The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: FriesianLambs on March 20, 2017, 08:24:56 pm

Title: Lamb not quite right
Post by: FriesianLambs on March 20, 2017, 08:24:56 pm
I was given a 2-3 day old zwartbles lamb today, whose mother won't accept him and she murdered his sibling a few hours after birth by ramming it.
I've been trying to bottle feed him, but he just will not take. His tongue hangs out and goes from side to side and he struggles, fighting the bottle. Observing him I notice his neck is very short and his tongue seems to be a bit longer.
His left ear is also floppy.

I'm just wondering if he might be a bit deformed and if he will grow into his tongue. Anyone ever had this before?

I'm tubing him by the way which he also fights vigorously and by peeing on me
Title: Re: Lamb not quite right
Post by: shep53 on March 20, 2017, 08:44:20 pm
Sounds like his mother may have done him some damage too , maybe take to your vet for an examination and then time and patience
Title: Re: Lamb not quite right
Post by: shotblastuk on March 20, 2017, 09:00:23 pm
Sounds like he's taken a bashing as well. The most placid of ewes can turn into complete psycho's after lambing usually they calm down after a couple of days. I'd keep trying with the milk he may be shocked and a bit bewildered. Never the best start in life. I know this may sound daft to some but a few comfort hugs inside your coat may make him feel a bit better about himself. I hope he comes right for you.
Title: Re: Lamb not quite right
Post by: harmony on March 20, 2017, 09:09:38 pm
There maybe an issue. And he is probably getting fairly fed up with tube feeding.


Apologies if you already doing this but you need to keep a hand under his head with your fingers either side of his face and keep the bottle firmly in. Largish hole in teat so milk is dribbling through. As said lots of patience and lots of small feeds.
Title: Re: Lamb not quite right
Post by: FriesianLambs on March 20, 2017, 09:45:19 pm
I do think he got a bashing, he had some blood on his upper lip. Gave him a clean with a washing cloth and some scratching around the ears and jaw, he did seem to enjoy that.

I try to keep my hands around his mouth, but that tongue of his keeps peeping out, so I put it back under the teat and then he'll just let the milk run out of the side of his mouth.

I'll just keep trying, like you said, patience. I'm not one to quit on these guys.
Title: Re: Lamb not quite right
Post by: Sbom on March 20, 2017, 09:59:23 pm
If your tubing him then he won't be hungry enough to take the bottle. Miss a feed or two and try again, he'll take it eventually, th tongue thing is because he doesn't know how to suck the bottle teat.
Title: Re: Lamb not quite right
Post by: Marches Farmer on March 21, 2017, 09:27:17 am
I suggest taking him along to your vet to check out.  Are you using standard teats?  Lambs sometimes find Pritchard teats easier to use to begin with.  I cull without mercy and wouldn't breed from that ewe again.  We now have six generations of data on our flock and good mothering appears to be a strong heritable trait. 
Title: Re: Lamb not quite right
Post by: FriesianLambs on March 26, 2017, 09:47:01 pm
A very late reply from me.

Sadly this lamb passed away the same night I got him. He fought everything, except death.

His mother has been turned out to pasture and will meet her fate in near future. The farmer was not amused by her behaviour.

Thank you all for the advise.
Title: Re: Lamb not quite right
Post by: Marches Farmer on March 28, 2017, 10:39:15 am
The lambs may have had an inherent problem. Your description might indicate he was malformed in some way - ewes often sense this and take action accordingly.  Have there been any reports of Schmallenberg Virus affecting lambs and calves in your area?  We've only had one malformed lamb - with a twisted spine and partial ribcage on one side, the year before vaccine was available last time.  It wasn't a "classic" SBV deformity.  We had to get our vet in to deliver it, due to the twisted spine, and he put it down on the spot and did a PM.