f**k Up Fortnight

[Northeastfarmer]

4/16 dead so far and a couple pulled as well. Same again left to lamb. It's a shame but the twins have been lambing away quite the thing which has made up for it.

I’ll tell you what lambs the easiest…when somethings been tipped by accident and you find them lambed in February ….

 

[yellowbelly]

4/16 dead so far and a couple pulled as well. Same again left to lamb. It's a shame but the twins have been lambing away quite the thing which has made up for it.

It's amazing how much growth a lamb puts on in the last week before being born (or can do if the ewe has access to enough grub) - just look at how big that pair are, that you always abort, just before lambing starts (in F**k Up Fortnight) - they look like skinny rats.

When ours come home from the Warren to lamb, I'm always a bit apprehensive that they're a bit on the poor side but by the time the last singles lamb we start to get a few hung.

 

[Woolless]

I’ll tell you what lambs the easiest…when somethings been tipped by accident and you find them lambed in February ….

I had two like that. All four of their lambs are deid now

 

[Woolless]

It's amazing how much growth a lamb puts on in the last week before being born (or can do if the ewe has access to enough grub) - just look at how big that pair are, that you always abort, just before lambing starts (in F**k Up Fortnight) - they look like skinny rats.

When ours come home from the Warren to lamb, I'm always a bit apprehensive that they're a bit on the poor side but by the time the last singles lamb we start to get a few hung.

A pal of mine had bother lambing his hoggs outside. Brought them in, hay only, and the problems stopped almost immediately. I've seen a spate of hung lambs here as soon as we get a couple of warm days in Early April. Yet apparently kiwi research says lamb size is set in stone early on

 

[Estate fencing.]

A pal of mine had bother lambing his hoggs outside. Brought them in, hay only, and the problems stopped almost immediately. I've seen a spate of hung lambs here as soon as we get a couple of warm days in Early April. Yet apparently kiwi research says lamb size is set in stone early on

I worked for someone who ran a load of romneys that weren’t really shepherded, they started getting hung on what they could pull so we shut them in the shed and never lost another lamb.

 

[Woolless]

I worked for someone who ran a load of romneys that weren’t really shepherded, they started getting hung on what they could pull so we shut them in the shed and never lost another lamb.

Yes, I think these problems are very dependent on the nutrition just before the ewe lambs.

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

A pal of mine had bother lambing his hoggs outside. Brought them in, hay only, and the problems stopped almost immediately. I've seen a spate of hung lambs here as soon as we get a couple of warm days in Early April. Yet apparently kiwi research says lamb size is set in stone early on

Must be different in New Zealand
They always reckon we are wrong

 

[Aspiring Peasants]

What are peoples ewes milking like. Some of ours gone off the boil a bit. Decent amount of grass but is it any good ?

Those that were short of grass in March I gave fodder beet and that has kept them going. April ones have blocks out but they don't bother them much, which I always take as a sign they're not too stressed. It also depends a bit on the sheep I think. Just been moving some mule ewes and lambs that were born outside from 12th April and I was surprised how well the lambs were doing. Ewes with continental in them always react worse to any stress situation.

 

[Guleesh]

A pal of mine had bother lambing his hoggs outside. Brought them in, hay only, and the problems stopped almost immediately. I've seen a spate of hung lambs here as soon as we get a couple of warm days in Early April. Yet apparently kiwi research says lamb size is set in stone early on

We lamb in May, bring in ewes from hill onto in-bye, although our in-bye is mostly moss and has hardly started growing by May we still have to run them really tight or it's just a disaster for hung lambs. Zero feed for majority of ewes, way less losses than April lambing, less predators, better lambing weather for the sheep (and the shepherd), and the lambs hit the grass growth curve much better, our recording has shown some of our best lambs at weaning last year were born after the middle of May.

Lamb size definitely controllable up until the last few days.

 

[beardface]

I’ll tell you what lambs the easiest…when somethings been tipped by accident and you find them lambed in February ….

Had one of them. Cracking pair of lambs and sacks of milk even if she was a tad thin. Going strong now too.

 

[Woolless]

Never mind, one of my favourite cows calved last night. So all's well with the world! Busy day in prospect getting these singles sorted, then hopefully feet up with a beer and a dram later.

 

[steveR]

Gorgeous day forecast, which has buggered my intentions of an afternoon off with Herself. We were going to visit a Country house and gardens between Welshpool and Newtown that is open today. I hasten to add, I have essentially zero interest in gardening, but I like a nosey and always appreciate the tea and cake stall afterwards

So, spraying grassland on some gifted land, and then mowing 20acres. Stock looking happy anyway.

 

[Christoph1945]

When we used to start lambing April 20th onwards we always got loads of lambs hung that needed pulling, also lost the percentage

Silly townie question! Hung = half out and half still in, and dead?

 

[Christoph1945]

I’ll tell you what lambs the easiest…when somethings been tipped by accident and you find them lambed in February ….

Oh! The ram didn't mean it then?

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Silly townie question! Hung = half out and half still in, and dead?

Yes half in and half out, or a massive swollen head out…not always dead, depends how quickly you get to them

 

[Northeastfarmer]

Oh! The ram didn't mean it then?

He didn’t…but half the time I wish he had of because like I say you find them running about with a pair of lambs and never get any hassle

 

[Muddyroads]

You might remember that we had our Lambing Sunday event here last weekend. We received a hand written letter yesterday which I thought a few of you might appreciate.

 

[Wood field]

Gorgeous day forecast, which has buggered my intentions of an afternoon off with Herself. We were going to visit a Country house and gardens between Welshpool and Newtown that is open today. I hasten to add, I have essentially zero interest in gardening, but I like a nosey and always appreciate the tea and cake stall afterwards

So, spraying grassland on some gifted land and then mowing 20acres. Stock looking happy anyway.

Mowing ! You must mean you need more sheep.
Just out and about visiting away ground , hoggs have started to grow a bit
Even seen a pair of hares

 

[Wood field]

Is this sorrel? Or if not what is it and should it be sprayed or left alone

 

[steveR]

Mowing ! You must mean you need more sheep.
Just out and about visiting away ground , hoggs have started to grow a bit
Even seen a pair of hares

Dead chuffed when I was working land down this week for birdy mix. 6 pairs of Hares, then also found 2 nice leverets, who were chivvied away from the discing area. I reckon the Peewits are doing a good job of seeing off any aerial predators Love seeing them, even if it is an encouragement for the pikey dogmen

Early Westerwold grass, I need it gone ASAP for planting even MORE bumblebird mix! Baler here Wed, as he so far behind ploughing and drilling. No pics in case of causing grass envy Dave....

Cattle weanling sales tomorrow in Drayton, so will see what is on offer, in spite of much opposition from Herself....

Definitely NO more sheep.....