[Cuddles]

Hi guys,

Bit of a random question, can sheep see red light?  I was thinking of putting one into the lambing shed, not a heat lamp - have that already, just a red light.  If they can't see red light but I can then I'm thinking I could use it to check on them at night without disturbing them.  We used to use them at sea to keep your night vision intact.

Ta,
Cuddles

[mab]

I don't actually know the answer to your question but I suspect they can - I have a red LED 'lamping' torch and my sheep seem to be able to see it - but they may just be hearing me moving around the field. Simplest answer is to try it - but they do have good hearing and a sense of smell so even if they can't see you they may be disturbed by your presence - possibly more so if they can't see you.

[ZacB]

Why not go the whole hog and put some night time surveillance in? Set up correctly you could view from the comfort of your armchair & not disturb the girls at all. If something needed attention the white lights can then be switched on

[Marches Farmer]

Our lambing shed is checked several times after dark and we just "announce" ourselves as we approach it, before turning on the lights.  The ewes are housed a week before lambing is due to begin and by then even the first-timers take no notice.  I believe some folks consider lights on at night leads to them lambing but some years they mostly lamb in the daytime and others (this one, unfortunately) mostly at night around midnight.  Since they're a prey animal and programmed not to show when contractions begin it's impossible to pinpoint when labour actually starts.

[harmony]

I don't believe in "creeping" around animals. Taking them by surprise can cause more problems than announcing your approach and quietly getting on with your job. I wouldn't think sheep are anymore affected by an on light than a full moon.

[Penninehillbilly]

Not sure about sheep, but I had a baby monitor for the goats, they usually make different noises, esp. if struggling.

[Anke]

If you have electricity in the shed where the sheep are, and a cable running from there to the (human) house you can set up a camera and connect to your mobile/laptop etc. All now quite cheap technology. Works in Infrared after dark, so m need to switch on lights etc during the night.

[Womble]

I don't believe in "creeping" around animals.

I regularly creep around ours. At this time of year, if I can't get the ewe nuts measured out quietly and then get through the gate and to the feed trough before the hungry hippos spot me, I'm basically toast!