[Jacob-list] jugging

[Cathy Robinson]

>     I guess the basic question is how are these guys at being siblings?


I find sheep relationships so interesting to watch.  We have some family 
groups here that include three generations.  We have never had a problem 
with siblings when a new brother or sister comes along. We have found 
the yearlings inquisitive and anxious to see/meet their new brother or 
sister...much the same as their human counterparts when the new baby 
comes home from the hospital.

The surprise element for the yearling, we have found though, is the 
immediate change in their relationship with mom, who is now totally 
focused on the new arrivals and can seem to almost "turn" on the former 
"apple of their eye" in favor of the new babies.  I have seen them 
aggressively butt them away in some instances.....which will all even 
out in a relatively short time,  when you will then see all of them 
enjoying family togetherness again.  We do have some ewes too, that are 
so friendly and personable that they want the new arrival to meet 
everyone, and those babies are introduced to siblings with no problem.  

I love watching the interactions!  It is always with joy and some 
amazement that I watch mothers and daughters find one another and 
re-connect almost immediately following a shift in groups where they 
might be separated from one another for even a period of months.

We jug our moms and babies for a couple of days after birth.  We have 
not had good luck putting the mothers in early in anticipation of the 
impending birth, however.  Our experience has shown that those girls who 
have mothers in the flock, or other sheep that they are strongly bonded 
to do not want to be removed from those "friends" at that point, and 
usually those early lock-ups have resulted in very stressed sheep, some 
of which are intent on attempting escape.  We have found it better to 
let them lamb among their family and friends, if they choose to, and 
then lock the mother and new babies up for a couple days when the ewe's 
focus has shifted naturally....with the birth of the babies.

Where sheep choose to lamb is another interesting subject.  Our first 
lambs arrived only this week.  The ewe isolated herself from the rest of 
the flock in the early stages of labor, but then right before the first 
baby arrived, she transplanted herself to the most public spot she could 
find....at the base of the hay feeder where she had lots of onlookers 
and companionship!

Cathy
Perfect Spot Farm