The first lamb of 2007 was born on 24th March 2007 - For the third year running the same ewe has gained the accolade of being first. For the second year running she has had the first lamb on the Isle of Scalpay. She lambed unexpectedly and the camera wasn't handy - so a picture will follow..... Mother and lamb are both doing well.
The first lamb of 2006 was born on 25th March 2006 - The same ewe lambed first again this year.
The first lamb of 2005 was born on 30th March 2005.
The first lambs of the season were born on 2nd April 2004 twin Hebridean lambs.
The first lambs of 2003 were born on 5th April. Mother and offspring both doing well.
At the end of October 2002 we were very pleased to welcome eight Hebridean ewe hoggs and a two year old Hebridean Ram to the croft.
A "ewe hogg" is a lamb which is more than six months but less than a year old. On her first birthday she becomes a "gimmer" and will remain a gimmer until she has a lamb of her own, when she will become a "Sheep". If she has a lamb whilst still a ewe hogg, she will become a sheep straightway.
On Scalpay it is unusual for a ewe hogg to have a lamb.
-----//-----
In August 2002 a new ram joined the happy flock. He came from the island of Great Bernera on the west side of Lewis.
On Scalpay all the sheep are run together, both on the crofts and the summer grazings. Any stock owner who has more than 20 sheep must also have a ram.
Rams are replaced every three years, to prevent inbreeding and, because they work throughout the island during the breeding season, there is a responsibility on every stock-owner to provide a good quality animal to ensure healthy lambs for all.
There are few communities left in the Western Isles who manage their stock in the traditional way.
The first shearing of the season takes place at the end of June. Dogs and shepherds gather the stock from the summer grazings into a walled enclosure called a "fank". Sheep, wethers and lambs will hopefully be in fine form if we have had a sunny spring and subsequent showery warm conditions.
Sheep without lambs, wethers, and rams will mostly be ready for shearing this time but sheep with lambs and any missed the first time round will have their shearing at the end of July.
When Spring arrives, the dogs will need to get used to being in the boat again. Wethers (castrated male sheep) are ferried out to spend summer on some of the offshore islands. They will be brought back in autumn fattened up for the table. It's important for the dogs to be relaxed travelling over water as they are needed to gather and control the sheep.
This page was updated on 25th March 2007.
Close this window