Sheep not eating nuts

arctictree · 23-01-2015 11:45AM #1

Bit of a novice question here. My first group for lambing are due to go in the shed in a few weeks time.

I have a hay bale in the field as its getting a bit bare now and feed them a few nuts every few days. I notice there are the same 2 that never eat the nuts.

Do you think they'll eat in the shed? Maybe they need a bit of isolation?

ganmo · 23-01-2015 01:50PM

ya get them in or move them to a different field and bring them to the nuts, after a few days they should learn about it.

Connemara Farmer · 23-01-2015 01:56PM

Some can be pure thick, I saw Dad having to let the odd ewe out of the shed before due to stubbornness, but you should know after a couple of days watching them.

ganmo · 23-01-2015 02:10PM

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

Some can be pure thick, I saw Dad having to let the odd ewe out of the shed before due to stubbornness, but you should know after a couple of days watching them.

thats them horny yolks for ya :P
sure they'd jump out of field of grass just to annoy ya

MayoAreMagic · 23-01-2015 02:13PM

Put them inside, with a lamb that does eat. A lamb is better as he wont be able to bully them away from the feed, but another ewe will do if that is all you have. Give them some ration instead of the nuts. They will eat that easier. Introduce the nuts through the ration and increase over time. Once they are eating put them back with the rest and just mix the ration in with the nuts until it is used up.

Connemara Farmer · 23-01-2015 03:24PM

ganmo wrote: »

thats them horny yolks for ya :P
sure they'd jump out of field of grass just to annoy ya

They'll jump out of no field of mine, I know how to put up a fence :P

Green farmer · 23-01-2015 06:23PM

Connemara Farmer wrote: »

They'll jump out of no field of mine, I know how to put up a fence :P

I had a show jumping horned ram lamb once. Was able to clear a waist high fence no bother

ganmo · 23-01-2015 07:51PM

We used to have a chev one here that would try and jump out of any pen

Try he never cleared anythin!...he made ****e of the place!!

tabby aspreme · 24-01-2015 12:25AM

Sold two quiet Lleyn rams last year as they could clear a field gate no bother

Nekarsulm · 09-02-2015 01:56AM

I have two like that as well......

farawaygrass · 09-02-2015 08:44AM

Nekarsulm wrote: »

I have two like that as well......

Are they in lamb? If they are I would put in another trough, stop them hurting each other.

arctictree · 09-02-2015 12:30PM

My one has started eating now from the trough. I think she got spooked from the time I grabbed her as she was feeding and did her feet! Also, I think the hunger probably got the better of her.

solerina · 09-02-2015 07:11PM

Green farmer wrote: »

I had a show jumping horned ram lamb once. Was able to clear a waist high fence no bother

We have a ram here and there isn't a fence in the place that will keep him in so I know how you feel !!

razor8 · 09-02-2015 07:36PM

Hope you didn't bare it, goes against expert advice these days

Green farmer · 09-02-2015 08:03PM

solerina wrote: »

We have a ram here and there isn't a fence in the place that will keep him in so I know how you feel !!

Actually funny story behind it. I bought a batch of 20 inlamb ewe lambs a few years ago. They were lowland ewes in lamb to a pb texel. Anyway they started lambing. Thing is the first 3 lambed and had " very hairy lambs" with black faces.:rolleyes: then there was a gap of a day or two with nothing born and the other 17 lambed in quick succession, with very white boxy texel type heads. My show jumping ram lambs came from the first 3 lambs born and had horns unlike the rest who were polled and quiet. Anyway they all went the same direction in the end but the 3 lambs were quiet able to jump and rather ilusive to round up as well.

sea12 · 09-02-2015 10:28PM

Was thinking of f setting up a few wooden walk through troughs in the field to feed the ewes until they come into the shed in a months time.
I need my dad to feed them during day as I am gone to work and not back til late. He is getting on in years and not able for them knocking him around.
How many ewes can eat out of a 16ft wooden walk though trough like the ones you see on done deal.

