The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: funkyfish on May 10, 2012, 10:27:46 pm
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Had a rough day, lost our last orphan lamb again for no apparent reason, no signs of illness, gaining weight, feeding well, no scour. Suddenly keel over- fit and die. In less than half an hour. All between 2-3 weeks old.
Little ears was the biggest and strongest lamb, just started to be interested in grass and creep feed, but not properly eating it. And was dead this am. Put a lot of work into these guys and nothing.
Also helped put to sleep a faverite patient at work today ( long standing old age problems). Not a good day.
Wi have to save up for a couple of weaned ewe lambs instead.
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I'm sorry to hear that. Unexplainable death seems to go with sheep, but it isn't nice.
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Damn prey species, as bad as guinea pigs, fine one minuet , dead the next!
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Oh bad luck FF. :bouquet:
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I'm sorry :-*
You did the nicest thing, taking care of them, but they have such a bad start in life :-\ I hope you can find a couple of happy, healthy lambs :)
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So sorry funky fish,after all your efforts, a very upsetting result.
I can sympathise deeply with a special patient too, we can only do our best and help an owner let them go with dignity when the time comes. :bouquet: (( hugs))
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Oh dear. It's always sad to lose them but when you've put in such an effort and formed a bond with them it breaks your heart.
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:bouquet:
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So sorry :(
We lost a wee lamb overnight, think it must have been all the heavy rain with cold wind :(
He was our last born lamb, shetland, checked last night and they were all sheltering but this morning he was gone , they do try us :'(
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Oh no :-* Wasn't able to check mine this morning before I had to set off extra-early for work, so hope mine are all with me still :-\
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Sorry to hear that. :bouquet: :love:
Dan - we need a <<hugs>> icon
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Sorry to hear about your lamb, it sucks.
Thanks everyone!
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Sorry to hear that. We seem to have lost more than usual this year (weather hasn't helped). If it wasn't for the fact that you say they were only just starting to get interested in grass, I'd say these sudden deaths sound like some kind of acute poisoning. Is there anything in their immediately environment that they could've eaten? Just thinking about future lambs. All the best. :'(
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I don't think it was poisoning. They were penned in a corner of a stable. Let out on sunny days under direct supervision - as in the stuck to us like glue never wondered off. Lots of over sheep and goats in the same paddock and sharing the stable they are all fine. Also raised 4 ram lambs in same pen a couple weeks before. They are fine. I don't think these guys got any colostum which doesn't help. They were just eating occasional creep feed and odd bite of grass. Poss some infection they just couldn't cope with.
Going to save up and buy a couple of weaned ewe lambs of some bill breed instead. So if anyone has any for sale later on I'd be interested!!
Thanks for the suggestion though.
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FF where are you based I know if tame lambs that will need bottling but also I will have some Shetland cross ewe lambs possibly later in year plus I have some commercial ewe lambs I have bottle fed who are 3 weeks old now and growing like tanks! Message me if you are interested
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I have two bottle lambs still and no time to do them really. I am just between hemyock and Wellington if you are interested.
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Thanks guys. It helps that people understand.
Hi Freddie you are very close to me- we r in Luppit. I think i met you last year at a UKA show in Honiton.
How old are the lambs? How many feeds are they on. Have a lot on at work at the mo so would have to think carefully before taking more lambs on now.
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Just checked the diary and lambs are 4 weeks and 7 weeks. I am soooo mean and they are only on two feeds a day.
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That actually sounds perfect. Boys or girls? Breed?
How much do you want for them?
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hope you're feeling better after rough day last week. Our local farmer always says-don't blame yourself, sheep will always find a way to die! Doesn't make it any less upsetting though
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Thanks everyone for your kind words and offers of lambs! Am better this week but have had major Rita change for next couple of weeks with a ton more oncall so feeding babies would be difficult. Will re think in the autumn re stock.
Thanks again!
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Were the lambs you lost from the farm I got you the details for? We have 12 lambs from them and they are all big bouncing brutes! Mine are now over 4 weeks old and just about to go onto 2 feeds a day they weigh over 25 kgs!
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Hi, yes they were. So sad. they were fab lambs, really healthy and lively! One looked mostly Charolais and was a real sweet heart. Have been blaming my self for doing something wrong, but had just weaned two ram lambs in same pen and on same bottle feeding regime. Any are big strapping lads now doing well.
Not sure if they picked up an infection or something, did put them all on a course of antibiotics after loosing the first one (alongside giving them a lamb supplement with good bacteria in it).
they were growing well but just keeled over.
Glad your lot doing well!
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Were the lambs you lost from the farm I got you the details for? We have 12 lambs from them and they are all big bouncing brutes! Mine are now over 4 weeks old and just about to go onto 2 feeds a day they weigh over 25 kgs!
What are you feeding your lambs on? If they were born at 5kgs, then to put on 20 kgs in 28 days it's nearly a kg per day? I must be doing something wrong here.... my spare triplets (2kgs each at birth) are now about 12 and 14 kgs at 7 and 8 weeks... and still get a litre of (free) goatsmilk per day, plus creep and grass/hay.