Ok so here is something that has just crossed my mind, we all go on about how clean to keep lambing pens clean and disinfected but was wondering how often do people do the sheep pens. Ewes will often lamb before going into individual pen, we often do ours once a week curious to what others do
clean pens
- Thread starter Leereade
- Start date
harperfarmer
Member
You clean out your large group yards every week!?? 
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
I clean mine about between batches, and give the shed a chance to dry out. I use plenty of straw between sheep though, and chuck any afterbirth out if I find it. Dogs always have a shine on their coat when we finish lambing.
I don't use disinfectant, magical powders or lime. I've tried most over the years and none seem to have made any difference, that a good bed of clean, dry straw doesn't. I suppose it makes you feel like you're doing something though....
Ideally, I'd like to clean out pens and re-bed between each ewe, but it's not going to happen.
I don't use disinfectant, magical powders or lime. I've tried most over the years and none seem to have made any difference, that a good bed of clean, dry straw doesn't. I suppose it makes you feel like you're doing something though....
Ideally, I'd like to clean out pens and re-bed between each ewe, but it's not going to happen.
- Location
- Perthshire, Scotland
At the end of lambing.
Keep it well bedded abs as clean as possible
Keep it well bedded abs as clean as possible
Yes,also try not to let main pen bedding get too dirty between straw as when the lamb suckles it is ingesting anything stuck to the udder.
No we lime pens once a week and fresh straw down just got me thinking about people having problems in the lambing pens but is the problem really coming from inside the big pensYou clean out your large group yards every week!??
That's great and obviously works at yours but I see people moaning about infections sand bacteria even though pens are cleaned daily etc and just thought well is ot really where the problem isI clean mine about between batches, and give the shed a chance to dry out. I use plenty of straw between sheep though, and chuck any afterbirth out if I find it. Dogs always have a shine on their coat when we finish lambing.
I don't use disinfectant, magical powders or lime. I've tried most over the years and none seem to have made any difference, that a good bed of clean, dry straw doesn't. I suppose it makes you feel like you're doing something though....
Ideally, I'd like to clean out pens and re-bed between each ewe, but it's not going to happen.
harperfarmer
Member
Ah I see. We just bed with straw 2-3 times a week. Ewes come inside end of December so muck out fully at end of January just before we start. Then cleaned out fully after we've finished.
sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
I don't disinfect any of the pens or yard but I do as the others have said and use plenty of straw, I do have plenty of my own, l also leave a bale in the lambing yard for them and boy do they love picking at that.
Don't disininfect here, i bed every other day or every 3 days, some pens will keep longer, depends on stocking density. Also spread hydrated lime once a week 2-3m depth into the pen where feed barrier is, mainly to help with lameness. Muck out in may, plenty time for it to dry out.
Lovegoodstock
Member
- Location
- Buckinghamshire
When saw thread thought id see lime etc after every ewe. As most clean lambing area, but I think more importantly dry lambing area, guess goes hand in hand but I really like rape straw under my sheep. Normally straw in pens after every ewe, unless manic point which always happen when ewes can be n pen for upto 10 mins. Have small bales behind pens but also a round bale in middle of shed hurdled off, actually find quicker as don't shake the slab just handful in pen and ewe spreads. Read on here before, I think from @bovine, that iodine on navels is not beneficial? One thing I am religious on, maybe this year mixed with surgical spirit, surely a quicker dried navel means less chance of picking up something that maybe kicking around?
RWG Contracts
Member
- Location
- Samlesbury, Lancashire
At 4:03 am you was thinking about lambing pens?
i bet you lie awake at night thinking of concrete
RWG Contracts
Member
- Location
- Samlesbury, Lancashire
Sleeping is one thing I'm good at
although I was once awake all night because I was excited about a concrete pour the day after Sleep patterns fecked do u still get excited about laying concrete and can't sleep lolSleeping is one thing I'm good at
We don't know about iodine and navels.
Clean and dry is important. Far better than wet and squelchy with a bit of magic powder.
I see big lambing pens as less of a risk as the animals are more spread out, compared to the confinement of a small pen. The cleaner the better for everything.
Crex
Member
- Location
- Innse Gall, Alba
I think bobo said there was no evidence that it helped, which is not the same as it doesn't help.
Edit: beaten to it by the man himself.
- Location
- Gods country (England)
Use to just put plenty of fresh straw down each time, then started using lime based disinfectant powder seemed to reduce certain problems, then last year for the first time i decided to empty pens as often as possible, after each ewe and lamb when possible, still used disinfectant powder and plenty of straw each time and it has reduced our joint ill among other things dramatically only had a small handful last year with it!