The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: crobertson on January 07, 2018, 02:28:56 pm
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Do many folk crutch ewes pre-lambing ??
We were thinking about doing ours this year as they have rather thick fleeces and thought a nice tidy up and to make sure the teats we easily accessible would be good for the lambs. However the ewes don't have mucky bums or anything so maybe it isn't needed :thinking:
Is there a recommended time to do this before they get too heavily pregnant such as 6 or 8 weeks before the lambs are due ?
Thanks in advance !
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Had mine done yesterday, due in around 6 weeks time. I find it makes the initial latching on that bit quicker ( don't waste time sucking on dirty fleece instead of the teats). Also less fiddling about by me around the ewe trying to dag post birth, better for her and me. Not essential, but helpful.
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Depends on breed wool type , age of sheep and when clipped last year , the only ones I have ever done were Romney crosses , not clipped and lambed as ewe hoggs ( very heavy thick fleece with length , so woolly in front of the teats and a long curtain in front of the leg ) same sheep as ewes because clipped in july never needed done again
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I dag if necessary when the ewes come in for their booster jab four weeks before lambing. On a windy hilltop we prefer to keep fleece around the udder to protect it. If the flock isn't used to being handled frequently or of a flighty disposition crutching can be a stress they don't need when heavily pregnant.