Re: [blackbelly] Hello to All
Carol, Seeing as my babies are at about 3 1/2 months old, I know what I'll be doing tomorrow!!! Thanks so much, Karen ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] Hello to All
I learned the hard way that blackbelly ewes and rams can be fertile as young as 4 months. I make it a practice to separate the rams out when I wean them at 3 months. No more nasty surprises. Carol At 06:57 PM 8/13/2005 -0400, you wrote: At approximately what age do the ewe's come into their 1st cycle, how old are the rams when they can start procreating? ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] Hello to All
Julian, Thanks for the info on when I can breed my girls. I have the area to separate my ewes from my rams, I'm just wondering how old they are before I have to start worrying about it. At approximately what age do the ewe's come into their 1st cycle, how old are the rams when they can start procreating? Thanks, Karen ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
Re: [blackbelly] Hello to All
A lot of people like to breed around 7 months, to lamb at around a year(assuming it works schedule-wise). Some prefer to wait 6 months to a year longer, to give the ewe a chance to get a little bigger. This significantly raises the likelihood that she will have twins or triplets her first freshening, which rarely happens with a very young ewe. It is up to you, but the seem to do just fine getting bred that young. As for separating, there are three things I can think of: a) Pen up your ram lambs and feed them grass hay b) Divide your property into at least two areas, and run the rams in one and the ewes in the other c) Find a neighbor or friend with good fencing that will let you keep the two ram lambs on their property Julian At 02:07 PM 8/13/2005, you wrote: I also have a question for everyone. How young do you separate ram lambs from ewe lambs? And at what age do you breed the ewe lambs? This breed of sheep seems to be somewhat different from anything else that I've ever raised, & I was wondering if it's younger than usual? ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
[blackbelly] Hello to All
Hello, I just got my first Barbados sheep this spring, & I LOVE them. I used to raise sheep many years ago, & when I found out about NO sheering & NO tail docking, I was sold! I raised 4 ewe lambs as bottle babies so that they are tame, & I'm thoroughly enjoying them. I also purchased 2 ram lambs, one for breeding & one for the freezer (but don't tell him that). None are registered, & from what I've been reading, they are American due to the fact that the rams have horns, although one of the 1/2 brothers didn't get horns. I also have a question for everyone. How young do you separate ram lambs from ewe lambs? And at what age do you breed the ewe lambs? This breed of sheep seems to be somewhat different from anything else that I've ever raised, & I was wondering if it's younger than usual? Thanks again for the invite, Carol. Karen Spokane, Wash. ___ This message is from the Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info mailing list Visit the list's homepage at Blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info@lists.blackbellysheep.info http://lists.blackbellysheep.info/listinfo.cgi/blackbelly-blackbellysheep.info
