Mike CHS
Herd Master
Ours never do it until we think they won't 
Baymule’s 4th Lambing
- Thread starter Baymule
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #42
Baymule
Herd Master
They will make you crazy. I need to have a heart to heart talk with Miranda. I really want her lambs born Friday.
bethh
True BYH Addict
Alright,I know nothing about lambs except they are cute. I have to get into this conversation. I'm going to make a guess, 2 ewes and a ram. Just so you know, something that big has to be full of cuteness. Hope to wake up and see baby lambs.
Rammy
Herd Master
Mini Horses
Herd Master
She looks to have enough milk to feed three...hmmm.
Dairy sheep milk has high butterfat. Good cheese.
Dairy sheep milk has high butterfat. Good cheese.
B&B Happy goats
Herd Master
MIRANDA.....i said thursday, three ewes...git er done 
Ridgetop
Herd Master
Sheep milk is much higher in butterfat than goats milk. Slightly different protein structure too. If you have nice dairy goat does, why bother to milk your sheep unless that is all you have and want to try it. Dairy sheep herds are usually kept by people who want to make specialty cheese. I never cared for making cheese so never worried about milking my ewes.
I have milked ewes before for the reasons Sheepshape gave. One ewe with a single had so much milk she just dripped after lambing so I milked her partially for a couple days until her milk production adjusted for her lamb. I froze the colostrum and milk for emergencies even though we had dairy goats at the time.
Other ewes have had weak lambs and needed to be milked for the wax plug to come out.
Another time a 4-H kid's mom called me to say that the lamb was not nursing. When I went over, the FF ewe was so engorged that she would not let the lamb near her. I milked out enough colostrum to feed the lamb since it had not been able to nurse since birth the night before. I milked out more so they could give the lamb a supplemental bottle because it was still so weak. Next day I milked enough to relieve the pressure and put the lamb on the teat. Once the pressure on the udder was relieved, and the lamb was stronger, the lamb was able to latch on and nurse. They only had to give a bottle about 3 times. But I was glad that I had experience with first freshening does since that ewe was not very cooperative. I had to tie her to the fence and milk her on my knees! The boys mom leaned against theewe to keeo her against the fence instead of leaping all over.
Since Miranda has already got the reputation of being "uncooperative" I wouldn't bother to milk her. However, if your ewes are not already used to a stanchion, you might consider training them to hop up for a grain portion. Easier to trim hooves, and in case you do have to milk them, they are stanchion trained!
Mine are not quite there yet.
I have been remiss.
I have milked ewes before for the reasons Sheepshape gave. One ewe with a single had so much milk she just dripped after lambing so I milked her partially for a couple days until her milk production adjusted for her lamb. I froze the colostrum and milk for emergencies even though we had dairy goats at the time.
Other ewes have had weak lambs and needed to be milked for the wax plug to come out.
Another time a 4-H kid's mom called me to say that the lamb was not nursing. When I went over, the FF ewe was so engorged that she would not let the lamb near her. I milked out enough colostrum to feed the lamb since it had not been able to nurse since birth the night before. I milked out more so they could give the lamb a supplemental bottle because it was still so weak. Next day I milked enough to relieve the pressure and put the lamb on the teat. Once the pressure on the udder was relieved, and the lamb was stronger, the lamb was able to latch on and nurse. They only had to give a bottle about 3 times. But I was glad that I had experience with first freshening does since that ewe was not very cooperative. I had to tie her to the fence and milk her on my knees! The boys mom leaned against theewe to keeo her against the fence instead of leaping all over.
Since Miranda has already got the reputation of being "uncooperative" I wouldn't bother to milk her. However, if your ewes are not already used to a stanchion, you might consider training them to hop up for a grain portion. Easier to trim hooves, and in case you do have to milk them, they are stanchion trained!
Mine are not quite there yet.
I have been remiss.- Thread starter
- #49
Baymule
Herd Master
No lambs yet! Got a new round bale delivered last night and they’ve been tearing it up. Supposed to rain 4-6 inches over the weekend starting tonight.
B&B Happy goats
Herd Master
we wanna see baby lambs 
