Rearing triplets

[Bones]

Do many people keep all three lambs on the ewe , or is it a waste of time .

 

[texelburger]

If i think she will have enough milk then the lambs are left on her.If not enough milk then they either go on a milk machine or are adopted onto a single.Bit of a juggling act really .Last year we turned out 28 trebles and lost 2 lambs,big saving on milk powder.

 

[Northeastfarmer]

unless it's milking like a Holstein then total waste of time....you'll find the ewe will do them all for a week then the runt will waste away

 

[spin cycle]

in desperation i left triplets on a wilt last year and she raised all three

 

[jemski]

If she has bags of milk, and the lambs are all even size, and I have nothing to foster on to, I will leave all 3 on. I keep them in for a week or so to make sure I'm happy, then turn out on the best grass I've got. I do foster one off of most trips, but the ones I turn out generally do pretty well.

 

[copse]

bad bag and bad lambs!

 

[MJT]

Never do it here, do a hell of a lot of fostering onto singles here, best for both ewes and lambs .

 

[Dodge777]

Try to get as many on to singles as possible but if there is no available single and the ewe has plenty of milk then we will leave three on her.

 

[harperfarmer]

Don't ever turn out with three here. Pointless imo.

 

[Coximus]

Trips go in separate padock if they look like they can handle it, molasses provided adlib and I find the trips do as well as twins, as long as the ewe gets the energy input. Try to wean largest off early at 8 to 10 wk and leave other two on.

 

[Tim W]

I leave all my sheep alone at lambing, trips included and they rear what survive lambing , need ample grass for the first 6/8 weeks then they are fine

 

[Castle Farm]

Never had a problem with trips..I got Llyens

 

[digger64]

Not sure wether fostering is as sucessful after a few days out as some people believe , certainly time/resource consuming and stressful for sheep,lamb and shepherd. personally if a ewe has one good lamb and all happy no problems leave alone -be grateful and have a easier /happier day

 

[MJT]

Not sure wether fostering is as sucessful after a few days out as some people believe , certainly time/resource consuming and stressful for sheep,lamb and shepherd. personally if a ewe has one good lamb and all happy no problems leave alone -be grateful and have a easier /happier day

Takes about 10 minutes tops to wet foster lambs onto ewes. Struggle to see how that's time and resource consuming, you could spend 10 mins a day getting a lamb to suck a bottle. Get it fostered and let the ewe do the work for the next 3 months.

 

[digger64]

Takes about 10 minutes tops to wet foster lambs onto ewes. Struggle to see how that's time and resource consuming, you could spend 10 mins a day getting a lamb to suck a bottle. Get it fostered and let the ewe do the work for the next 3 months.

Yes works sometimes if the timing is perfect, not practical outside ,Put a mark on them and see how many you pick up cold or watch them nicking milk else were . As for stocks ,tying up near dogs ,skinning etc gave up all that got better more worthwhile things to do . Each to their own, l'm a farmer not god.

 

[jemski]

Yes works sometimes if the timing is perfect, not practical outside ,Put a mark on them and see how many you pick up cold or watch them nicking milk else were . As for stocks ,tying up near dogs ,skinning etc gave up all that got better more worthwhile things to do . Each to their own, l'm a farmer not god.

I put a big F on the ewe and the foster lamb. Very very rarely do they ever cause any bother

 

[MRT]

I put a big F on the ewe and the foster lamb. Very very rarely do they ever cause any bother

Two big Fs and an S if they do?

 

[It was already broken.]

Most of our grazing is HLS permanent pasture so not that great. Therefore would not leave trips on ewe. Might be different if we had plenty of good grass.

 

[Kip]

Try leaving them on but not that successful in the past, will then try and foster on and if all else fails and last resort a bucket Can only give the wife so many to feed or no food for me

 

[MJT]

Yes works sometimes if the timing is perfect, not practical outside ,Put a mark on them and see how many you pick up cold or watch them nicking milk else were . As for stocks ,tying up near dogs ,skinning etc gave up all that got better more worthwhile things to do . Each to their own, l'm a farmer not god.

I'd disagree, I'd say fostering lambs be it through skinning or wet fostering is one of the more worthwhile and satisfying jobs to do. It's not as practical outside but still doable . Was adding it up after lunch after reading this thread, out of 180 of our earlier lambers, have fostered 15 lambs onto ewes and touch wood all are still with mothers looking as well as their new sibling. Agree with you that stocks are a waste of time, could tie some up for 2 months and they still wouldn't take to the lamb !