Are these twins to young to breed? Pics

[goodhors]

Well the ewe looks lots better in the last photo than in the first one. As I said, photos can be tricky to my eyes, lighting
and shadows emphasized stuff for the bony look.

Does OP have a market niche for lambing at a certain time? She said she is keeping the ewe lambs anyway, so they
don't sell for her market. Guess I would want to lay my hands on the ewe and her lambs, to find out what REALLY is
under the fluffy wool still on, to determine their true condition for breeding if she thinks she wants to.

 

[boykin2010]

I think i have decided on a game plan. I am taking the two ram lambs i have to the butcher some time this week. Then I am going to put those two small ewe lambs in that pen. Hopefully I will breed them in November/ December. I want lambs during Easter so that our photographer friend can take pictures with them
I will probably go ahead and breed the mother of the twin ewes on schedule with the rest.

 

[manybirds]

I was told by an older breeder to breed them so they lamb when they turn two years old

 

[ksacres]

All three look healthy and in good condition in the second set of pictures. And in the first, the two lambs look good, while the dam looks a little run down, which is to be expected if she's nursing lambs that big.

I see no problem breeding the older ewe again, as soon as those lambs are taken off completely, she'll bounce right back into breeding condition. Early pregnancy is very little drain on her resources.

It's also important to note that while we all love to see well fleshed stock, in the natural world, prey animals are in trouble if they carry a lot of extra weight-when was the last time you saw an overweight gazelle?? An animal that is too thin will still breed/deliver better than one that is too heavy. Many people run into lambing problems or milk production problems with fat ewes, rather than with thin ones.

Just something to think about.

We raised pure Dorset and Romanov/Dorset/Blackface(mixed) sheep when I was a girl, we ran the whole flock together, and we always retained a few replacement ewes, and they would sometimes get bred and sometimes not the first year. I don't remember ever losing a yearling, though I do remember losing an occasional old ewe. Some ewes bred three times in two years, and some only once a year. We just considered a second lambing a bonus, not something we culled for not providing. Those pure Romanovs would lamb out three to four babies per year, and would raise them up nice. Their ewe lambs would then usually have triplets, though occasionally one would have to be pulled for bottle feeding. Amazing ability for lambing.

If we ever get into sheep, it will be a terminal sire over Romanov or Romanov X ewes. Loved those girls, and they were friendly, and a beautiful blue/lavender color when they were sheared. It's difficult to describe exactly, but those were my favorite sheep. They were pretty fine boned, almost delicate, really. Their cross babies usually came out all spotted, and were always the first ones we name! Dang it, now I want to find some Romanovs, and I've been trying to convince myself that I want Dorpers!

 

[boykin2010]

Well, I have not thought of updating this thread. Just saw it in the recent posts. I bred all three of the ewes. The twins dam already lambed a single 13 lb girl. The two twin girls are still
Pregnant. One should be due any day now.

 

[ksacres]

 

[boykin2010]

One twin lambed on March 12. Everything went well and she is being a good mother so far. Sadly, she had a ram lamb. The other twin still has a while to go. She hasnt even started baggin up yet.

 

[EllieMay]

Congratulations!

Glad it all turned out well.

Keep us posted with pics of the baby from the other twin.

 

[boykin2010]

Congratulations!

Glad it all turned out well.

Keep us posted with pics of the baby from the other twin.

Thanks! I will

 

[theawesomefowl]

Congrats! Adorable little lamb.