Today I started weaning the lambs. It was a chore separating them from their mothers, catching them, and putting them in the pen I cleaned up for them yesterday. They are none too please with these events.
You can see in the photo that Bambam Too is contemplating jumping out and Hank is hollering. Here’s another photo after they settled down a little bit.
They are better behaved, except Lambikins is standing in the sheep mineral salt.
PS: They are for sale. Go to the Lambs for Sale page for more information.
He weaned today too, and boy are they pissed. Probably will cry themselves to sleep tonight – glad we went to a neighborhood party yesterday and warned everyone. T.
It is so hard to listen to. I think our neighbors are wondering if we are torturing our animals (which in a way I guess we are). Poor fellas.
How old are they when you do this? Is it cold turkey for a period of time or just for the evening? I didn’t wean last year as i kept everyone and that was my first year with lambs.
I usually wean at 2.5 months. It is cold turkey. You can let them wean themselves but it is harder on the ewes and the feed bill.
I should be doing this, if only to cut the emotional cord between the lambs and their mamas. My two ewes seem to be weaning the lambs themselves. Pebbles has been walking away (leaping out of the way) for a few weeks now (no surprise there – it’s all about her :)), and Cinnamon is moving out of the way most of the time now. The lambs really are mini-me’s now, and it’s fun to see them out there chewing cud like the big sheep.
They are easier to friendly when they are separated from their mamas and you are the one bringing the treats.
Oooh, I lke the sound of that! They do love the grain, too, so I can work with that. This weekend after the pasture is mowed, for sure. (Can’t believe they’re 8 weeks old already!)