RAISING KATAHDIN SHEEP ~WEANING LAMBS

SPRING on North Fork Ranch is in full swing!
Our 24 BEAUTIFUL 2024 Katahdin Hair sheep Lambs are growing up!
It's time for them to go to their new homes, and be weaned off their Moms!
Join us to see if you can pick out the babies from our last two Video!!!

[@bluegrasstransport5266]

What state is your farm what a beautiful place

[@cfitz11]

Wish we lived closer! We are in southwest Virginia! I would absolutely love a starter flock from you! I’ve kept sheep for about five years and I’m getting away from wool sheep and adore Katahdins specifically the colored ones! And your sheep look so healthy!

[@NorthFork-Ranch]

Thank you!! Yeah, that would be a long way to ship for sure. I grew up with wool sheep, and if you had asked me if I liked sheep, I would have said no. But Katahdins are amazing! I Love the colors too!

[@markpiersall9815]

Separating them causes distress. Try plastic nose weaning rings next time. Just stick them in and three weeks later the Ewes will be dry. When weaned they will be more independent and separating them will cause less stress.

[@markpiersall9815]

Also if there are twins, you can put a plastic weaning ring in one and wait a week or two to put one in the other lamb.

[@markpiersall9815]

If there are twin lambs you can put a weaning ring in one and wait a week or two to put a weaning ring in the other. That can be easier for the Ewe. The physical separation is old school or for large flocks. The plastic weaning rings are inexpensive, reusable, effective and safe.

[@NorthFork-Ranch]

Thanks! I use weaners on my calves, but have not wanted to on my goats or lambs, as they have a lot more tender noses. They aren't stressed much when they are weaned as a group. I use teat taping for my goats! And that way they don't have to be separated, as goats are a lot harder to keep in! But with my lambs, they forget about Mom a lot faster.

[@SrLancelot5059]

Do ram lambs need to be separated from ewe lambs?

[@NorthFork-Ranch]

They do when they are a little older. In My area as long as I have adult Ewes away from the Rams first of July and Ewe Lambs out in August I'm good. The young Ram lambs start breeding at around 5 months of age. So they are ready to breed their first Fall.

[@SeanB-w8t]

What books would you recommend for someone just getting into raising Katahdin sheep? We just moved and inherited 7 Katahdin's to raise. Thank you.

[@NorthFork-Ranch]

That is so neat! You are going to love them!!! I really don't know of any books that focus on hair sheep. I think your best place for info will be the internet. There is a lot of info you can find right here on KZbin. Also Feel free to ask me questions!!! I would totally enjoy helping you with anything I can! I will be making another video soon, focusing on Fall and breeding. So send me questions!

[@RobynSeifert]

Is that a field of Buttercup???

[@NorthFork-Ranch]

Yes, the wild Buttercups are growing like crazy this year....Pretty, but not a good weed! They are toxic to sheep if they eat too many

[@RobynSeifert]

@@NorthFork-Ranch loved your video! We are getting our FIRST two Katahdin ewe lambs in July. You make it look so easy...and yes, Buttercup is everywhere!

[@NorthFork-Ranch]

@@RobynSeifert Thank you so much!! Congrats!!! You are going to love them! They really are super easy! One of the easiest animals we raise! One tip is to get you new girls nice and tame as babies, once you start with tame sheep, the flock will grow learning to be tame and that makes life SO much easier!