The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: rach2808 on April 05, 2023, 05:07:34 pm

Title: Newborn lamb poo
Post by: rach2808 on April 05, 2023, 05:07:34 pm
We had our first lambs born 3 days ago - twins.
From about 1 day old both of them have had mustard coloured poo clogged around their back ends and tail that i have had to cut off and clean the best I can .   It smells rotten (not a normal poo smell)
Is this normal ?
Title: Re: Newborn lamb poo
Post by: shep53 on April 05, 2023, 06:04:49 pm
Very normal shows they're getting plenty of milk , more like runny custard or orange with red streaks then its a problem
Title: Re: Newborn lamb poo
Post by: Fleecewife on April 05, 2023, 06:36:36 pm
There is in fact apparently a dietary cause (in the concentrate feed) in the ewe for particularly sticky newborn poo.  The yellow is normal, same in babies after the black of meconium, but uselessly I can't remember what the dietary aspect is.  Maybe someone else knows.  It is important to clear it as you have been doing or it can turn rock hard and prevent the lamb from defaecating at all, whereupon it becomes urgent.
Title: Re: Newborn lamb poo
Post by: shep53 on April 09, 2023, 01:15:46 pm
Just a few thoughts , been lambing the first 400 ewes for 2 weeks now  and i think i have cleaned 5 lambs bums   (  cleaned by taking a hand full of straw and pulling off any poo )
Title: Re: Newborn lamb poo
Post by: Womble on April 09, 2023, 05:31:13 pm
Just in case anybody is squeamish about licking it off in the normal way, it turns out that baby wipes are ideal for wiping babies. You're welcome.