[SavageU]

I can't remember what I did last year - but more to ask what does everyone else do over winter with hay?

We have 17 sheep in one field a mix of pregnant ewes and some lambs. They have gone through one large round and we've just opened another, which they are happily eating. Do I just keep offering them this until say March/April after lambing when the grass starts growing?

Finding it hard hand pulling them put intp hay nets as they are outside so just bought some square bales for lambing.

I've only 4 more rounds to get through but ideally want them all gone this year!

[shep53]

If they keep eating the hay then keep offering it to them , on a nice day with a bit of grass to eat then consumption will fall but rain / wind / snow conditions require a lot of food to keep condition

[Bywaters]

I feed hay, in hay racks, (covered / wheeled) from mid december (earlier if the grass has run out or the weather is poor) until the grass has grown and they are spending more time grazing than at the hay rack.
Square bales are my preferred option as they are so much easier to transport and, in my circumstances, I think less wasteful.

Once they have lambed, they need as much foos as they can get, in the 6 weeked before, it needs to be slightly more controlled (lots written on this)

I'm lambing 25 and at 850ft, feeding 3 bales per day, the skinnies are getting food twice a day and the fatties once - probably works out at a large handful of nuts each per feed time, which isn't a great deal, but hopefully will make the difference

I'll be scanning in early feb and hope thatm by then, there won't be skinnies and fatties, they will be the same and I can split for empties and those inlamb

[SavageU]

If they keep eating the hay then keep offering it to them , on a nice day with a bit of grass to eat then consumption will fall but rain / wind / snow conditions require a lot of food to keep condition

They are eating our rounds (sweet stuff) with ease and appetite, however the stuff i've bought in (drier and less sweet) I've offered the boys and no-one seems interested in much! Typical, hoping the ewes aren't quite as fussy 2 weeks before lambing (fingers crossed) when I bring them in.

I've opened another round bale today as switched fields now closer to lambing and hoping they eat that.

[SavageU]

I feed hay, in hay racks, (covered / wheeled) from mid december (earlier if the grass has run out or the weather is poor) until the grass has grown and they are spending more time grazing than at the hay rack.
Square bales are my preferred option as they are so much easier to transport and, in my circumstances, I think less wasteful.

Once they have lambed, they need as much foos as they can get, in the 6 weeked before, it needs to be slightly more controlled (lots written on this)

I'm lambing 25 and at 850ft, feeding 3 bales per day, the skinnies are getting food twice a day and the fatties once - probably works out at a large handful of nuts each per feed time, which isn't a great deal, but hopefully will make the difference

Yes i'd like the covered racks, need to get myself to the auctions as I feel like some of the bales have been hard going for them to nibble away at as much as they may have liked to have done.

I've not started daily rations of handfuls yet, want to wait until I am in the 6-8 week window but will be doing the same.

I'll be scanning in early feb and hope thatm by then, there won't be skinnies and fatties, they will be the same and I can split for empties and those inlamb