SageHill Ranch Journal
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SageHill
Herd Master
And again -- two new lambs. Ewe lambs. 7.6 and 7.4 lbs born yesterday afternoon (2-27).
... ravens yeah ravens. There are two that have been hanging around for awhile. Not that long before it was time to put the sheep away for the evening a ewe 2401 had twin ewe lambs. Not a first timer ewe. Those rotten ravens were all over the afterbirth - pretty fresh - and all the ewes were as far away as they could get. Poor mama ewe and her twins were maybe 15-20 feet from the ravens. Mama ewe very unsettled.
Wasn't sure about the lambs - would check and get away go back and check. Rinse repeat.
I got her into a night stall and watched. Didn't look like either of the lambs were nursing. Gave them some more time and later went in to double check. No change. Even checked on the camera several times. So I supplemented before bed and made sure the ewe wasn't plugged up. LOL that was a wrestling match at best - but I got both teats working - plugged? No idea but she was touchy so maybe the lambs didn't get anything early on because of the rotten ravens? That's my best guess. Also wondering if the ravens would've gone after the newborns. Thinking of all you out there with the vulture problem was going through my mind. Checking on the camera this morning looks like at least one was nursing.
... ravens yeah ravens. There are two that have been hanging around for awhile. Not that long before it was time to put the sheep away for the evening a ewe 2401 had twin ewe lambs. Not a first timer ewe. Those rotten ravens were all over the afterbirth - pretty fresh - and all the ewes were as far away as they could get. Poor mama ewe and her twins were maybe 15-20 feet from the ravens. Mama ewe very unsettled.Wasn't sure about the lambs - would check and get away go back and check. Rinse repeat.
I got her into a night stall and watched. Didn't look like either of the lambs were nursing. Gave them some more time and later went in to double check. No change. Even checked on the camera several times. So I supplemented before bed and made sure the ewe wasn't plugged up. LOL that was a wrestling match at best - but I got both teats working - plugged? No idea but she was touchy so maybe the lambs didn't get anything early on because of the rotten ravens? That's my best guess. Also wondering if the ravens would've gone after the newborns. Thinking of all you out there with the vulture problem was going through my mind. Checking on the camera this morning looks like at least one was nursing.
GLENMAR
Herd Master
Once when I had a new calf, vultures were out there looking for the after birth I guess. There must have been over 20 of them. I stayed out there on my car for a while in the field to monitor. Mom was not happy about them. We even tried shooting a 22 up in the trees where they were to scare them off. After a few days they finally left, but I was very nervous about the new baby. Have not had that problem since.
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- #1,634
SageHill
Herd Master
Remember awhile back those two German Shepherds that I saw out grazing - well they were back yesterday. Saw them on the camera -- not thrilled. At least the sheep weren't out at that point - but it was only by minutes of me taking my time sipping coffee.
The two ewe lambs from yesterday -- both are nursing and mama ewe is fine with it. Guess she figured out they
were actually hers. YAY
and both gained weight they are both 7.8# now.
Looking at the rest of the yews there could be more lambs. At most 4 more ewes. Two are already breaking off from the rest of the flock some. I'll definitely keep a close watch and will have a pellet delivery system with me.
The new lambs from yesterday.
And the two lambs from Thursday.... (the one has one spot - on his face!).
The two ewe lambs from yesterday -- both are nursing and mama ewe is fine with it. Guess she figured out they
were actually hers. YAY
and both gained weight they are both 7.8# now.Looking at the rest of the yews there could be more lambs. At most 4 more ewes. Two are already breaking off from the rest of the flock some. I'll definitely keep a close watch and will have a pellet delivery system
with me.The new lambs from yesterday.
And the two lambs from Thursday.... (the one has one spot - on his face!).
Mini Horses
Herd Master
Dontcha just love how they choose the feed to sleep on? 
Th goats kids do that! They like to get under the troughs when does are eating. At least that's safer from tramples. You seem to have not been expecting these last couple were bred 
lucky "ewe"....
Th goats kids do that! They like to get under the troughs when does are eating. At least that's safer from tramples. You seem to have not been expecting these last couple were bred lucky "ewe"....
Why is one of the lambs marked?Remember awhile back those two German Shepherds that I saw out grazing - well they were back yesterday. Saw them on the camera -- not thrilled. At least the sheep weren't out at that point - but it was only by minutes of me taking my time sipping coffee.
View attachment 126204
The two ewe lambs from yesterday -- both are nursing and mama ewe is fine with it. Guess she figured out they
were actually hers. YAY
Looking at the rest of the yews there could be more lambs. At most 4 more ewes. Two are already breaking off from the rest of the flock some. I'll definitely keep a close watch and will have a pellet delivery system
The new lambs from yesterday.
