The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Andrea on March 06, 2025, 04:33:50 pm
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My texel ewe lambed during the night.
6am all lambs cleaned but mum won't let them feed.no udder problems pinned her and let them feed. But still not feeding them.i noticed a black poo stain on the wall
Any advice please.
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Is she a first time mother ? You need to restrain her.and let the lambs suck 4_5 times a day . Is she aggressive to the lambs or just won't let them suck ?
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If the black stain is at lamb bottom height then it's meconium from one of the lambs - the first dung passed. Once they are getting milk their droppings will become yellow.
I agree that the ewe has to be restrained. You might be able to borrow an adopter, which is a metal contraption which holds the ewe still and allows the lambs to feed. While she is held, you can assist the lambs to latch on. It's one of the most frustrating jobs in shepherding, in fact in smallholding, so take many deep breaths to keep calm....and you've got three :o You need to persist until the ewe is happy to feed all three whenever they want before releasing her.
The lambs need colostrum within the first few hours, so if they haven't sucked by then you will need to give them bought colostrum.