SheepGirl's 2013 Lambing Thread - Update - July 2013

[SheepGirl]

OMG I should stop calling my Hank Hanky Panky. Just googled it and realized it was a line of lingerie hahahaha whenever I call him that I think of the song "my baby does the hanky panky" -- though of course that can't be much better

Thanks Alice

 

[Southern by choice]

I think it's gaga.

Your sweet, I appreciate your innocence of NOT knowing about that nasty meaning of Hanky Panky!

 

[Straw Hat Kikos]

Ciqala is big. Not sure if it's because she's pregnant or just a big sheep. lol

 

[Bridgemoof]

SheepGirl, when your lambs are born I would like to come and see them! Although my lambs should be due around the same time, so I will have my own cuties!

 

[SheepGirl]

SBC -

SHK - She's short (about 26") but she's 200 lbs. Haven't weighed her in a month or two, so I'm not sure how much she's gained. I don't expect her to start showing her pregnancy until at least next month. She's my biggest sheep though

Bridgemoof - You are MORE than welcome to come see my babies! And I would love to see yours!

 

[Bridgemoof]

Isn't it something to put in a breeding date and due date for your little girls? I know when I put Lottie's possible due date in I just thought, omg she's just a baby! But she'll be 14 months by the time she lambs, if she does.

 

[SheepGirl]

Aww, Bridget! I can't wait to see her cute little Jacob lambs!! <3

-----

Katy Perry started to come into heat today, at 211 days old. She looked like she was trying to nurse off of Hank but she was really licking his you know what Hank was chasing her and trying to breed her. Hopefully as the day goes on she'll be more willing to stand for him. So if she took she'd be due 5/18/2013, a couple days before she turns 12 months old.

 

[Southern by choice]

Sheepgirl...how old should a ewe be before breeding. What is the general rule of thumb?
Are you keeping any of the lambs from 2013 lambing?

I really love our jacobs. They are so sweet. They are becoming treat-a-holics!
This is going to be a long quarantine... I wish I could put them out with the goats.
Straw's bad goat (NG-Coco) is going to be a problem. She is a little prima-donna! That is from STRAW! He ruined her, it's kinda scary how he is with his girls...spoils them rotten. Makes me wonder what kind of daddy he will be one day! His girls can do nooooo wrong..ever!
I think Gwen, the ewe, will be able to put her in her place. I am a bit worried Gwen isn't peeing enough. How can I tell? Do you think I should ask on the general sheep forum?

 

[SheepGirl]

SBC - The rule of thumb most people follow is 2/3 to 3/4 of the adult weight. But what my neighbor's always done (and he's been breeding ewe lambs since the 1950s) is breed them their first heat...so that's what I'm going by. And the genetics my ewes come from are 'used' to it, so I'm not worried about issues of breeding too early (we've only ever had to assist one ewe, she was 3 or 4 yrs old, and she had a 21 POUND single ewe lamb stuck). The only thing I'm worried about is the Texel head going through...Texels are known for having blocky heads, but TBH, Hank's head is a lot narrower and smaller than my old 3/4 Babydoll ram's head. But since I know the breeding dates I know exactly when to watch out for them in case there's any trouble

But I don't know, Southern...I think you're as bad with those sheep as Straw is with his goats! You've gotten them to be treataholics! hahaha

But as for the peeing frequency, I don't really know haha. I've never really watch my sheep pee. I see them occasionally do it but it's not something I think about. You can post a thread, but what's making you worry? Do you see your ram (wether?) pee but not her? If that's the case...I see Hank pee 2-3x while I'm out there. My ewes, not so much. I think it's normal for the boys to pee more than the girls lol.

 

[SheepGirl]

Okay, I was too excited to wait a couple more days But we are three months bred! Which means....two more months to go!! My ewes are already starting to look wider and deeper. Not much, but still noticeable. And Ciqala still has her udder and it fits in the palm of my hand, whereas Ali's is back to being flat. So we will see when they start bagging up