How's lambing going?

Western Pomise

Well mid season flock owners,how's lambing going?...we are having more losses than normal but mainly bad luck ones,53 ewes lambed,82 lambs alive on ground,2 ewes dead,I oldish ewe died after pining for a week,another with suspected meningitis ..treated her but got to her too late....,around 10 lambs dead..incl ,2 sets who seemed to be born dead outdoors,and most frustratingly 3 lambs lay on by mothers in pens in shed(which are plenty big!)...good news being lambs on ground are doing well,will be halfway soon.

Conmaicne Mara

200% here !

Just started this morning with one ewe. Always was of the belief that the problems come at the start of lambing, then it gets better from there.

paddysdream

Only 25 or so left.A few ewe lambs ,last of the hogget's and a few late ewes.

Nicest lambing season for many a year.Only problem was the wet weather in the begining.

1 lamb with a touch of e coli;normally would be going with entrol or baytril max after the first 100 or so.
Lost no ewe lambing.One ancient(but she had a full set of teeth!)cheviot died after housing and one(also on her last year) had 2 lambs,one dead ,one ok and died after a week.Also lost one ewe outside maybe a fortnight after lambing.No idea why.

Lost very few lambs at birth,even the little runts that would die of another year survived this time.Lost 4 outside at 2 to 3 weeks of age(think all were from one bunch of ewes that were missed for the 8 in 1 )
First year to have a mistake in scanning.A ewe scanned for 2 had 3.Nice to count up the tail rings when its only a little percentage behind what they scanned in December.

Lambs doing well at the moment.Not a major amount of grass though.

Had one ewe put out the bed but a stitch cured her.One ewe only lambed down with no milk but had a couple of handy foster mothers for her lambs.

One ewe aborted early with 2 dead lambs and the first 20 or so ewes had smallish lambs as did the first 10 or so hoggets.

No pets as all fostering went ok.Had one lamb which was tried as part of a pair on 4 different ewes(first one for nearly 2 weeks!) until one hogget took to him on thursday.Must be about a month old at this stage.

Decent crop of lambs esp. from the bought in hoggets.Know that of the 40 bought in ones lambed they have one treble,34 doubles and 5 singles.Only reason I am sure is that just after looking at them in the shed.Couldn't ask for much better than that.

Very little handling on ewes this year and for the first time ever,no lamb found with a swelled head hanging from a ewe.

In case anyone thinks I am bragging ,remember many years where you would be depressed going into the shed only to see 5 or 6 dead lambs or a couple of ewes turned up and maybe 40 or 50 to be done for e coli before going up the fields to gather up a few dead ones after a wet night.

Roll on the same again in 2015

rancher

Had 165 due 1st march, only 12 left now, 1.7 lambs/ewe on the ground, (well back on other years) very straightforward lambing and weather good,
Another 175 due 18th march, only really starting now, snow blowing in the wind this morning
With the first batch gone out of the sheds, there's loads of room to hold in lambs for a few days longer.
One ewe lost in the first batch, and have had to put one down in the second batch.
So only really a third of the way through yet, but happy enough

Conmaicne Mara

Sexed semen trial working fantastic , 3 out of 30 let to the ram lambed now, 200%, all ewe lambs.

Not liking this weather though, heavy rain/hail/sleet showers, windy and bitter out.

rancher

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Sexed semen trial working fantastic , 3 out of 30 let to the ram lambed now, 200%, all ewe lambs.

Not liking this weather though, heavy rain/hail/sleet showers, windy and bitter out.

