[Bullseye]

Since my two Ryeland tup lambs are entire when is best to wean them? I have read conflicting information on the internet and in books but I'm sure someone can help me here- they were born 2nd April and aren't far off the size of our 14month old gimmers- they are still quite a way off their mum though- would it be effective to just keep them seperate from the gimmers and keep them with mum a little while longer or seperate them from her also? And if so should I put them on the other side of the stock fencing or would this cause more stress? We have the facilities to put them in a seperate field.

[omnipeasant]

Are you wanting to seperate them because they are mounting the others or just worried they might do. They won't be able to get anything in lamb until they start coming into season. Other Ryeland breedes might advise here though because some breeds come into season all year round. We usually seperate ourtup lambs about August as ours are born in April too.

If you decide to seperate them as long as they are eating well they should be okay any time now. As to where you put them, I would keep them out of earshot of mum if at all possible for the first few days, after that they could be in the next field.

[Bullseye]

My understanding is that it is possible for some individuals to be caught out at odd times of the year....unsure if this has ever been the case with Ryelands, with my luck though anything is possible!
They are starting to play about mounting the gimmers but this could probably be put down to normal lamb behaviour, I thought I'd best sound you all out in case I'm being naive!
Thanks for the advice, they are lovely strong lambs so toying with the idea of weaning them off into one of the other fields. Poor Kes looks like she could do with a rest!   

[jaykay]

All that mounting stuff is just lambs playing. Mine are doing it too and I won't expect to spean (wean and separate) mine until August either.

[Bullseye]

I hoped that was the case-  just didn't want any unhappy accidents! Thanks jaykay 

[Remy]

I have an entire Herdwick lamb (and also Gotland) born early April in with my ewes and lambs. They do try and mount the other sheep but then so do some of the ewe lambs!  I'm assuming they can't do any 'damage' until they are older, well that's what I'm hoping anyway    - I will separate them when they are about 5 months, August time.

[SteveHants]

Standard practice is to wean at 4 mos.