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Author Topic: lamb or sheep to move in?  (Read 7284 times)

the two Bs

  • Joined Oct 2013
  • Scottish Borders
lamb or sheep to move in?
« on: March 04, 2014, 09:12:25 pm »
Dear all,
I am sorry not to have introduced myself earlier - I guess I have been a bit shy. I have been a member for about 9 months. I unexpectedly acquired 2 lambs who I adore, a year ago. One is mostly Sussex and the other mostly Oxford. I took both as orphans likely to die and couldn't bear to give them back. However, it has been suggested that it would be better to have 3 so if something happened to one, they would have each other.

I now have the opportunity to get an orphan lamb, and bring it up, and this was my plan. However, today I had the unexpected chance of getting a  (farm bred) ewe, the same age as my pair. She has just had a very traumatic delivery of twins and I am told she will not be able to breed again, so will go for meat. I assisted in her delivery and it was very upsetting. I asked of I could have her instead of a lamb if she survives and was told yes. Lambs are very cute, but my aim is a long term companion for my sheep, so having a lamb is not critical from the "cute" point of view.

Which age do you think would settle in best with my other pair? My lambs (sheep)  are incredibly friendly to humans.  I would be so grateful to all of you with any ideas and experience about this as i can see advantages  in both age groups. I can't take more than one animal due to space. 

i also have a cat, who seems to be pretty indifferent to the sheep.
Many thanks indeed from a beginner...







MarvinH

  • Joined Oct 2011
  • England
Re: lamb or sheep to move in?
« Reply #1 on: March 04, 2014, 10:14:59 pm »
If your happy not to breed from her, Id have the the (healthy?) ewe.
Sheep

SallyintNorth

  • Joined Feb 2011
  • Cornwall
  • Rarely short of an opinion but I mean well
    • Trelay Cohousing Community
Re: lamb or sheep to move in?
« Reply #2 on: March 04, 2014, 11:57:20 pm »
Me too - a sheep the same age and size as your existing pair will fit in with them much better.  I assume both the existing lambs are wethers, not entire tups?
Don't listen to the money men - they know the price of everything and the value of nothing

Live in a cohousing community with small farm for our own use.  Dairy cows (rearing their own calves for beef), pigs, sheep for meat and fleece, ducks and hens for eggs, veg and fruit growing

Hillview Farm

  • Joined Dec 2012
  • Surrey
  • Proud owner of sheep and Llamas!
Re: lamb or sheep to move in?
« Reply #3 on: March 05, 2014, 07:12:57 am »
I agree with the above comments!

mowhaugh

  • Joined Jul 2013
  • Scottish Borders
    • Facebook
Re: lamb or sheep to move in?
« Reply #4 on: March 05, 2014, 08:42:53 am »
Hello! Agree with what the others have said.  Then, if you do want a lamb, you'll have to get three of those too!

the two Bs

  • Joined Oct 2013
  • Scottish Borders
Re: lamb or sheep to move in?
« Reply #5 on: March 07, 2014, 09:55:14 am »
Wise advice,  you all made my life much easier!

 The ewe has recovered from the traumatic birth of her stillborn twins really well and moved in today. We think Snowdrop (her name now) must have been an orphan too as she was only too happy to eat food from my hand and is not frightened of humans, so that is a huge bonus. My little pair seem to be accepting her OK :fc: Thank you from all of us!  :sheep: :sheep: :sheep:

in the hills

  • Joined Feb 2012
Re: lamb or sheep to move in?
« Reply #6 on: March 07, 2014, 10:52:07 am »
Lucky Snowdrop.  :sheep:

That story has made me smile.  :)

Q

  • Joined Apr 2013
Re: lamb or sheep to move in?
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2014, 11:16:55 am »
Good for ewe !  Nice to see a happy ending.
If you cant beat 'em then at least bugger 'em about a bit.

Bramblecot

  • Joined Jul 2008
Re: lamb or sheep to move in?
« Reply #8 on: March 07, 2014, 04:29:31 pm »
Are the others Snowball  :sheep: and Snowflake :sheep: ? Now you just need Snowman :snowman: :thumbsup:

in the hills

  • Joined Feb 2012
Re: lamb or sheep to move in?
« Reply #9 on: March 07, 2014, 04:35:53 pm »
But then there'd be lots of little snowberries  :o  ;D

Daisys Mum

  • Joined May 2009
  • Scottish Borders
Re: lamb or sheep to move in?
« Reply #10 on: March 07, 2014, 06:35:24 pm »
But then there'd be lots of little snowberries  :o ;D


As long as there's no snowballs  :eyelashes:
Anne

in the hills

  • Joined Feb 2012
Re: lamb or sheep to move in?
« Reply #11 on: March 07, 2014, 07:10:27 pm »
 :roflanim: :roflanim: :roflanim:

Bramblecot

  • Joined Jul 2008
Re: lamb or sheep to move in?
« Reply #12 on: March 08, 2014, 09:29:27 am »
 :sunshine: ;D funny how it lightens your mood. 

 

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