Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
JUG REQUIREMENTS
When lambing is going to take place in a barn, you need to have jugs
(or lambing pens or “claiming pens”) ready for newborn lambs and
their mothers. The pens should be prepared with the following:
■
Clean bedding
■
A small hay feeder
■
A container of water that cannot be spilled; a plastic 5-gallon
(19 L) pail is ideal — but remember, to avoid drowning, the
bucket must be tall enough and bedding must not be built up
around it.
As a general rule, you need approximately one jug for every 10 ewes
in the fl ock. If you own a small fl ock, you should be prepared to have
at least three jugs, and each should provide at least 24 square
feet (2.2 sq m) of fl oor space for small breeds and 40 square feet
(3.7 sq m) of fl oor space for large breeds.
Lambing jugs are absolutely essential if
you'll be lambing indoors in the winter,
but one or two of these small pens may
even come in handy for pasture-lambing
operations. In addition, they're convenient
for nursing any sick or injured animals.
