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Lambing 2025

Sami23

Lambing kicked off here on Tuesday - small flock and was going well until I checked them a few minutes ago and a twin that lambed at 3pm today the Ewe is after killing one of them by lying on top of him.

Jesus it would sicken you to see a fine big lambed flattened like that for no reason and unless I stay in the shed 24/7 no way of preventing it.

Hope lambing is going well for everyone.

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Anto_Meath

@nicksnikita thanks for that, I ll tell her to look for that.

Dickie10

finished lambing 129 ewes done scanned at 2.05 currently about 8% mortality which is probably below average for that high of a scan . Still annoying when you go out in field and get a 3 week old lamb dead in field. Probably get another few yet. Plenty of hardships with ewes rejecting lambs too of their own . Some old people say it’s sign of a dry summer to come. What’s people’s usual mortality rate? I’d take 10% now as it’s still 1.8 weaning

Dickie10

actually had about 50% die after a week old for different things

wrangler

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123266189#Comment_123266189

6 - 12%losses from scanning to weaning would be average, we're not having a great year here, some ewes having scanned for two and only had one, the scanner also scanned a couple of unviable pregnancies that we've never had before,

Also more wrong presentations at lambing than usual but haven't lost any lambs.

paddysdream

Scanned middling enough from memory but exact figure not certain, somewhere around 1.6 or so I think. Lot of first time hoggets though plus some ewe lambs.Hardly any trebles.

Well through it at this stage ,maybe 70 to 80 left.

This year they started when they should ,which normally doesn't happen here as usually would have 10 or 20 the week before due date. First few were a disaster, think something like 2 lambs alive from first 8 ewes. Everything from weak lambs to born dead to lay on etc. Settled down after that and went away without much drama.

Never in many years lambing has the weather played ball all through, with nary a shower from first lamb till today. Got lambs out at my ease with probably less than 30% of the normal amount of pens used. Lambs seem pretty good this year although the usual hard cases. No lambing difficulty with hardly a ewe handled.

Ewes milking ok and only found one with a wrong udder.Losses mainly from lambs born small/ weak or e coli which seemed to affect only one lamb from twins which was slightly unusual as if beastings quality/amount inadequate then it should have had an impact on both. Have a slight enzo issue here for years but only enough to annoy you , not enough to make vaccination worthwhile. More a big lamb/ small lamb thing than abortion usually.

Considering e coli vaccine for next year as now organic plus its harder to get anything that actually clears it up (antimicrobials). No more scour halt etc. I know hygiene and beasting normally is the best preventative but sometimes you just need the needle.

Only downer this year is that my homebred ewe lambs are poorish compared to previous years, even the ones not in lamb and being fed look middling at best.

White Clover

Anyone here use Orl Den fox repellent on lambs? Where do you apply it? Did you find it good?

Tileman

would be interested in this also. Met a fox walking through the ewes the other night. As calm as u like. Just waiting for his opportunity. Ewes will be brought in this weekend .

Dickie10

ye use Orl Den the last 8 years and haven’t had a lamb taken. Rub a small amount on the back of the head and neck. I think it seems to run foxes away from the area completely because they don’t take cleanings or afterbirth that’s in fields. Mad how it works

White Clover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123276367#Comment_123276367

Good to hear that it works. Thanks

Sami23

Are many of ye seeing scald in lambs feet with all the dry weather we've had lately.

I've had a couple here this week - one lamb had it in two feet. I'm treating it with the Intra Repiderma Spray.

orm0nd

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123280348#Comment_123280348

bringing 1 batch in this morning for boot bath , going to be fun but has to be done

tabby aspreme

I've put clean straw in the footbath to hide the water, until ill sheep get used to going through it

Floody Boreland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123272826#Comment_123272826

Problem I have with Orl Den is it's as clear as water. Impossible to see which lambs have been treated. The maker should remedy this to improve the product.

White Clover

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123286560#Comment_123286560

Would the scent cause any ewes to reject lambs?

Dickie10

no thats why its put on neck, plus the neck is where the fox goes to pick them up. i had an old ewe die yesterday , about 8 yearold completely worn out she had twins about a month ago but only left her with one lamb which she did well on but i knew she would do well to last the spring and rear them, as expected i got her in a heap last evening but was almost dark , i had a staff meeting and was only herding around 7pm. i went down this evening at 5pm to get her for knackery and she wasnt touched at all. very strange that foxes didnt have her down to bones. nothing had touched bar a few crows, lots of places for foxes around bug double ditch etc. i have a feeling the orl den scent in the air drives foxes out of an area, i never see cleanings touched during lambing time or anything, it sits in feild rotting for weeks after.

Tileman

Lambing started here today.
3 ewes lambed. All outside. Not due to lamb until Monday but always get a few lamb early. Unfortunately all sheep in field as planned to bring to shed this evening.

Anyway all sorted now . Good start .

Floody Boreland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123298292#Comment_123298292

I hope it's safe to handle as it is very runny and soon covers your fingers. No ingredients on bottle but no warnings either.

Website no help in that regard.

Dickie10

wear gloves anyway but its all natural products. they actually make all natural products for skin disorders and hair treatment in humans as well

Floody Boreland

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123303159#Comment_123303159

Still curious to know the ingredients. I thought EU law made it mandatory for them to state this on the container.

Runswithfeet

After having some unexpected ‘bonus’ lambs from a roving neighbours ram that visited a bunch of Hoggetts,only was in a few days so didn’t have too much fun thankfully.

Wondering if it’s too late to put tail rings on them?They will be kept close to the house all Summer so I’d be able to watch them for maggots and was thinking of spraying Stockholm tar on their tails to keep the flies away.

Thanks for any replies……

Sami23

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123559256#Comment_123559256

I'd say work away

Mad about baa baas

Id work away too..cheno unction is great stuff to keep flies away from wounds/broken skin too

Who2

I’d a couple of surprise lambs too here and the last tail is to fall off in the next day or two. All looks to be ok.