[Shire1980]

My sheep are due to start lambing on the 16th of feb but i've noticed that a couple are starting to bag up already.
I was going to bring them inside next week to be on the safe side but after noticing them bagging up do you think i should bring them in sooner?

[twizzel]

Probably best to start watching for lambs from a week before the due date. I like to bring them in 2 weeks before so they settle into a routine inside before they start lambing... so yes I’d bring them in now. Incidentally my ewes have started to bag up this week and aren’t due for another month 

[Shire1980]

Brilliant thanks. I'll get them in tomorrow as the snow is quite bad as well so can't take the chance with them lambing outside

[twizzel]

Just try and pick a day where they are dry to house them. Bringing in soaking wet ewes is a recipe for pneumonia 

[StephB]

Sorry to jump in on the conversation but I have three ewes due soon.  do they really need to be bought indoors?  I planned on them lambing outside and only bringing them in if they do not bond or there are any other issues.  We are in Dorset and relatively mild so far.

[landroverroy]

No they don't need to be brought in. Especially as the weather is so mild at present. It's handy though to have some form of shelter available in case of problems.

[SallyintNorth]

I’ve done it both ways and unless the weather would kill lambs would always go for outdoor lambing, minimal intervention.  But be sure I’ve got places I can get ewes to if I do need to do anything, and somewhere to put a family or two under cover if necessary.

Item number one on my lambing kit list?  Binoculars. 

[bj_cardiff]

I've lambed hundreds indoors but only ever had a three sheep lamb outdoors, twice was because all the other ewes had all lambed and been turned out, the weather was nice and ewes were experienced. The other time was a ewe lamb that wasn't supposed to be in lamb and she must of lambed early in the morning and the crows killed the lambs - it was really horrible.

Have you lambed these ewes before? How experienced are you? Personally I'd move them indoors so I can watch them

[SallyintNorth]

What type of sheep are they?  My experience is that some breeds / types are so stressed by being indoors (even if acclimatised for a few weeks before lambing), you get a much higher incidence of problems - of all types, but especially rejection of lambs.

And well-meaning but inexperienced fussing has a similar effect...

[Backinwellies]

What type of sheep are they?  My experience is that some breeds / types are so stressed by being indoors (even if acclimatised for a few weeks before lambing), you get a much higher incidence of problems - of all types, but especially rejection of lambs.

And well-meaning but inexperienced fussing has a similar effect...

I agree. My Llanwenogs. Settle indoors in seconds .... But other breeds don't take to being enclosed