[Me]

So if you have never lost one in 27 years - why the big worry now?

[Melmarsh]

I think it's an age thing, mine, the older I get the more I worry about them. Having not lost one before I don't want to start now.
We put a lot of effort into getting them on the ground and to loose one in any way is a pain, despite the fact that a lot of them end up on the table.

[Me]

Yep its particularly irritating when they turn into fox food, you should be absolutely fine at three weeks plus though (killer Ravens excluded)

[Ladygrey]

my orphan lambs have been put outside now at weaning of 6 weeks of age, I just pull them out the shed and pop them in the field cold turkey

The pure shetland lambs are tiny but shetland cross charollais and others are pushing 18kgs

Other years when I didnt have the shepherdess orphans were outside alone from 2-3weeks of age, I have never had one eaten yet 

[waterbuffalofarmer]

Last year we had a big fox problem and this year not at all. The foxes get the lambs when they are very young, no more than 2-3 days old before they're too strong for the fox to catch them.

[Melmarsh]

Thanks to everyone for their replies, I let them all out 24/7 from two nights ago and all well so far. The youngest was 4wks. They all come back and sit inside when it gets dark but can make an early start with grazing, I can see them out at 5am doing their early morning sweep of the field before coming back to sit and cud