Yea, let out 20 lambs yest morning checked them at lunch time, they were great, cold and rain arrived then, 5.oc there was three cold,couldn't believe they went down so quick...but it was bitter

Conmaicne Mara

rancher wrote: »

Yea, let out 20 lambs yest morning checked them at lunch time, they were great, cold and rain arrived then, 5.oc there was three cold,couldn't believe they went down so quick...but it was bitter

Have all mine in the shed now, problem being the shed is now full, no more room at the inn. Thankfully the ould fella volunteered space in his shed, which I will take up with twins. Debating as to how singles will do, though with a milky ewe a decent start and a lamb jacket I'd say they'd be fine. It's the ones lambed early in the night I'm concerned with the most.

razor8

Can beat your 200% this morning had 3 sets of trips and all up and going 300%

Slower than usual here just over 1/3 of the way when I should be over half way there

Having a lot more triplets than scanner picked up 12 extra so far and one scanned single had twins. Lost 6 lambs yesterday but in general mortality low and just 2 dead ewes so far

Despite the bad weather lambs seem to be coping well and stretching when there put up which is always a good sign

In bed now for a zzzzzzzzzz

solerina

Only just started. First three arrived yesterday, one couple, one single, all ram lambs...have no grass yet and lambing wasn't supposed to start for another two weeks (damn commonages when your neighbour lets out his ****ty ram two weeks before you take your off the hill). Very cold here this morning and a slight covering of snow.

paddysdream

rancher wrote: »

Yea, let out 20 lambs yest morning checked them at lunch time, they were great, cold and rain arrived then, 5.oc there was three cold,couldn't believe they went down so quick...but it was bitter

Was thinking of letting out a few yesterday morning and decided not to bother as lots of room in the shed now and no pressure on space or with disease.Was a glorious morning here on Friday and very tempting.

Went to Dublin to drop the mother in law back home instead and it was a complete evening of hailstones and sleet.
Would have been very tough on freshly let out lambs,even with good shelter.

arctictree

Lambing was due to start on the 15th. About half way through. Was going to put a few out this morning but left it when it started sleeting. One prolapsed 10 days ago, vet stitched her and she still hasn't lambed yet...

sea12

I just put mine into shed yesterday. Due to lamb from next weekend. Looking forward to them being born now after reading all the reports here.

Conmaicne Mara

Whopper of a ram lamb this morning. Had to give the ewe some help having him, big horns on the lamb which gives me pause for thought. But, she was licking him right away, left them where they were a while till they get used to each other, will move them shortly down to the grass, such as it is.

Lambing % now gone to fup.......

eire23

First horny ewe must have here must have lambed sometime last night. Noticed her when she didnt come down to the feeder for silage this morning. A pair of ram lambs and she had them tucked in under a bank, the hailstones werent bothering them. Hard to beat the horny for mothering ability!

Conmaicne Mara

Everything weighed properly now, made a weight loss on one! I knew the weight was fishy yesterday.

1st twins 2.875kg & 2.855kg
2nd twins 3.74kg & 3.05kg
3rd twins 3.780kg & 3.355kg

All ewe lambs above

Single ram lamb this morning was 4.93kg.

Last year I asked Sheep Ireland what they reckoned an "average" blackface birth weight should be, 4kg I was told for a single, so not so bad.

Conmaicne Mara

eire23 wrote: »

First horny ewe must have here must have lambed sometime last night. Noticed her when she didnt come down to the feeder for silage this morning. A pair of ram lambs and she had them tucked in under a bank, the hailstones werent bothering them. Hard to beat the horny for mothering ability!

Ewe that had my third set of twins had them behind a bit of protruding granite, she had them in by the rock and herself outside them, no weather or fox was going to stir those girls.

Username John

eire23 wrote: »

First horny ewe must have here must have lambed sometime last night. Noticed her when she didnt come down to the feeder for silage this morning. A pair of ram lambs and she had them tucked in under a bank, the hailstones werent bothering them. Hard to beat the horny for mothering ability!

Conmaicne Mara wrote: »

Ewe that had my third set of twins had them behind a bit of protruding granite, she had them in by the rock and herself outside them, no weather or fox was going to stir those girls.

My suffolky ewes had their (day or two old) lambs out in the hailstones yesterday, happy out. A few of the lambs were humpy enough looking after being out in it. But the ewes grazed on, not a bit bothered...
Fcuking suffolks...

ferryman35

Our early lambs were very difficult even thought here were only a handful.. All bar 1 had to be helped - mostly big ewes but all big lambs and presenting the wrong way. Rapid education though!

