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Old 04-19-2019, 03:17 AM   #1
Pebbles82
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Default Lambing time

Just thought I'd start a thread for our lambing time. Last year was a bad year for most farmers. This year the weather is just right - hope everyone is enjoying the sunshine this week-end I'll add some photos as we go along.

Lambing started slowly about a week ago and so far two sets of triplets and a few pairs of lambs. It picks up thick and fast from now on and will probably tail off in about 10 days.

Most of the sheep lamb out in the fields here as they are a hill breed and only sick ones or ones at risk are brought into a barn. The lambs here are born later than most (deliberately) due to it being high up and to avoid frosts etc.

So all going well so far. An older Ewe had a prolapse, which was put back, she then gave birth to triplets and had the prolapse repaired and is doing fine. She couldn't feed all three lambs so the skin from a lamb found dead, was wrapped round one of the triplets and that lamb was put to a Ewe whose lamb was found dead. Sounds gruesome but it works. The Ewe who lost her lamb is now Mothering the lamb with the lamb "coat" on it.

One Ewe today had a birthing problem OH couldn't solve and has been taken to the vets - this is very rare so maybe the lamb is sideways inside. Fingers crossed all turns out well at the vets.

Last edited by Pebbles82; 04-19-2019 at 07:30 AM.
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Old 04-19-2019, 05:30 AM   #2
souffle
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Default Re: Lambing time

Ooo can't wait to see pics of these years lambs. I loved last years! Are any of last years becoming mums this year or is it too soon?
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Old 04-19-2019, 07:17 AM   #3
Pebbles82
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Hi. No not yet Last year's lambs are gimmer lambs - lambs that have finished weaning, but still not fully grown. I think they wait until they're two years old when they are gimmer shearlings, but will check with OH.

The ewe is back from the vets after being lambed and both are doing fine, but the Mother is ignoring the lamb as she had a traumatic birth. Hopefully she will come round - at the moment the lamb is resting in the sun and being tube fed.

Have a couple of photos from today. The ewe that lost a lamb had twins. One survived and she now has one of the triplets with it's lamb coat on. Although it is slightly gruesome I think it looks quite sweet in its lamb coat - you can tell which one has the lamb coat by the extra long tail and the little trouser legs!

Mother Ewe with her lamb and her adopted lamb


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The new born lamb in the sun (still a bit grungy looking!)

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Last edited by Pebbles82; 11-26-2022 at 05:26 PM.
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Old 04-19-2019, 07:29 AM   #4
Pebbles82
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Default Re: Lambing time

If anyone is interested in sheep counting traditions, the one for this region is (from 1 to 5)

Yan
Tan
Tethera
Methera
Pip

Can't remember the rest without looking it up, but 10 is "Dick" and Fifteen is "Bumfit" Sounds very funny when all counted out and rhythmic like poetry.
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Old 04-19-2019, 09:02 AM   #5
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Default Re: Lambing time

Great to hear that lambing is going well. I remember you having many lambs indoors last year with all the problems. Love the photos. The lamb coat may sound gruesome but it has saved another young life that would otherwise be lost. It is certainly a very old custom.
The new born in the sun needs his mum so I hope she comes round to him soon otherwise there is a lot of feeding to be done by someone!
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Old 04-19-2019, 09:44 AM   #6
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Default Re: Lambing time

They’re so sweet, I love lambs! Will the ewe get used to the lamb’s scent or will it need to wear the coat until it’s old enough to be weaned? The lamb coat is very cute tho!
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Old 04-19-2019, 10:07 AM   #7
Pebbles82
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The lamb will keep the coat on for a week. The Ewe has accepted it already but it stays on a week to be sure.

I always think the adult Swaledale sheep look like wild old men! Even the females.

Last edited by souffle; 04-19-2019 at 11:03 AM.
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Old 04-20-2019, 02:56 AM   #8
Thin Lizzy
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Default Re: Lambing time

Aww I love it when you do a Lambing thread serendipity, you know that I love sheep so seeing these gorgeous pics has put a huge smile on my face. I'm so glad the weather is so much better this time.
How many different types of sheep do you get? And how many lambs do you think you'll get?
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Old 04-21-2019, 07:02 AM   #9
Pebbles82
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Thank you TL. Haven't got round to uploading more photos yet. The lamb who got stuck, and the Ewe are now in the barn and slowly improving. The lamb has taken a few days to stand up and his Mum was still showing no interest so he has continued to be tube fed. But the lamb is standing now and after OH put the lamb to the Ewe for milk manually, they are getting the hang of it and the Mother is showing a bit more interest.

Yes great weather (hot!) and lambs being born thick and fast now. There are about 100 Ewes so it'll be an average of 200 lambs TL by the time lambing is finished - maybe a bit more. They can either have twins, a single lamb, or more rarely, triplets. Most have two so it averages two to each Ewe.

One one breed of sheep here - Swaledales - a hardly breed for higher/colder climates. Neighbour has a few speciality species of sheep.
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Old 04-23-2019, 03:01 PM   #10
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The lamb coat is off and Mother and both lambs out in the fields now. The other Mother (who had the traumatic birth) has now started looking after her lamb who is standing up and feeding from her fine and they are now out in the fields as well.

Some photos of a few lambs in the fields the last few days. Just over half way through lambing now (OH is - I am busy doing diy!).

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Last edited by Pebbles82; 11-26-2022 at 05:26 PM.
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