Our first St. Croix Lambs

[Cornish Heritage]

Hey folks!

I haven't posted on the sheep section of this forum much as we are really new to sheep. Although we have raised bottle babies in the past, this is our first year of actually birthing them. We were able to purchase a herd of 36 registered bred St. Croix ewes & 8 rams so yes we are going to have a LOT of lambs! Yippee!

These St. Croix lambs are SO cute. If it wasn't for the ears they almost look like goat kids. They are very sweet & yesterday morning we awoke to 4 new ewe lambs on the ground so super exciting.

Here are a couple pics from our blog:

Although some breeders say otherwise we made the decision not to jug our ewes. So far we have been really pleased with the results. The birthing ewes have gone off by themselves (we have the really pregnant ones up in a smaller pasture by the house) & have all bonded with their babies without any problems. We go out & tag them as soon as we see them born so that we know who belongs to who. After the first day, sometimes before, the lambs are running behind mama & being outside they are enjoying the sunshine. Well today it was raining so they were in their shelters but for the most part the weather has been wonderful.

Happy lambing,

Liz

 

[neener92]

Cute! I might steal a few!

 

[EllieMay]

Very nice!

Congratulations on your new babies.

 

[DKRabbitry]

How cute! Congrats! May I inquire as to what it means to "jug" your ewes?

 

[Southdown]

To "jug" your ewes means to put them in a pen by themselves with their babies. It gives them quiet time without being in the midst of the others.

 

[SheepGirl]

Cute!

 

[Cornish Heritage]

Thanks everyone

May I inquire as to what it means to "jug" your ewes?

To "jug" your ewes means to put them in a pen by themselves with their babies. It gives them quiet time without being in the midst of the others.

Since making the decision not to jug, I have spoken with a couple other breeders that also do not & one said to me that they found when they tried it the ewe really got stressed out & I could see that happening. Sheep are herd animals - these ewes are used to being together & do not like to be separated. I think if we had moved the ewes to jugs they would have been really distressed. As we watch them out there now they all watch over the babies & are doing a really great job. Of course we have way more still to lamb & are learning all the time but mamas & babies are happy so that's the main thing.

Liz

 

[RemudaOne]

Congratulations . They are cute lambs. I found the same thing about jugging. Mine only tolerate it if they have company right next door. But ultimately I'd like to go to pasture lambing. The only reservation I have about it is if a ewe needs help and won't let us catch her. Have you encountered anything like that?

 

[aggieterpkatie]

Congrats! I haven't really seen any sheep get stressed from being in jugs, because normally they're pretty wrapped up with their new lambs (and eating). But sheep can do just fine without jugs, especially in smaller flocks.

 

[bigshawn]

Congrats........................