The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Rosemary on April 16, 2016, 09:52:33 am

Title: Mixing ewes expecting different numbers of lambs
Post by: Rosemary on April 16, 2016, 09:52:33 am
We're two thirds of the way through lambing. I have five ewes left to lamb - two with singles, two with twins and one with triplets. The one with triplets isn't due until the 2nd May; two of the others are due 19th and the other two 25th (or thereabouts). Since I have no tup currently, the wether is in too and I was planning to keep him in to keep the triplet ewe company once the others have gone out.

Because of space constraints, the ewes expecting twins and singles (and the wether) are housed together. The three triplets were housed in a temporary pen adjoining the main area. Two trips have now lambed and gone out so Pixie is on her own.

Would it be better, or even OK, to put Pixie in with the others? She can see them and touch noses so she's not distressed but if I put her in there, I could get her pen cleaned out. But she's getting a bit more food that the others - if I mix them, that'll drop a bit. They have access to a Harbro Energyze Vitality pre/post lambing bucket as well plus adlib hay.

I don't want to compromise Pixie's health for the sake of convenience, but would welcome views.
Title: Re: Mixing ewes expecting different numbers of lambs
Post by: Sbom on April 16, 2016, 10:05:56 am
Id mix them, they would be happier together and I can't see the feed amount affecting them at this late stage. You could always stand with her at feed time so she maybe gets a little more...
Title: Re: Mixing ewes expecting different numbers of lambs
Post by: verdifish on April 16, 2016, 11:19:29 am
What kind of sheep? 
Title: Re: Mixing ewes expecting different numbers of lambs
Post by: Big Light on April 16, 2016, 11:27:53 am
If the ewe with triplets is friendly will she take the extra from your hand/ held bucket / scoop?
Title: Re: Mixing ewes expecting different numbers of lambs
Post by: SallyintNorth on April 16, 2016, 12:11:50 pm
I'd be inclined to put the two singles on their own with the wether, and feed them less, and put Pixie in with the twins, and feed as for triplets.  Too much cake for singles more dangerous than for twins ;) - although at this stage you probably can't do too much harm. 
Title: Re: Mixing ewes expecting different numbers of lambs
Post by: Rosemary on April 16, 2016, 03:48:17 pm
What kind of sheep?

Coloured Ryelands
Title: Re: Mixing ewes expecting different numbers of lambs
Post by: Marches Farmer on April 16, 2016, 03:58:16 pm
Unless you can separate her for extra feed I'd be inclined to keep her away from the others.  The lambs will be growing very fast at 16 days off lambing, and if they're sharing rations she could be down 10 to 20% on optimum intake.  Might work if the lambs have an equal share of placental buttons but if it's two decent-sized lambs plus a scrap the scrap's survival could be compromised.  It's one of the reasons I culled out my strain of Southdown that tended to produce triplets.
Title: Re: Mixing ewes expecting different numbers of lambs
Post by: clydesdaleclopper on April 16, 2016, 04:44:29 pm
You could just pen her at feeding time. Last year my 2 who needed extra soon learnt to go into pens to get their food.
Title: Re: Mixing ewes expecting different numbers of lambs
Post by: mowhaugh on April 16, 2016, 09:39:10 pm
I'd be inclined to put the two singles on their own with the wether, and feed them less, and put Pixie in with the twins, and feed as for triplets.  Too much cake for singles more dangerous than for twins ;) - although at this stage you probably can't do too much harm.

This is what I'd do too.
Title: Re: Mixing ewes expecting different numbers of lambs
Post by: Daleswoman on April 17, 2016, 11:02:07 am
I don't scan mine so didn't know what each was expecting (except for my own estimates based on their size)  - I know the general view is that you should feed according to what they are carrying, but mine have all mucked in together with no apparent problems so far (just 3 left to go). I wouldn't worry too much - after all everyone managed quite well before scanning was invented, didn't they?

If you are really concerned though I would pen them up for feeding, they soon get used to it.
Title: Re: Mixing ewes expecting different numbers of lambs
Post by: Rosemary on April 17, 2016, 11:05:24 am
I'd be inclined to put the two singles on their own with the wether, and feed them less, and put Pixie in with the twins, and feed as for triplets.  Too much cake for singles more dangerous than for twins ;) - although at this stage you probably can't do too much harm.

This is what I'd do too.

I'll bear this in mind for next year but what I want to do, if possible, is reduce the number of groups not keep the same number  :) Had a twin and a single lambed  yesterday, so only a twin, the triplet and the one that scanned with a single that I thought was  due on the 1st but hasn't lambed yet. And Teddy, so I think I'll stick Pixie in with the others now.  :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Mixing ewes expecting different numbers of lambs
Post by: mowhaugh on April 18, 2016, 01:56:53 pm
. I wouldn't worry too much - after all everyone managed quite well before scanning was invented, didn't they?

If you are really concerned though I would pen them up for feeding, they soon get used to it.

To a certain extend we managed, but I like to think we are trying to better than just managing; pre scanning, ewes with triplets would in general have much smaller lambs which much less chance of survival and almost certainly not have the colostrum for three. Although we don't personally ever send a ewe away with three lambs at foot, as they are going back to the hill, we would now fully expect them to survive and all to stay on mum until we can find a suitable adoptive mum for one of them.