[in the hills]

Our Soay lambs were born between 5th- 15th April. I was hoping that they would wean themselves naturally without having to be separated from their mums. When would you expect this to happen? The mums do seem less tolerant of them now but they are definitely still suckling and the ewes udders still appear very full. The ewes look in good condition and don't appear to have lost much weight. If I decide to put them to the tup in the autumn do I need to take the lambs from them by any paticular time or will they wean themselves off in time for the ewes to have a little time to recover before going to the tup?


The single ewe lamb is staying with us and the wethers will go in the freezer when ready ..... not for a while yet.


Thank you

[jaykay]

That's when I lambed too.

I reckon ewes need a couple of months to get some condition on before the tup goes in, plus if you didn't ring your tup lambs they'll potentially be causing mischief soon 

I'll be speaning (separating/weaning) mine in the next week or so.

The tup/wether lambs will go to the butchers when they're ready, Nov- Feb, don't know with these new Shetlands, the Roughs went in October. Some of the ewe lambs and the tup I'll sell in September and a couple of the ewe lambs I'll keep plus I'm buying a new tup this year.

[in the hills]

Thanks Jaykay.


 So, I will need to separate them soon. We did ring them so that is not a problem. Hoped they would wean themselves  . Bit of a wimp and can't stand their pitiful cries for mum ..... thought it would be better for both if they could do it naturally. Oh well .... will brace myself for the din. 

[jaykay]

I know, I hate it too. Might give it a week more.... 

[Brucklay]

I was prepared for a din when I separated the boys from mum (same day as girls sold) but as we'd had the ram in for the duration and the boys moved with him I was pleasantly surprised at how calm things went - just our set up but easier keeping the ram in with the ewes (winter to weaning) and he caused no issues, in fact seems really proud of his little male gang

[Bramblecot]

I was prepared for a din when I separated the boys from mum (same day as girls sold) but as we'd had the ram in for the duration and the boys moved with him I was pleasantly surprised at how calm things went - just our set up but easier keeping the ram in with the ewes (winter to weaning) and he caused no issues, in fact seems really proud of his little male gang

Ditto from me.  He really is the 'leader of the gang'.  Didn't hear a peep from the lambs and the ewes only bleated for a few hours.

[jaykay]

I move my boys in with the tup and the wether, they've only been the other side of a stock fence, so the lambs don't seem to mind them - but they still shout for mummy the first night 

In order to put the maximum distance between the boys and their mums, one or other has to be in the field right behind the house - earplugs required!