128 SHEEP: BREEDS AND MANAGEMENT. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

 THE LAMBING TIME. 



As lambing time approaches, the flock-master begins to 

 prepare for this important season. We know, as a fact, that 

 lambs are often lost for want of care. Shelter for the ewes 

 must be provided, and this leads us to the consideration of 

 the lambing pen. There are two descriptions of enclosures 

 for lambing ewes. One is the old-fashioned permanent pen, 

 for which the rick-yard has often been employed. The advan- 

 tages of this system are that the flock is near home, and 

 that the rick-yard is a protected enclosure which, when well 

 littered down and fenced with thatched hurdles, forms a very 

 suitable place for the purpose. We have seen special walled 

 enclosures, furnished with accommodation for the shepherd, 

 and shedding for the ewes. The shedding is most con- 

 veniently divided into coops by means of hurdles, and in 

 such a shed ewes will lamb safely and comfortably. 



On large sheep farms this system is objectionable on 

 account of the distance between the flock and their food. It 

 is, therefore, the custom to make a pen near to where the 

 ewes and lambs are to turn out after lambing. The position 

 of the pen should have been fixed during the previous 

 summer, and also the situation of certain hay and corn ricks 

 determined. As threshing proceeds, the corn ricks yield 

 straw ricks, which are made long, and placed so as to secure 

 the greatest amount of shelter from the wind. A gentle 

 slope towards the south is the best site, and in close 



