[charls]

Hi all, another pregnant sheep query (must be that time of year!!). My ewes are due to start lambing next week, and it's the first time for me so I'm not sure what to expect. Anyway, they have hay ad-lib, a mineral lick and are given some cake everyday. They were happily eating all their hay up until a week or so ago, but are hardly touching it now. Is this to do with them being pregnant, having less room to fit hay in? Or perhaps that there are some shoots of grass poking through now and this tastes nicer? I've not changed the hay or anything. I'm just worried they're not eating enough at this key time. Any thoughts?

[in the hills]

We have Soay, not in lamb this year, and they have drastically reduced in the amount of hay they are eating in the last week or so. Doesn't look to be much grass on yet but guessing they are eating it down as it is growing because our lawn has visible fresh growth.

Same happened last year.

My guess is that your grass is growing!!! 

[Rosemary]

As the lambs get bigger, the ewes have less rumen capacity to accommodate hay. Plus the grass may well be growing - look at a patch that they don't have access to, to see how much it's growing. It's surprising how much they nibble away at what looks like nothing 

[Fowlman]

They do eat less hay as they get near plus the grass is starting to grow.

[wellies]

There is a noticeable drop in hay consumption (in mine at least) as the lambs grow bigger during the final week or so. Sounds normal to me   

[firther]

yea its nothing to worry about, like said eat less hay but the main reason is the grass is growing. we a much grass now as in may last year which isn't a great deal lol

[charls]

Thanks everyone, that's very reassuring! What a great forum this is