31

Sheep / Re: Ewe nuts for wether short term

« Last post by Bywaters on September 06, 2025, 04:28:44 pm »

I had a month old castrated pet lamb die of urinary calculi. And it was on proper lamb creep with ammonium chloride and had rock salt in the pen. So it does happen and when it does it’s catastrophic 


Perhaps I'm missing something - how did not having "male" feed contribute ?
All deaths are not good, but at a month old and a wether, that wouldn't have had anything to do with the question of can a wether / tup lamb come to harm if given sheep nuts / non tup mix

32

Sheep / Re: Ewe nuts for wether short term

« Last post by twizzel on September 06, 2025, 10:55:56 am »

For what it is worth, surely, if ewe mix (or tup mix for that matter) was so dangerous to feed to wethers or to the wrong sex, there would be a huge warning label on the sacks ?

My opinion is that the danger - such that it is - manifests itself over long term, rather than a coupld of weeks before slaughter so, I wouldn't make life any harder than it is and feed them all the same grub

I had a month old castrated pet lamb die of urinary calculi. And it was on proper lamb creep with ammonium chloride and had rock salt in the pen. So it does happen and when it does it’s catastrophic 

33

Wildlife / Re: Swallows'25

« Last post by doganjo on September 06, 2025, 10:37:58 am »

Still loads of them at our dog field yesterday, flying in and out of the kitchen. Central Scotland

34

Sheep / Re: Ewe nuts for wether short term

« Last post by ZacB on September 06, 2025, 06:24:30 am »

Lamb finisher as a suggestion?

35

Sheep / Re: Ewe nuts for wether short term

« Last post by Bywaters on September 05, 2025, 12:58:45 pm »

For what it is worth, surely, if ewe mix (or tup mix for that matter) was so dangerous to feed to wethers or to the wrong sex, there would be a huge warning label on the sacks ?

My opinion is that the danger - such that it is - manifests itself over long term, rather than a coupld of weeks before slaughter so, I wouldn't make life any harder than it is and feed them all the same grub

36

Sheep / Re: Ewe nuts for wether short term

« Last post by Richmond on September 05, 2025, 11:57:48 am »

Thank you both. We have pigs so I think I'll rattle some pig nuts to call them in but offer them coarse ration to actually eat. I don't think our local feed supplier does sugar beet nuts; at least I've never seen them there but can ask.

37

Sheep / Re: Ewe nuts for wether short term

« Last post by Twotwo on September 05, 2025, 10:48:54 am »

You could get some sugarbeet nuts .. they would be safe and rattle in the bucket well

38

Sheep / Re: Ewe nuts for wether short term

« Last post by SallyintNorth on September 05, 2025, 08:42:03 am »

Probably not, but the consequences: cost, inconvenience and upset, not to mention the welfare issue, if you're unlucky...  Tup'n'lamb mix won't hurt ewes, so you wouldn't waste the rest of the sack...

39

Sheep / Ewe nuts for wether short term

« Last post by Richmond on September 05, 2025, 08:35:17 am »

I am sending some lambs off in a couple of weeks. They're all ewe lambs except one wether. My usual routine is to start feeding them a week or so beforehand to get them used to coming into a pen, then on D Day shut them in ready for loading. I'd like to buy some ewe nuts (rattle in a bucket better than coarse mix and easier to pick up if spilled) however I do realise these aren't good for wethers. But would it really matter just for a week or so?

40

Wildlife / Re: Swallows'25

« Last post by chrismahon on September 04, 2025, 08:12:40 am »

There were hundreds on the power lines here last week and we still have a few flying around in the evening. This time of year we have the front windows and door open all day, which must have interested one swallow that ended up in the kitchen trying to get out through the mosquito netting. Didn't put up any struggle though, when picked up and released. The nesting pair from the garage didn't return, so the arc welding planned was completed without disruption.