The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: OhLaLa on March 20, 2012, 02:28:59 pm
-
Two week old lamb isn't as keen as her siblings to join in the usual games, sits and rests a great deal of the time, and gets the shivers when fed (I've read up as to why). She is the smallest of three. Is this common?
-
I would say that it's not unheard of but it's not common, no.
We do get the odd lamb each year that is less active; we would normally give a good vitamin shot and usually that sorts them out.
It could be that she's not really getting enough milk, so hasn't the energy her siblings do - could you top her up?
What did you find out about shivering after feeding? I only know they'll shiver if their milk was cold, but when they're feeding off mum that won't be the case.
-
Puppies always shiver after they've been fed - cant remember why but it's normal. So maybe some lambs do too?
-
Thanks for the replies.
She is bottle fed and takes what she wants, down to four feeds now between 100ml and 180ml depending on her appetite. She is tiny.
She always comes willingly to feed, and glugs away. I do warm the milk, I guess it could be that sometimes by the time I reach her it is a little too cooled so I'll keep an eye on that.
:sheep:
-
I had triplets with the middle lamb about a third of the size of other two. Went hypothermic but got inside and managed to revive him. He is also less active and slow to feed but now two weeks old and definitely perking up. Still nowhere near as active but vet says just not getting enough food. Sometimes gut hasn't developed well enough to allow more milk.
I wouldn't worry as long as keen to feed and showing interest in life. Once eating grass vet reckoned there should be some improvement. Fingers crossed