[vfr400boy]

So the lad I bought my lambs off last year is packing in with sheep to do more with goats n sheep ,
   Hes asked me if I'd like to buy some in lamb ewes ones they have been scanned in January,  I have use of a shed now wich I can set some laming pens up in etc the ewes are mules and have been put to a Suffolk ram , I work 9 to 5 but my wife works from home is it possible to lamb the ewes or am I best sticking to buying them in ??

[vfr400boy]

This is ther 3rd lot of lambs

[Anke]

For in-door lambing it is best (IMO) to have someone there all the time, but if you are only lambing small numbers a camera may help - but your wife must be able to drop everything when a ewe starts having problems with her lambing.

[vfr400boy]

Good plan i never thort of a camera!
We planned on buying weand lambs again this year but when he told me he was packing in its got me thinking ha

[shep53]

Experienced mule ewes should if you get the feeding right lamb them selves , if you get the choice after scanning go for all twins then it makes the feeding easy pre lambing and put a hand on their backs to check they are all in the same condition  ,again makes feeding easier and since they are mules check their teeth  ( nothing slack or very long ) You have the perfect chance to start from a very good place

[vfr400boy]

Hes wanting £120 each is this a fair price ? How easy is it to borrow a tup for next year ? If I get 4 I think I can hand shear them ?
Sorry for all the daft questions

[twizzel]

If they are scanned for twins and the ewes have good teeth it’s probably about right. You will need to shear them, it’s easier said than done to hand shear some people do loan tups out but it’s a biosecurity nightmare and can introduce disease / resistant worms / scab to your flock easily unless you fully quarantine the tup on arrival for a few weeks.

We’ve just put a Farmstream camera up in our shed and are very happy with it.

[SallyintNorth]

If you are just breeding for lambs for meat, any tup lamb will do the job.  You could leave one of your own tup lambs entire each year, use him and then eat him.  (Son back to mother mating is fine, but you probably wouldn't keep a daughter of that mating for breeding.)

[shep53]

2 crop mules scanned in lamb @ £ 120 is a good price  , hand shearing of 4 sheep is not a difficult job just needs time and lots of you tube watching  ,you can even tie their legs and clip lying on their sides or standing haltered to a gate . You could buy a ram lamb and then eat it or re sell  or keep it for future use

[Anke]

I have hand-clipped before, tied to a corner hurdle set-up on a halter. Works well, esp if the sheep is fairly relaxed. Four is easily done, one a day/evening.

[vfr400boy]

Thanks for all the replies,  I think am going to give it a go feels like am jumping in at the deep end but life is to short not to try my 7 year old daughter is very excited a about the whole thing ,
       

[shep53]

   the perfect chance you are being offered may not ever come again , plenty of knowledge for you to tap on the forum , don't be shy to ask even if we say not a clue ask a vet

[vfr400boy]

Told him I'd have 4 ewes!
   I have use of a large stable ( its brand new never been used for large live stock only a few hens ) do I put ewes in to lambing pens or just leave them with the full stable?

[twizzel]

Leave them as a group until they lamb, then pen up the ewe with her lambs once they are born. Good luck 

[landroverroy]

Lambing ewes that have been there and done it all before is one of the best ways to get into lambing. I used to know an old farmer who only ever bought 3 crop ewes because he said that his days of staying up all night lambing were over. He used to have very few problems.


If you still have my contact number you can ring me up if you want any advice in the evening when vets are closed, or any other time. I still have your number so will text you if you've lost my details.