Have another bunch due to lamb from mid april...different sheep though and mainly carrying singles so hopefully it will be a better experience! One had a premature lamb last Thusday though, lamb didn't do and she has been pining since. She comes to the trough for meal alright but then separates from the flock for the rest of the day.

Is it too late to buy a foster lamb for her? Her mothering instincts are incredibly strong especially compared to the big girls in round 1!

solerina

OH not happy after yesterdays events..enormous ram lamb who he just couldn't get out....died in the efforts...the one from the day before died too. One pair of ram lambs born healthy...I feel this lambing is going to be torture if the weather doesn't pick up (and fast !!)

Conmaicne Mara

I just let two of the couples out for a few hours. The sun was shining and I could smell the grass growing, shame to have them in the shed. One will probably attempt to kill itself in the few hours but it''ll be good for the ewes to get a bit of fresh grass into them. Back indoors (I hope) well before night.

Conmaicne Mara

Username John wrote: »

My suffolky ewes had their (day or two old) lambs out in the hailstones yesterday, happy out. A few of the lambs were humpy enough looking after being out in it. But the ewes grazed on, not a bit bothered...
Fcuking suffolks...

You need to buy a few blackies UJ

ferryman35

Not that's it's much help for this year.....are they too well fed?

I've been reading that allowing them overfeed mid pregnancy can lead to lamb presentation problems.....and feeding in late pregnancy will have a big effect on lamb size....but if the lamb is already big when it gets to that stage....

We only had a handful and I think that may be the cause of alot of our problems.

rancher

ferryman35 wrote: »

Not that's it's much help for this year.....are they too well fed?

I've been reading that allowing them overfeed mid pregnancy can lead to lamb presentation problems.....and feeding in late pregnancy will have a big effect on lamb size....but if the lamb is already big when it gets to that stage....

We only had a handful and I think that may be the cause of alot of our problems.

+1
Also in later lambing ewes, early grass isn't taken into consideration and in april that can really increase the size of the lamb in the ewe, you might think you have nothing but if its greening up, it's growing and they're getting something out of it

Conmaicne Mara

6 ewes lambed, 4 sets of twins, 2 singles, 8 ewe lambs, 2 ram lambs

razor8

Getting to zombie mode here, meeting myself on my duties and scratching my head wondering what I was supposed to do next. 34 lambed down since yesterday morning.

A few pictures of them in the shed wAiting for it to warm up a bit before they go out

rancher

razor8 wrote: »

Getting to zombie mode here, meeting myself on my duties and scratching my head wondering what I was supposed to do next. 34 lambed down since yesterday morning.

A few pictures of them in the shed wAiting for it to warm up a bit before they go out

I know what you mean, we had over 90 over three days, definitely zombified by the fourth day

Birdnuts

2 sets of twins and 3 singles here. All doing well except one of the smaller twins that died with 24 hrs - I don't know whether the ewe sat on him or not but he was very small and weak compared to his sister. Just a dozen ewes to go now so hopefully they'll go as smoothly as the early ones.

Conmaicne Mara

Nothing lambed last night, and I was quite happy about that.

Conmaicne Mara

razor8 wrote: »

scratching my head wondering what I was supposed to do next.

Have a memo thing on my phone, as soon as I think of something needs doing I write it down. Paper would be faster, but paper is easy lost, or put into the washing machine :pac:

dodderangler

Just curious but has anyone lost any lambs to foxes.
A farmer that neighbours some permission I hunt has asked me to take a walk on his land to try for foxes as he's lost 3 so far and I know it may sound silly but think I know the fox he's on about. Big lad around for a while. But anyway back to question.
Any lambs taken by foxes and how many.

Zoo4m8

razor8 wrote: »

Getting to zombie mode here, meeting myself on my duties and scratching my head wondering what I was supposed to do next. 34 lambed down since yesterday morning.