Username John · 09-02-2015 11:22PM

sea12 wrote: »

Was thinking of f setting up a few wooden walk through troughs in the field to feed the ewes until they come into the shed in a months time.
I need my dad to feed them during day as I am gone to work and not back til late. He is getting on in years and not able for them knocking him around.
How many ewes can eat out of a 16ft wooden walk though trough like the ones you see on done deal.

The grandfather when he got on in years had the same problem - he fenced off off a small pen in the corner of the field, and had the ordinary troughs in them. He would go ino the pen, put out the feed, then let the ewes in, wait for em to finish, put em out and close up the pen again til the next day.

Would some of those feed blocks, with some hay do the job? They're expensive but I they held em and you'd have the peace of mind of your ould lad being knocked down. Just a thought.

Green farmer · 09-02-2015 11:30PM

My brother in law was out one day with me. I was standing back and asked him to give the ewes some nuts for me. I'd say he only got within a few foot of the feeder when the sheep surrounded him. What he didn't call me.

I'd swear they'd hear the rustle of a bag a few fields away. All it takes is for 1 sheep to raise the alarm to others.

ganmo · 10-02-2015 12:06AM

Green farmer wrote: »

My brother in law was out one day with me. I was standing back and asked him to give the ewes some nuts for me. I'd say he only got within a few foot of the feeder when the sheep surrounded him. What he didn't call me. I'd swear they'd hear the rustle of a bag a few fields away. All it takes is for 1 sheep to raise the alarm to others.

I always laugh when there's one that is in her own little world and suddenly realises all her mates are gone and legs it...usually in the wrong direction

arctictree · 10-02-2015 12:19AM

razor8 wrote: »

Hope you didn't bare it, goes against expert advice these days

Do you mean pare it? I usually just give them a trim and a spray between the hoofs. Sometimes they can be very overgrown at the toe and need a bit of work.

razor8 · 10-02-2015 12:50AM

sea12 wrote: »

Was thinking of f setting up a few wooden walk through troughs in the field to feed the ewes until they come into the shed in a months time.
I need my dad to feed them during day as I am gone to work and not back til late. He is getting on in years and not able for them knocking him around.
How many ewes can eat out of a 16ft wooden walk though trough like the ones you see on done deal.

If the sheep come running from one direction they'll just topple the walk through trough, not a good situation with your dad in it, quad and snacker would be the real deal if enough sheep to justify one.

Fenced off area sounds a good plan as long as it's good and dry

Nekarsulm · 10-02-2015 12:55AM

If you have a gate into the field from a lane way, etc, that they can't get around the other side of, three 15 foot gates in a box shape inside the gateway would give you 45 foot of feeding space.

Green farmer · 10-02-2015 09:03AM

Some people use old long RSJ's as feeding troughs. They couldn't knock it over. You could also make up the v shaped timber troughs out of old planks also. They'd be low enough to ground, that wouldn't get knocked over either. I use old old blue barrels cut in half scattered about. What ever option just make sure there's more trough space then sheep. Fenced off area is right idea alright.

sea12 · 13-03-2015 10:14PM

sea12 wrote: »

Was thinking of f setting up a few wooden walk through troughs in the field to feed the ewes until they come into the shed in a months time.
I need my dad to feed them during day as I am gone to work and not back til late. He is getting on in years and not able for them knocking him around.
How many ewes can eat out of a 16ft wooden walk though trough like the ones you see on done deal.

Meant to update this a couple of times but kept forgetting to take a photo. I set up 3 sets of these after. Worked very well. Simple but very effective. Cost 100 for timber rails from local sawmill and had stakes already. Saved the father getting knocked down the whole time. Was put up in under an hour and can take down after Tomo once they come into the shed.

gazahayes · 14-03-2015 12:31AM

sea12 wrote: »

Meant to update this a couple of times but kept forgetting to take a photo. I set up 3 sets of these after. Worked very well. Simple but very effective. Cost 100 for timber rails from local sawmill and had stakes already. Saved the father getting knocked down the whole time. Was put up in under an hour and can take down after Tomo once they come into the shed.

Some job alright but how did you manage with the heavy rain did it not go to scutter?

sea12 · 14-03-2015 09:17PM

No luckily it's fairly good ground. It did get mucky alright but not too bad

Sheep not eating nuts

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