Author Topic: Unexpected lambs born today! Help! (Read 6128 times)

waterbuffalofarmer · « **Reply #15 on:** December 31, 2014, 04:12:10 pm »

Congrats! My sheep don't start lambing until the beginning of April. I separate all ram lambs coming to the end of summer, so I can fatten em for mart. I don't castrate any of the ram lambs, I have been told it can taint the meat, but I've never had that.

kate7590 · « **Reply #16 on:** December 31, 2014, 05:20:03 pm »

Thanks everyone for replies

We bought some rings and applicator, which we will do tomorrow or friday I think.
Is it normal for one lamb to be much smaller than the other? Little Nancy is noticeably smaller than Norman, and he seems to be feeding more and for longer than her. Norman is quite big and solid whereas Nancy is quite bone-y and delicate.
Obviously with NY now we can't go anywhere, but should we be supplementing her food at all? Even bottle feeding her alongside mothers milk to help her a bit?

Anke · « **Reply #17 on:** December 31, 2014, 06:10:43 pm »

As long as the ewe is happily standing for both of them to suckle and wee girl is bouncy and well, pee-ing/poo-ing etc as she should despite being small all should be well. There is a limited number of cotyledons in the uterus available for the lambs, and sometimes the distribution is uneven, leading to one big/normal sized and tiny lamb. Cotyledons is where the nutrients are channelled through form ewe to foetus. Unless there is something wrong with the small one they usually catch up and by midsummer you won't notice much a difference anymore. At least my experience. However if there is something not quite right with the wee lamb you are usually not able to get them to grow or even survive. I wouldn't bottle feed unless she is rejected by the ewe.

Treud na Mara · « **Reply #18 on:** December 31, 2014, 06:23:39 pm »

I love the idea of practising ringing with marbles in a sock. I feel this could be the basis for a new party game.

devonlady · « **Reply #19 on:** December 31, 2014, 08:24:22 pm »

Quote from: Rosemary on December 31, 2014, 12:31:19 pm

Quote from: devonlady on December 31, 2014, 08:28:10 am
When you can feel Norman's testicles well down in the sac is the time to ring him. Expect him to fall to the floor and writhe a bit. I cross my legs when I'm doing ours and I haven't got any!! ( testicles that is ) Also, before you close the ring, make sure that both balls are well in front of the ring. Practice on small marbles in a sock.

And make sure you don't trap a nipple.

Made me cross my arms