[Fleecewife]

It's Soays which have a real problem, to the extent that it could be a welfare issue to ring them in that first week.  Shetlands and others can be a bit difficult too, so we try to leave them a bit longer, maybe to day 5.  There could be an added problem with the primitives being a bit more stressed by handling which causes the testicles to be sucked back up, but that little chap looks so confident he could rule the world 

[jaykay]

Well, I just went to do it and the ring rolled straight off. I guess i'll be leaving him to grow a bit!

[Hermit]

If he is going to the butchers as lamb then dont bother castrating, we dont . Some folk keep them on as hogs so they need to castrate but the hog meat we have been given is too fatty when you are used to Shetland lamb.

[jaykay]

Ok, do you send them as lambs then, around 6 months? That's what I used to do with my Rough Fells and I left them entire. I'd certainly rather do that.

I assumed I was going to have to keep these little guys to hoggs cos they wouldn't be big enough to butcher as lambs?

[Hermit]

Hi, yes six months is right. We are only a couple and a Shetland lamb suits us fine, no chops as they are too small but we do fillets. A shetland lamb can be as big as a ewe at six months depending on the quality of stock. I dont do coloureds though as they are too pretty and would get individualised.

[woollyval]

Castrate as late as possible and eat as a hog.....much better carcase! Also shear first as wool worth a bit if coloured to hand spinners, £7-8 plus coloured skin which is worth over £50 and carcase should be about 20kg and can be sold as a speciality meat as virtually fat free! (£70 +) Its all in the marketing!

[jaykay]

Today's twins 



All the lambs have had a black base so far, which might suggest the tup is homozygous black, I was hoping he might be heterozygous and pass a moorit gene to a few. Maybe too early to tell....

[in the hills]

Well done.

I like the little coloured one 

[jaykay]

Yes, I was pleased - and a gimmer too  She's a grey katmoget  I've been telling her mum all along, that pretty gimmers was her job - so she listened after all 

[Mammyshaz]

They are looking cute 

[colliewoman]

 

[SallyintNorth]

Very very cute 

[jaykay]

This bucket is fun to play with.


Oops, didn't know we were being watched.


What's that she's got in her hand?


After all that playing I need a snooze.


I love my mummy.

[Brucklay]

Oh super - love the last pic Jaykay - a whole year to wait till sheltand lambs - not a bas thing maybe I'll be organised by then - but I doubt it!!

[jaykay]

They are very sweet - so tiny! It's like having a whole load of kittens not lambs  And no still photos can convey the pinginess