[SallyintNorth]

We usually tup a few for February lambs but the bulk of the flock to lamb in March.  Big ewe lambs to lamb well after the main flock has been once through, so we can concentrate on them properly.  If we have a lot of shearlings who didn't lamb as hoggs coming into the flock we'll lamb them after the main flock.

We'll probably get the first tup out next week.  He'll go to big strong experienced ewes whose lambs were early away this year, so they've had a good long time to get fit.  But we won't flush them as we hope they'll all have single lambs, which will be ready as soon as possible while spring lamb prices are still high.  We usually have the first few away end May, at around 14 weeks old. 

[SallyintNorth]

jaykay, our ex-lodger had done sponging and didn't rate it.  Not a very good success rate and he was very uncomfortable with the likelihood of infection.  He felt it maybe caused fertility issues downstream, too.  However it is still used by quite a few commercial flocks hereabouts, so it must work for them.

Given that your females share a long fence with your tup, would you not expect the majority to be tupped within the first 14 days anyway?  I suppose you really don't want even one geld while you're trying to increase numbers, though.

[jaykay]

What happened last year Sally, is that they were clearly cycling and were all tupped at the end of the 17 days when I put him in - all bar one. All the sharing of the fence does is get them in sync not ready at a specified date.

[SallyintNorth]

What happened last year Sally, is that they were clearly cycling and were all tupped at the end of the 17 days when I put him in - all bar one.

Someone's law, that! 

[Rosemary]

5th November and we don't tup ewe lambs.

[Sbom]

Our tup stays with the ewes all year, he is raddled up but nothing marked yet. I prefer not to tup ewe lambs.

[RichStaffs]

Talking about a tight tupping time, I need mine to be a fortnight. So I was wondering about sponging. Anyone done it?

Sponging can be ok, but you need 1 ram for every ten ewes. I've changed to using teasers.
Keep ewes away from sight, sound and smell of rams (and billy goats) for 6 weeks, put teasers in for 14 days and then replace with fertile rams, the majority of the ewes will take the rams around day 18.
Obviously a few will repeat 17 days later, but works for me.

[Anke]

5th November and we don't tup ewe lambs.

Same here. Ties up with school hols.