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Remind us what breeds you have R. Roo? Be glad you don't have Romanov's famous for 5, 6, 7 lambs at a time! With my Shetlands I've only had a maximum of twins but triplets, quads are possible I know. I give alfalfa pellets for a few weeks before breeding (and during) which apparently increases the chance of multiple births (I'm just thinking of twins) although genetics is also important, as you say particularly from the ram.

Good luck!

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This website says that after the first lambing multiples are "not uncommon":

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- were your ewes lambing for the first time last year? Do you know anything about your ram's bloodlines?

Sounds as though it isn't that unusual. You may just have to learn to manage - and like it!

And your dog seems to have a good sense of what is normal at least. And know that you should be advised if something has changed. Have you tried a shock collar for his undesirable behaviours? He may just need some help knowing what is unacceptable.

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I hear you. Even with twins the mother will occasionally reject one. If you don't want bottle babies I guess I'd make sure I castrated all the ram lambs from big "litters" and sold on the ewe lambs and perhaps even the mothers as sales permit. Gradually breed and select for smaller "litters".

That's all I can advise.

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R. Roo any grain supplementation before breeding will defiantely boost your lamb crop. With my line of girls all being twins or triplets themselves I do not supplement grain to them during breeding at all. In breeds of sheep known for singles people with "flush" with grain to get them to drop extra eggs and therefore have better chances of twins.
In Katahdins they are already very prolific and "flushing" them will definately produce more quads/quints. So for people wanting to have a very large lamb crop and not mind bottle feeding then they will do it, personally I would rather have a nice healthy heavy set of twins than anything more from my girls. So they get grain starting 3 months before lambing to help them support the babies instead of grain before breeding.

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I do 1/2 lbs oats in 3rd month of pregnancy then up to 1 lbs I their final month.

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