A few pictures of them in the shed wAiting for it to warm up a bit before they go out

I've long given up this nonsense! Too old now.... But I remember well one Sunday walking across the yard buckets in every hand, and suddenly not knowing where I was or what I was doing...scary stuff..I was smoking at the time so had a sit down and a fag and came to after about half an hour

Another year I got the flu in the middle of a lamb explosion.. went to the doc and told him I need something to keep me going, he said don't ask what I'm going to give you and don't come back looking for it again.. I have no idea what it was but I floated round the yard for a week , never felt as good before or since!

AnFeirmeoir

getting to the end now. 7 left. Gone through the initial exuberance, the "in the zone kicking ass" , and the "the Where the fck am i" stages. Now in the " glad its ending but i'll miss it stage"

Isn't there some hormone women release after a birth that makes them forget how bad it was ? I think there's one for farmers at lambing too.


I got to 72 lambs before i lost any. Lost 3 lambs in the last 4 days though ( 2 scour and one cold weather). You cant cheat the devil for ever.

arctictree

The one morning I couldn't make it to the field, I arrive down at 5pm to see 2 dead newborn lambs with eyes pecked out and half a lamb. Not sure what happened...

Birdnuts

arctictree wrote: »

The one morning I couldn't make it to the field, I arrive down at 5pm to see 2 dead newborn lambs with eyes pecked out and half a lamb. Not sure what happened...

Do you have any shelter in the field?? Today was very wet and cold in Eastern Counties, and if the ewe dropped them out in the open, hypothermia would be a big risk. Such lambs would also be at risk of getting their eyes pecked out by Grey crows though its sometimes hard to tell if it happed before or after death. If your having problem with grey crows the local Gun club should be able to help or you can invest in a crow trap which is the best way of getting rid of big numbers.

arctictree

Birdnuts wrote: »

Do you have any shelter in the field?? Today was very wet and cold in Eastern Counties, and if the ewe dropped them out in the open, hypothermia would be a big risk. Such lambs would also be at risk of getting their eyes pecked out by Grey crows though its sometimes hard to tell if it happed before or after death. If your having problem with grey crows the local Gun club should be able to help or you can invest in a crow trap which is the best way of getting rid of big numbers.

There is good shelter in the field but she chose to lamb out in the middle. The half lamb was only half developed, I wonder if this was part of the problem. Kicking myself because I had a glance at the field at 8am, couldn't see a couple of ewes and just assumed they were in the bushes grazing as they are not really due for another week and was going to bring them in at the weekend.

sea12

First lambs this evening. A set of triplets. At least scanner had her marked accordingly as she was on meal done then. They were big lambs for triplets.

Nice to get off to a good start

rancher

Had a lamb born this morn at 4oc, when I got up and out at 8oc he had a hole in his tummy and all his intestines out,
Got him stitched at the vet, he's up sucking this evening....hardy little buggers
Actually he sucked a bottle this morning when I brought him home, but when the anaesthetic wore off a couple hours later, he was not a happy camper

razor8

rancher wrote: »

Had a lamb born this morn at 4oc, when I got up and out at 8oc he had a hole in his tummy and all his intestines out,
Got him stitched at the vet, he's up sucking this evening....hardy little buggers
Actually he sucked a bottle this morning when I brought him home, but when the anaesthetic wore off a couple hours later, he was not a happy camper

Same happened a lamb I took backways from a ewe lamb. Was fine and up sucking and next morning all intestines were out around the naval and he was lying out flat. I put him in a bucket of water and walked away, makes ya sick to the stomach doing it but I thought he was suffering and my vet told me before he will 100% get infected

Green farmer

Never seen that around here, and by the sounds if it , I wouldn't like to either

rancher

razor8 wrote: »

Same happened a lamb I took backways from a ewe lamb. Was fine and up sucking and next morning all intestines were out around the naval and he was lying out flat. I put him in a bucket of water and walked away, makes ya sick to the stomach doing it but I thought he was suffering and my vet told me before he will 100% get infected

yea, wouldn't have bothered only I had to get stuff from the vet and just rang him to see would he be there, seems fine this morning, vet said intestines weren't pierced and not long out, but gave no guarantees and did it FOC

razor8

rancher wrote: »

yea, wouldn't have bothered only I had to get stuff from the vet and just rang him to see would he be there, seems fine this morning, vet said intestines weren't pierced and not long out, but gave no guarantees and did it FOC

Let us know if he makes it, il be kicking myself if he does!!

