[bigchicken]

Question, Do Ryeland sheep drink lots of water, I have noticed that my Ryeland ewes who are due lambs in the next few weeks are drinking lots more water than my Shetland ewes who are also due lambs in a few weeks. I was wondering if any of the Ryeland owners have this experience. I know that ewes tend to drink more when pregnant and on hay whats left of the grass and a bit of hard feed. I would not like to go out for a drink with these ewes I would be legless if I tried to keep up with them.

[morri2]

Hello Bigchicken. I cannot speak for Ryelands, but I have Polled Dorsets due to lamb very soon and they are drinking gallons and have been for the past few weeks, whilst normally they drink very little. My ghbour's Welsh crosses, also due to lamb shortly, drink  hardly anything - not much help I know, but its an interesting observation on the difference between breeds.

[dixie]

Hi, I have mules they also have started drinking more this week, not due to lamb until mid April!

[kaz]

I have Ryelands and yes they do drink lots of water especially now as they are due any day. Had first two lambs Weds. one of each and Mum now drinking no where near as much water.

[bigchicken]

Very interesting indeed different breed different strokes. Sad foot note first Ryeland found with dead lamb this morning a bit earlier than I had though was due. Head swollen so if I had been a bit earlier this morning who knows. First lamb I have lost in five years. First timer and the poor thing looks lost and not sure what to do.

[morri2]

Get her a replacement as soon as you can, if you can.  I had this problem a couple of years ago.  First one to lamb had dead twins - oodles of milk, udder almost dragging on the floor and, like yours, totally lost without a baba.  So I left one dead twin in the pen with her (horrible I know but at least she had something to centre her attention on) and went off in search of some new orphans to put with her.  Managed to find some on a farm about twenty miles away - different breed, but it didn't matter. Couldn't get anything round here as it was January and no-one had lambed yet. Their mum had no milk to feed them so the farmer was only too glad to let me borrow them until they were weaned.  Had dead lamb skinned and what was left of it rubbed over the new ones (yeuch!!) and it worked.  She was as pleased as can be - never seen such a happy sheep!  Go around your neighbouring farms and see what you can do - but do it as soon as possible.....time is of the essence here.  Good luck!!

[Rosemary]

Mine are drinking more than usual. I think there's not much moisture in the grass, and the hay and coarse mix are dry too. If I ate dry Shredded Wheat, I'd need a good drink too