The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: TG on April 10, 2012, 08:50:44 pm

Title: Scouring newborn lamb
Post by: TG on April 10, 2012, 08:50:44 pm
We have a day old Shetland lamb that has started to scour. It appears to be watery and yellow. Otherwise the lamb is healthy and is feeding well from the ewe. No sign of dehydration yet. They are penned inside at the moment as the twin was born very small and weak and is being bottle fed - the ewe is quite happy with this arrangement and mothers them both - she only has one quarter having had mastitis last year. No sign of any scouring in the bottle fed lamb.
Is there anything we need to be doing apart from keeping a regular eye on them.
Thank you

Sorry - just found the Soay thread - will keep our fingers crossed that this is just too much rich milk....
Title: Re: Scouring newborn lamb
Post by: NLL on April 11, 2012, 07:59:27 am
some of ours do this, just watch out for blocked up bottoms, they need to be unblocked,by removing the excess, the smell is grim [one of the bad things about lambs ,lol]
Title: Re: Scouring newborn lamb
Post by: jaykay on April 11, 2012, 08:03:31 am
How's he doing this morning?
Title: Re: Scouring newborn lamb - update
Post by: TG on April 15, 2012, 08:53:09 pm
All seems to have settled down now. Scouring has stopped and the lamb is fine. Small weak one still being bottle fed to top up what he is getting from mum (only one quarter between the two lambs). He seems to be doing well.
Another 4 born over the weekend and all have been bouncing around in the sunshine. They go into a field shelter at night - yes we are a bit soft with them - as it is still rather cold.
Thanks for you help.
TG