The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Moleskins on April 18, 2012, 11:19:01 pm
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I've posted about a lamb not taking to the bottle ( one of triplets tried to mother her on to another ewe with no success as the ewe was not having it)
And another post about late lambs.
So the question is, with a shearling due to have a single lamb, would it be a good idea to try to take the 3week old lamb who's not taking to the bottle and try to mother her onto the shearling when she lambs?
The shearling has a good sized udder on her. They are both the same breed - Gotlands. The 3week old lamb will try to suckle a ewe given half a chance and I think she does get a bit of her mum if she can go un noticed.
I would go for a wet mothering and tie the lambs back legs to make it appear helpless.
Any thoughts ??
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Personally I wouldn't try it, no. You might fool a shearling and get it to accept the foster lamb, but the stronger, older lamb will get all the milk and the shearling's own lamb will go short.
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Took your advice didn't do it, single lamb born today, still waiting for the twins then that's it for this year.