Are 4ft x 4ft pens big enough for 70kg ewe with twins?

[PFH]

As per title really. I'm designing some 4x4 lambing pens but the old man says they are too small for our ewes which are roughly 65-70kg. He has always used 5x5, but if I go 4x4 I'll have enough space to get another row of pens in the shed. How do other people get on with 4x4ft pens?

 

[2tractors]

As per title really. I'm designing some 4x4 lambing pens but the old man says they are too small for our ewes which are roughly 65-70kg. He has always used 5x5, but if I go 4x4 I'll have enough space to get another row of pens in the shed. How do other people get on with 4x4ft pens?

I am with Dad on this one, 4 x 4 too small you will end up with lambs lied on, our pens are 5 x 4 and treble pens 6x 4 ; sorry!!

 

[tepapa]

No.

 

[Badshot]

I had a row of pens, all 5x5 except one. Ended up housing the steam cleaner in it as nearly every time it was used resulted in squashed lambs.

 

[glensman]

too small

 

[simmy_bull]

As per title really. I'm designing some 4x4 lambing pens but the old man says they are too small for our ewes which are roughly 65-70kg. He has always used 5x5, but if I go 4x4 I'll have enough space to get another row of pens in the shed. How do other people get on with 4x4ft pens?

Too small IMO how about going to 4x5 or 4x6 and you still get more pens in the shed with an extra row if one side of the pen is 4foot?

 

[GTB]

We use 6x3 for twins (50/60 kg ewes) 6x6 for triplets. Some ewes would manage to lie on a lamb if you gave them an acre. Im sure some of them do it deliberately.

 

[Fergieman]

Our wooden hurdles are 4'6" so most of our pens are 4'6" x 4'6" but wouldn't want them any smaller.

 

[yellowbelly]

I have to agree with everybody else, 4x4= too small. I'd go 6x4 (24 sq ft) or 5x5 (25 sq ft).

 

[PFH]

Too small IMO how about going to 4x5 or 4x6 and you still get more pens in the shed with an extra row if one side of the pen is 4foot?

Thanks for all the feedback - I think this will be the compromise. I will go 4 x 5 which means I can still get the extra row but just a few less pens in the shed.

 

[Downtrodden Dad]

Have had them sat on in the field before. You will never win. If you need the space then they will be fine. If you have loads of room then go bigger. The first one to be laid on if you go 4x4 will only prove your father right !!

 

[tr250]

4x4 is a bit small but we have 24 of them can only remember a couple being layed on ever better to have enough too small than not enough big ones. But ours don't spend long in them. The ones born throughout the night will be in them but all will be out by mid day tomorrow ready for night again we put everything other than good couples over the other side in bigger pens

 

[muleman]

50 ft x50ft isn't big enough for some ewes!

 

[exmoor dave]

Got 40 pens of 4x4'

Current lambing ewes are 55-110kg Suffolk mules.

No problems with lambs being lay on

The only problem we have is that you wouldn't want to pen ewes up for more than a couple days as they muck in one place and no amount of straw and powder keeps it clean, no problem as singles don't really go in the pens and twins are out by 48 hrs.
Pens in the hospital/ triplet shed for longer stays are 6x 3ft


So in short 4x4 is fine in our experience

Plus as a bonus 4 ft hurdles are easy and cheap to make

 

[MJT]

4 ft absolutely fine here, very very rarely have ewes lie on lambs . More to do with lazy unhelpful ewes than the size of the pen, They usually look for and nuzzle their lambs before they lie down if you watch them . Lambs lie close to their mothers so could end up getting lay on in a 20ft pen .

 

[harperfarmer]

Absolutely fine 4 x 4. Big Suffolk cross mules here and get on grand, that's for singles doubles or triples. As has been said, sometimes if the bitch wants to lie on one she'll do it in a 60 x 40 yard never mind a small pen.

 

[CJay]

Have 4x4 here now used to have 6x6's there has been no increase of ewes lying on lambs at all with the smaller size of pen in my experience

 

[Lovegoodstock]

Fairly sure ours are 4x4, have several sorts hence confusion, not set them up yet as only done first batch and not many in that bunch, but our shearlings and 2 shear would be between 80-105 kilo and as above 1/2/3 lambs in these pens. Would have an odd one laid on, but as said had triplets in pens fine then put in large community pens and they get laid on. Often wonder if something wrong with lamb on occasions, as if it snuggles in too close for a reason

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Mine are 6x6 mainly because the 6' hurdles are the same price as the 4' ones and I thought I was getting more for my money

 

[David.]

I'm surprised you turn out any live lambs at all, with Suff x in 4ft pens