Conmaicne Mara

Hope your lamb will be alright rancher.

Another ewe lamb set of twins here this morning and another single ram lamb. 10 lambed now, 16 lambs.

Green farmer

Mine are slow to kick off, only 4 lambed two days in. Only 4 lambs to show for my efforts. If any one knows how to upload pics from iPhone to this site let me know and I'll stick up a few pics

Bleating Lamb

Had a 3 yr old ewe pricking around the field near house all day,was keeping an eye on her,was sick of lambing all day,water bag out at 5,put her in at half five as no progress,ring not open,manipulated away at it for 20 mins,got hand in to meet 2 heads and 3 feet,got one lamb coming right eventually but had a fierce job getting him and his brother out as ring was just barely open enough,teo big lambs.....great to get lambs alive though,mammy will be getting the red card come the Autumn!

arctictree

Charley Ram broke into my field of llyens in early November. First lambs out an hour ago nice big ewe twins with no assistance.

J.O. Farmer

Bleating Lamb wrote: »

Had a 3 yr old ewe pricking around the field near house all day,was keeping an eye on her,was sick of lambing all day,water bag out at 5,put her in at half five as no progress,ring not open,manipulated away at it for 20 mins,got hand in to meet 2 heads and 3 feet,got one lamb coming right eventually but had a fierce job getting him and his brother out as ring was just barely open enough,teo big lambs.....great to get lambs alive though,mammy will be getting the red card come the Autumn!

At least you knew that the 2 were there. I once pulled a big lamb and checked for a second. I got 2 feet and a head. I tried pulling the lamb but it wasn't coming. Felt a bit more and found the third foot. It turns out I was trying to bring 2 together. I ffigured out which feet went with the head and got the lamb. I should point out that I was inexperienced at the time and any of the lambs would have passed for a twin.
Is there any reason why she didn't open right. She may be okay next year.

tomwaterford

arctictree wrote: »

Charley Ram broke into my field of llyens in early November. First lambs out an hour ago nice big ewe twins with no assistance.

I hope you have them in:)
wicked weather for any lamb to be born out...never mind a charley lamb

Bleating Lamb

J.O. Farmer wrote: »

At least you knew that the 2 were there. I once pulled a big lamb and checked for a second. I got 2 feet and a head. I tried pulling the lamb but it wasn't coming. Felt a bit more and found the third foot. It turns out I was trying to bring 2 together. I ffigured out which feet went with the head and got the lamb. I should point out that I was inexperienced at the time and any of the lambs would have passed for a twin.
Is there any reason why she didn't open right. She may be okay next year.

Don't know,strange one,but don't think I will chance her again,plenty of sheep in the world without trouble ones.

sea12

Had a ewe lambing this morning and it was a tough one. Only second ewe to lamb. But the lambs are very big. Afraid to see what the singles are going to be like.

Vandy West

Lambing outside everything going well, went out a bit later than usual this morning to find one ewe with four lambs and another close by who had lambed but had no lambs. Ewe with four lambs was letting all four suck. Could not think of a way to sort it and had to take oh out for mothers day so decided to leave them and hope for the best. Came back a couple hours later to one ewe with no lambs and the other ewe with FIVE lambs. She was not letting one suck and realized the fifth lamb was part of twins that had lambed nearby in the morning. Took fifth back to mother but she wouldn't take her back. Tried taking two lambs off superman and giving to ewe with no lambs but she would not take them! So now have three pets to try to foster...

Green farmer

The lambing sheds seem a lot nicer a place to be at in the evening time now the stretch in daylight hours is here. No sign of even getting dark yet