View attachment 126205
And the two lambs from Thursday.... (the one has one spot - on his face!).
View attachment 126206
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- #1,637
SageHill
Herd Master
No - thought I was done with the 5 lambs from a month ago. So these are now "bonus" lambs. Works out ok in the long run, but definitely figures into who to put with the rams now (no one!You seem to have not been expecting these last couple were bred
). Not complaining, going with the flow. Actually all the lambs are marked so I can tell them apart - all white with little or no markings, born to white ewes - who goes to who?? Can only tell when they are nursing. OF course then there are lambs who will sneak in and get extra from someone else! I've got ear tags on the way -- the color was on backorder. Though even with the ear tags I'd still mark because reading the tag on a moving bouncing racing lamb is sooo much fun
Mama ewes also have matching marking to their lambs. It wears off (LOL sometimes too quickly).Ravens = young livestock predators.
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- #1,638
SageHill
Herd Master
A bit of searching reveals....
Contributing to their success, ravens are omnivorous, opportunistic, and adaptable to human-altered environments; they feed on eggs, birds, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, insects, carrion (e.g., road-kill), garbage, and crops (Boarman and Heinrich2020).
In some cases, ravens depredate newly born lambs or calves on livestock ranches (Larsen and Deitrich 1970,Boarman and Heinrich 2020) causing significant economic impact.
Raven damage reported to USDA’s WildlifeServices program in 2018 was estimated at $5,328,456. From 2014 to 2018, the estimatedcost of damage was $15,169,129; however, not all raven damage in the United States isreported to Wildlife Services. Damage costs associated with raven predation to variousthreatened, endangered, migratory, and upland game birds is often not reported. Mostdamage by ravens reported to APHIS WS is associated with livestock; in 2018, 77.31% ofreported raven-related damage was to agriculture (Peebles and Spencer 2020). Mostdamage is reported from western states (AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, TX,UT, WA, WY), but damage in the northeastern (MA, ME, NH, NY, VT) and mid-Atlanticregions (NC, PA, WV) also occurs and is primarily connected to aviation, damage to fruitcrops, livestock (fowl), infrastructure, and depredations on threatened and endangeredspecies.
Raven damage to agricultural resources is reported to occur primarily to livestock and crops. Ravens can depredate, harass, and injure newborn livestock, especially newborn lambs, calves, and goats; often involving mobbing and attacking by multiple birds. Ravens also prey on fowl (chickens, ducks, and turkeys) and their eggs. Livestock loss due to ravens from 2013-2019 was reported to APHIS WS to be nearly $650,000. Producers incur losses from death and veterinary services to injured livestock
Contributing to their success, ravens are omnivorous, opportunistic, and adaptable to human-altered environments; they feed on eggs, birds, small mammals, amphibians, reptiles, fish, insects, carrion (e.g., road-kill), garbage, and crops (Boarman and Heinrich2020).
In some cases, ravens depredate newly born lambs or calves on livestock ranches (Larsen and Deitrich 1970,Boarman and Heinrich 2020) causing significant economic impact.
Raven damage reported to USDA’s WildlifeServices program in 2018 was estimated at $5,328,456. From 2014 to 2018, the estimatedcost of damage was $15,169,129; however, not all raven damage in the United States isreported to Wildlife Services. Damage costs associated with raven predation to variousthreatened, endangered, migratory, and upland game birds is often not reported. Mostdamage by ravens reported to APHIS WS is associated with livestock; in 2018, 77.31% ofreported raven-related damage was to agriculture (Peebles and Spencer 2020). Mostdamage is reported from western states (AK, AZ, CA, CO, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, TX,UT, WA, WY), but damage in the northeastern (MA, ME, NH, NY, VT) and mid-Atlanticregions (NC, PA, WV) also occurs and is primarily connected to aviation, damage to fruitcrops, livestock (fowl), infrastructure, and depredations on threatened and endangeredspecies.
Raven damage to agricultural resources is reported to occur primarily to livestock and crops. Ravens can depredate, harass, and injure newborn livestock, especially newborn lambs, calves, and goats; often involving mobbing and attacking by multiple birds. Ravens also prey on fowl (chickens, ducks, and turkeys) and their eggs. Livestock loss due to ravens from 2013-2019 was reported to APHIS WS to be nearly $650,000. Producers incur losses from death and veterinary services to injured livestock
Sounds like I need to do some target practice too! I had no idea.
Mini Horses
Herd Master
Yeah, we think of vultures & hawks but, these guys are a sizeable threat!
