sure enough, two lambs were in different fields! ::) ::)
Title: Re: Checks after lambing....
Post by: lachlanandmarcus on April 17, 2013, 03:40:46 pm
I check about 3 or 4 times a day but only cos I can't get enough of watching them. Still waiting for mine to start tho!
Title: Re: Checks after lambing....
Post by: cluckyclaire on April 17, 2013, 04:09:34 pm
I check constantly when I'm at home - just can't get enough of them.
Title: Re: Checks after lambing....
Post by: Pedwardine on April 17, 2013, 05:00:29 pm
I nip over and sit in their field shelter late at night and always get a lamby clambering up on my knee for a cuddle. It's usually Betsy's little boy. He loves a snuggle buggle. It's SOOOO hard to leave. Of course I'm checking on their safety or so I tell my OH  :eyelashes:
Title: Re: Checks after lambing....
Post by: Bramblecot on April 17, 2013, 05:43:48 pm
I nip over and sit in their field shelter late at night. Of course I'm checking on their safety or so I tell my OH  :eyelashes:
Ha ha!  It's not just me then :innocent: It was terrible tearing myself away to go back to the day job this morning :(
Title: Re: Checks after lambing....
Post by: Dogwalker on April 17, 2013, 05:46:42 pm
I nip over and sit in their field shelter late at night and always get a lamby clambering up on my knee for a cuddle. It's usually Betsy's little boy. He loves a snuggle buggle. It's SOOOO hard to leave. Of course I'm checking on their safety or so I tell my OH  :eyelashes:

 
And why not enjoy your babies while they're small, they'll soon be horrid teenagers make the most of it. ;)
Title: Re: Checks after lambing....
Post by: Hillview Farm on April 17, 2013, 05:49:28 pm
I think its lovely how much we all love our sheep! I was worried by leaving them to it would be frowned upon. Roll on an early night and a half an hour lay in!

Ohh and I find it hard to tear myself away too  so i'll jump in the same boat too!
Title: Re: Checks after lambing....
Post by: SteveHants on April 17, 2013, 06:12:59 pm
Once all are lambed I check once a day.
Title: Re: Checks after lambing....
Post by: Brucklay on April 17, 2013, 06:21:36 pm
I'm a morning and evening person with a good sit on the fence on a nice evening, even when they grow up I still like to check all is well.