Night Lamber
- Thread starter cpsf
- Start date
jandl
Member
We only lamb a small percentage of our ewes indoors, and not enough to justify paying for a night lamber, so there will be others who will know better than me. If I was charging though I’d expect no less than £1000 per week (7 days)Good morning everyone. Just a quick question please...what is the going rate per hour for a night lamber this year? Someone that would be experienced in assisting sheep with lambing and not just able to attend to pens. Thanks in advance for any feedback
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Good morning everyone. Just a quick question please...what is the going rate per hour for a night lamber this year? Someone that would be experienced in assisting sheep with lambing and not just able to attend to pens. Thanks in advance for any feedback
You are opening a can of worms, with farmers moaning the rates are too dear, and contract shepherds moaning that they should be doubled.
I would suggest £12/hr was about right, assuming they won’t be expected to lamb/pen up 150 ewes a night on their own.
Over to you @unlacedgecko
CopperBeech
Member
- Location
- A Welsh man lost in England
- Depends how good you are.
- Depends what you have to do.
- Remember folk on here will tell you they won’t get out of bed for less than £20 an hour. Those ones mostly don’t do it they just talk about it on the net.
- Depends what you have to do.
- Remember folk on here will tell you they won’t get out of bed for less than £20 an hour. Those ones mostly don’t do it they just talk about it on the net.
Chimera
Member
- Location
- North Wales
When we had sheep up to 2 yrs ago, paid i think £13/£14/hr. Didn't grudge it one bit. Would expect to pay more now
- Location
- Fife
I don't get out of bed for less than £20/hr.You are opening a can of worms, with farmers moaning the rates are too dear, and contract shepherds moaning that they should be doubled.
I would suggest £12/hr was about right, assuming they won’t be expected to lamb/pen up 150 ewes a night on their own.
Over to you @unlacedgecko
I spend a lot of time in bed talking online about what I would do. Very little time actually doing anything though.
Paying £15 an hour here and that’s with them staying here and getting three meals a dayGood morning everyone. Just a quick question please...what is the going rate per hour for a night lamber this year? Someone that would be experienced in assisting sheep with lambing and not just able to attend to pens. Thanks in advance for any feedback
The main reason for a night-time lamber is to prevent mix-ups.
And the fewer the ewes in each pen, the fewer the mix-ups. And with the same breed of ewe in each, all in lamb to the same breed of tup, the more the mix-ups.
And how do you guard against the lamber having extended naps? It does happen,
And the fewer the ewes in each pen, the fewer the mix-ups. And with the same breed of ewe in each, all in lamb to the same breed of tup, the more the mix-ups.
And how do you guard against the lamber having extended naps? It does happen,
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Isn’t that what lambing cameras are for?
I employ a night lamber for the first week or so lambing my pedigree flock, as we have all the ET lambs born at the beginning as well as the natural mating lot starting. She’s not busy and they’re not a difficult lambing breed, but I need to make sure of who’s lambs are who’s for the pedigrees and ebvs to have any accuracy.
After that, when they’ve slowed down, the camera and regular checks is enough. When we used to have 180-200 Pedigree ewes all due over a week, a night lamber was almost essential.
As to cost, when our (exceptionally good) night lamber got to £14/hr, it was the catalyst to change away from Texel x ewes and onto outdoor lambing. The money’s just not in the job, not that that is the night lamber’s problem of course.
Woolless
Member
- Location
- Berwickshire, Scottish Borders
I remember as a student negotiating over wages for a night lambing job. I was told it wasn't a skilled job, like a tractorman. I suggested they get someone in off the street and see how they got on. I got my raise!
- Location
- West Country
Does Mrs @neilo know that you sit watching your female lambing assistant on cctv…Isn’t that what lambing cameras are for?
I employ a night lamber for the first week or so lambing my pedigree flock, as we have all the ET lambs born at the beginning as well as the natural mating lot starting. She’s not busy and they’re not a difficult lambing breed, but I need to make sure of who’s lambs are who’s for the pedigrees and ebvs to have any accuracy.
After that, when they’ve slowed down, the camera and regular checks is enough. When we used to have 180-200 Pedigree ewes all due over a week, a night lamber was almost essential.
As to cost, when our (exceptionally good) night lamber got to £14/hr, it was the catalyst to change away from Texel x ewes and onto outdoor lambing. The money’s just not in the job, not that that is the night lamber’s problem of course.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
Does Mrs @neilo know that you sit watching your female lambing assistant on cctv…
She doesn’t seem to mind when the lambing assistant rings me for a rendezvous at 2 in the morning and I come back in smelling of lube.
Last edited:
I bet she’s watching on the camera thoughShe doesn’t seem to mind when the lambing assistant rings me for a rendezvous at 2 in the morning and I come back in smelling of lube.
- Location
- Fife
Self employed obviously
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
muleman
Member
Thats if they bring their own meals, would have tobe a pound less otherwise.I assume that's before you charge for their board?