The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Gail@BrickHouse on March 14, 2015, 09:19:45 am
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Hello everyone,
I have two orphan lambs and am acquiring two more today. They are bottle fed and I understand I should aim to wean them by 6 weeks. At the moment, I have them in a nice warm stable and I'm wondering when they should go out in the field? many thanks.....
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Ours go out once fully weaned and eating creep. Weaned at 6 weeks. Normally go out 8-10 weeks but it does depend on weather and how they are doing. Only for a few hours at a time, then build it up so they are out in a paddock then out in a field. Ours normally go out in the back garden behind electric fence.
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Depends on the weather, when I had orphan lambs, if the weather was nice during the day they would go out in a little paddock then back in at night from about 3 weeks old. Then at 6 weeks they were out 24/7
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We must be a bit harsher than most and chuck them out 24/7 on the garden from day 2 with a straw bale shelter.
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As above, out in the field with others as soon as they get bouncy in day. Out all the time if weather ok and once they have found a nook/ shelter. Usually 1 or 2 weeks... Mind you I've never had orphans this early.
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I'm assuming you will lock them up at night yes? Don't let them gorge, do short spurts of field time then lengthen. I would adjust maybe one bottle at that stage here as I don't like the idea of them over filling on grass and milk, watch how much water they are taking in too xx
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I'm assuming you will lock them up at night yes? Don't let them gorge, do short spurts of field time then lengthen. I would adjust maybe one bottle at that stage here as I don't like the idea of them over filling on grass and milk, watch how much water they are taking in too xx
I agree. Everything in stages at such an early age. Not something you can do with big numbers but for a few it minimises stress. I wouldn't leave them in the same accommodation much longer due to the risk of coccidiosis.