[plumseverywhere]

An entire ram lamb was left in with 5 ewes until he was about 8 months old. He was definitely 'active' and the owners removed him from the ewe lambs in November. Statistically, what are the odds do you think of the ewe's being pregnant? I must add, they did not belong to me and I wouldn't have chosen to mate young ewes.
I have bought 2 of these ewes now to keep when the owners take the other 3 on their final journey next week.
I'm prepared for lambing and kidding all in the same month so that's fine. How much would I pay roughly to get them scanned?

[Anke]

Plums - are these ewes/gimmers (as in nearly two year olds) or ewe lambs (born last spring)? If they are ewe lambs - what breed (or cross) are they?

I don't know about costs for two for scanning, but you would be best prepared for them to be in lamb- They will need a Heptavac booster 6 - 4 weeks before the estimated lambing date, and careful feeding. As ewe lambs they are more likely to have singles, so overfeeding will give you large lambs that will be difficult to get out, but underfeeding (in the case of twins) may give you problems like pregnancy toxaemia.

I would speak to your vet re scanning (it would probably have to be done soon) and would give you some idea of what (if anything) to expect and you can plan your feeding routine after that.

[plumseverywhere]

Born last Spring Anke.  I've a bottle of heptavac ready. will speak to lovely vet tomorrow (he is lovely seriously    )   breed wise, one is wiltshire X texel the other is just a big cuddly white teddy bear of unknown breeding (she has a white face, is white all over, sturdy body, cute looking - sorry not much help but they were collected by someone else and i've taken them on . luckily the wiltshire girl comes from a fellow TAS'r so I'm able to talk to her about breeds etc)

[feldar]

I would say pretty likely to be in lamb. Our show lambs are 8 months plus by the time the season ends and we have been caught out like this when a show ram lamb tupped some ewe lambs on the trailer going home!

[plumseverywhere]

In a way I'd be quite glad to have lambs from them as we only have the 2 sheep otherwise in about 2 acres so we'll be strip fencing a lot.  we are kidding this year so I have everything in for kidding like heat lamps, colostrum (!) lube - you name it, I've collected it ready and I am off to help hubby's aunt with her lambing so I can gain some experience. I'm also on standby to see some kidding with a local breeder friend. I just wondered how likely it was really 

[Anke]

Have fun! These sound like big ewes/breeds, so will be quite well grown by now. Speak to a local sheepkeeper about feeding regimes, I have not had lambs tupped yet, so don't know about that.
Doing active lambing is the best preparation for kidding as well!

[plumseverywhere]

Thank you    I really don't want to go into it without having seen it happen with an experienced person, I think I'll feel more prepared if that makes sense? even if its only 2 ewes and 1 goat!

[katie]

I volunteered for a month's lambing with Ben ( a local sheep farmer ) before I had my first sheep. It was really worth doing. Books are wonderful but hands on experience is worth it's weight etc etc!

[SallyintNorth]

Thank you    I really don't want to go into it without having seen it happen with an experienced person, I think I'll feel more prepared if that makes sense? even if its only 2 ewes and 1 goat!

Good on yer plums 

And yes, from your description I would expect your girls to be in lamb 

[plumseverywhere]

I volunteered for a month's lambing with Ben ( a local sheep farmer ) before I had my first sheep. It was really worth doing. Books are wonderful but hands on experience is worth it's weight etc etc!

I'd thought about Ben seeing as he lives opposite - I might ask him. I think he lambs Feb doesn't he? Tony's aunt started Jan so I thought that would give me lots of time to see some before our own arrive. Based on when he started being active we could have lambs as early as Feb and based on when I took him out Easter is the latest. (so scientific aren't I?! lol!)

[katie]

He does some early and the main lot in April.Worth asking. Most of his workforce is voluntary!

[plumseverywhere]

I might give him a call in a bit then because even if these are not pregnant I will be wanting to ask him if he gets any lambs he wants to sell on for bottle feeding to let me know.
I've been looking at his ewes with green bums and they don't look any more pregnant than my purple bottomed girls (only purple bottomed so they are not taken by accident to the abb!)

[TheCaptain]

So are the other three going to the abbatoir in-lamb? Brutal.

[katie]

I don't see why they can't keep them on till after they lamb if they're going to -on their own land, of course unless they sell them to you.

[plumseverywhere]

So are the other three going to the abbatoir in-lamb? Brutal.

Its something that is causing me sleepless nights and I am beyond livid with it. This is another reason why, as of next week, I will NEVER have anyone elses stock on my land unless I know them very well and have seen how they keep their stock.One is a male (castrated) other 2 are ewes and yes, quite possibly in lamb.  Is there anything else I can do that I've not thought of yet? I am under the impression that once ready to be processed as meat these will deemed acceptable but I'm not sure?

Katie - you know my situation (you've been an angel listening to my worries!) and I've tried to buy them but one of the owners 'wants his meat'.