The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: ellisr on February 17, 2011, 07:23:54 pm
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I have had surprise lambs today they were triplets but one was still born. They are tiny and mum has no milk yet. I only had one sachets of colostrum which I have shared between them but have nothing more. Is there anything I can give them until tomorrow when I can get some milk until mum get milk. She is a first time mum
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I just wish I could help you I have 2 lambs as pets but do not know much about them, but you will soon get some help on here I hope, and I do wish you and the lambs all the best hope they get on ok good luck . . .
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Are you quite sure she has no milk? Have you had a good try and milking her, because there's usually something there. If she's a first time mum her udder will not be as big as the others. It might be worth having another try. Of you have another ewe with lambs you could milk her and give some to the new arrivals. Keep us posted!!
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No milk at all I have been trying fir an hour and nothing. I have milked sheep before and she has nothing at the moment. The lamb are frozen so I have had to bring them in. My good friend who has farmed sheep for a long time has told me to give them baby milk until I get sone lamlac in the morning and hopefully mum will produce a bit milk tomorrow. The other sheep aren't due for a few weeks I think she has gone early because of the triplets. The poor little things are only as big as my hand but took the colostrum from a bottle no bother. Keep your fingers crossed for them and I'll keep you posted
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In an emergency you can make a substitute ive used it once 740ml full fat cows milk ( jersey maybe even better ) 1beaten egg 1teaspoon cod liver oil 1dessert spoon sugar ,found a differant one 6 egg whites in a pint of skim milk. The ewe may need a little oxytocin to encourage milk let down (vet).
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good luck i have got everything crossed for you and them :hshoe: :wave:
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Hi ellisr
Do you know anybody else who keeps sheep or goats in your area?--- maybe a chance they have some frozen colostrum or powdered substitute,
---- if not perhaps there is someone at your vets tonight? they will most likely stock powdered colostrum and ewe milk substitute there.
You have done the right thing-- to get them warmed up
Wish I was nearer to offer help.
Good luck
Tilly
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I'm just outside wellington and I have collostrum and milk powder. Call 07890 418133
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Sorry I fell asleep. It is very soothing with lambs inside your jacket. I don't have a car to get anywhere as OH is out. He is picking up a little baby milk and should be here shortly just need to get them over the next 10 hours then they'll have everything they need
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Do you have any dextrose? Even probably sugar water would be better than nothing.
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They have just had a carton of baby milk between them and a good run around and now have settled in the pen to have a nap. Oh is taking the night shift as I have to be up at 5.30 for work. Thanks for all the advice and very kind offers.
Mum is settled in the chicken pen and really hasn't noticed her babies are gone so we will see what tomorrow brings
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If you’re an experienced lamber then I’m sure you will have, but have you tried thumping the underside of the Ewes udder? You will have noticed that Calves and Lambs all head butt their mother’s udders prior to feeding; this is a trigger to milk let down.
In the past I’ve found that first time mums, especially with first time colostrum, are reluctant to let their milk down.
I’m afraid this could be just the start of your problems with this Ewe as there is a good chance she will now reject her lambs.
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Yeah I did thump the udder and massaged but nothing. OH is going to give it a go again this morning as she is calling for her lambs so he is going to take them back up and try and stimulate the milk again. If she does reject them then they will just be hand raised
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Fingers crossed for you all. Sounds like the lambs are feisty enough.
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OH has just gave them a bottle of lamlac each and they are crying for more so he is going to take them to mum and try to get her milk going. If we can get her milk to drop and she rejects them I will fashion an adopter so they can still feed from her as mums milk is best.
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Sounds like you're doing a good job - like Rosemary says, they certainly sound lively enough , which is a very good sign. Hope all goes well. I'll keep checking the site for progress!! :wave:
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Lambs are now 2 days old and doing well. The ewe has just got milk today but as we thought she has rejected the lambs so tomorrow I'm going to pop her in an adopter and try to see if the lambs are big enough to feed. As they are so tiny they may have problems reaching the teats but we can but try. To bring it into perspective the lambs are the same size as my slipper and as I speak they are waking for a feed but I will keep you all updated on there progress
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I think you're right to persevere and try to get mum to milk and feed her lambs. Better for her, the lambs and you.
Is she a first time lamber?
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good luck keeping everything crossed for them :wave:
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Yes she is a first time lamber she is 2 year old now and we took her and her sister out last season as Ryelands are quite slow growing. I am really unsure if these lambs will reach the teats but I will milk the ewe if that is the case until they are big enough. I really want them to have mums milk as they have come this far against all the odds and they are that small they really shouldn't have made it this far. It was good today to see them start and try to spring even if there legs got in the way and they landed on there little faces
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----Bless their little cotton socks!! :sheep: :sheep: