The Poultry Keeper

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1316 Location: Leicestershire

Hmmm - size is nothing to go by and they don't all get pregnant. If all livestock got pregnant just because they were served I wouldn't have a job (so I'm glad they don't Laughing

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Actually size does matter - they fatter the ewe the less chance there is, and course if you've been feeding them and she's been eating all that and not pregnant then she will be fat.

If she's got a very dirty bum then you ought to be thinking about trimming her now the weather is warming up.

I think patience is the key word here - sorry Very Happy

Itsybitsy

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1400 Location: Clawddnewydd

So sorry to read about your ewe and lambs, I lost an in-lamb ewe last week and also triplets born out in the field prematurely to magpies and crows. I hate the b****** things!!! Just a thought, she may have had grass staggers (magnesium deficiency) so may be a good idea to get a high mag block/lick for your ewes. With the spring grass starting to come, there is a real danger of grass staggers. Some years are worse than others and it can affect many, none or only one ewe in a flock.
I think you probably need to catch her and turn her up to be sure whether she's in lamb. I usually go on 5 months less 9 days for gestation though as with all things, its not an exact science Rolling Eyes

I've had ewes scanned to lamb on a certain date and 2 weeks earlier than due date, they lamb......... they just looooove surprises Laughing

on the flip side, I've had them go much later too. My last lot finished today, they were all tupped the same night (dont ask Evil or Very Mad

) and they have lambed over a 10 day period Rolling Eyes

I find triplets etc tend to come early and singles can be a few days late. Its the lambs that decide when they are going to come, all depends on available room inside and how comfy they are Very Happy

If the tup has remained in with your ewes all the time, she could well have returned and be due in another 17 days time. She should have at least the beginnings of an udder by now. Maiden ewes tend not to develop big udders though (always an exception tho) No, a human preg test wont work on sheep. You will need to feel and see her udder to see if it has developed. If she is imminent, she will go very hollow over her loins as the lambs drop and get into position. If when she is lying down she looks like she has a football each side of her spine, then she is not imminent.

HTH Very Happy

tracey061196 · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 205 Location: Somerset

Thanks bronskibeat

Well there are still no signs of lambs from her, like some of you have mentioned maybe she never fell first time or at all.

My other 4 lambs are doing really well and are so big now they have real prodgy bellies already.

I have a new digi camera coming in the next few days and i will be out to take some photos to let you all know.

manic nonie · Posted: Wed Apr 30, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject:

I think it would be unlikely she's caught but livestock have difficulty reading the manual. pics

tracey061196 · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 205 Location: Somerset

well the pictures will have to wait another week or less as the courier came today with my parcel and when received the package had been tampered with and when looking inside the camera and battery were missing Shocked

(the robbin B*******) Crying or Very sad

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1400 Location: Clawddnewydd

thats really awful, makes me soooo mad when things like that happen!

tracey061196 · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 205 Location: Somerset

Well no more lambs.

I have the sheerer coming today to sheer them and hopefully he will be able to tell me if anything is due from her.

tracey061196 · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 205 Location: Somerset

Well the sheep got sheered yesterday and the last ewe IS NOT PREGNANT Sad

Just have to wait till next time, When do sheep come into season?

Chris Kurzfeld · Joined: 29 Oct 2007 Posts: 1023 Location: Carmarthenshire

I don't notice when mine are in season, except when the ram shows me Very Happy

, but my sheep encyclopedia says they start coming into season as the days get shorter and colder - from around August onwards, then they come in approx every 3 weeks.

bronskibeat · Joined: 09 Sep 2007 Posts: 1400 Location: Clawddnewydd

very much depends on breed. Breeds such as Suffolk and Charolais etc will start to cycle much earlier than hill or mountain breeds, say about July onwards. Normally, I would say mid Sept onwards for cross breeds and hill/mountain but they can surprise you! i take my tup lambs away in August just to be on the safe side Rolling Eyes

tracey061196 · Joined: 08 Feb 2008 Posts: 205 Location: Somerset

About 4 months ago when i was feeding the chickens and ducks i noticed something different in the field where the sheep are, went over and it was a Pot Belly Pig Shocked

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Well he was re-united with his owner within 4 hours of finding him. The lady rang me yesterday to say that he has now become a father and was i interested in any of the piglets. They are minature Pot Belly Pigs, what are your views on these pigs and how do you think the sheep would react??

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 6805 Location: isle of lewis

there is a problem with copper in the pig feed ,if you run sheep on to closely ,i think we learnt something along those lines ,personally i love pigs
when i went round to pick up the billy the other day there were 2 runts that were being bottle feed a week and a half old ,they were so cute