The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Hillview Farm on April 16, 2013, 06:45:40 am
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Yesterday I got to the ewes at 6am to find a shearling straining with a very stuck lamb! I managed to free it (god only knows how). After lunch greeted with another lamb with curled bottom eye lids! I've been gentally pulling the lids down into the correct position. Is this right?
And to top it off my last ewe lambed another shearling. Shes washed/cleaned him, she calls him and will allow him to feed but if he walks up to her she butts him to the ground, into the walls and has cut his ear really badly! I've tied her up so she can drink, feed and laydown still but how old do I carry this on for?
Any advice greatly welcome!
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Well done for sorting out the stuck lamb :thumbsup:
Yes, the curled eyelids need reverting - maybe not quite so gently as if you are having to do it more than a few times, it could help to pinch a little to cause a little bit of swelling, which will help them to stay the right way out.
Your post reads as if you have left the shearling ewe tied up. Hopefully I've misread that!
I would put the lamb in a box next to the ewe, where he's safe but she can see, hear and smell him. Then go and stand in with them every few hours to give the lamb a feed. Reprimand the ewe if she butts him. Make sure he gets a feed. Let her sniff his bottom while he's feeding - this really helps her feel bonded.
Then do the same with you not in the pen, then leave them together while you potter about nearby keeping an eye and ear on things... Until you are sure she is over this silliness, don't leave him with her unattended.
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Oh dear tough start. Can you pinpoint why she is rejecting? Sometimes too much human intervention early on with first timers causes them to reject, other times it could be the lamb was weak. You could try some treacle on bum to see if she takes more interest. Water it down a bit as I put on neat and must have the only ewe that doesn't like it! Spent ages washing them off as looked like scarecrows with straw stuck to it.
Tie her up for 3 or 4 days and see if she gives in. If a twin and feisty she will probably manage to feed when her sibling is feeding but mum might have scared her in which case you will have to bottle feed. Decide soon which to do and I kept my reject (1 of triplets) with her mum and bottle fed that way they don't get depressed and still stay part of flock. Now she goes round with other bottle lamb and her mum looks after 4!
Don't let them out until sure feeding is a success. Good luck :innocent: oh and as for eyelid, keep u rolling it but if still curling after 2 days take into vet and they can inject some antibiotic into kid. Horrible to watch but cheap and effective.
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Ive no advice (no experience) but I just wanted to send you :hug: and also thank you for posting - this sharing really helps first timers like me. :bouquet:
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No idea why shes rejected him at all. She wash's his bum while he feeding him. I dont want to jinx myself but after spending the night restrained she seems to be behaving. Will keep an eye on them!
Thank you for your replies!
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Sometimes with Shearings there doesn't have to be a reason to reject - they just don't know what has happened to them! One of ours rejected both her lambs. We took one off which she really hated and mothered on to one who had lost hers the same day. We made her have the other big gimmer by doing as in Sally's post. They spent their first night outside together last night - both cuddled up together against the wind. :thumbsup: Success :thumbsup:
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Well done with the lambing! I'm sure you're going to be able to sort out the other two issues - then give yourself a big pat on the back :thumbsup:
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I tend to lamb my shearlings on paddocky ground because of this....If they are gonna have probs, it will usually be as a first timer, I find. Younger ewes make a good cull price later on though so all is not lost.
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Younger ewes make a good cull price later on though so all is not lost.
Steve you do make me chuckle ;D
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Sometimes find first-timers are disconcerted if the lamb starts off with teeth already erupted. Takes a while for the penny to drop about feeling better once a full udder has been emptied and putting up with the teeth. We use home made adopters that allow the ewe to stand and sit and the lamb to curl up in front of her nose. Rarely had to spend more than a day in one - those that do are culled before next tupping season.
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Well done for getting the lamb out :thumbsup: . Re the eyelids - if it has not resolved yet, take to vets and they will inject Pen and Strep (or similar). If you are squeamish hold the lamb steady on your lap while the vet does the injection but be prepared to be pee'ed and poo'ed on :o
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We've had a few with turned eyelids, vet injected the lower lid with pen and strep which curled it out and did the trick, might need injecting for a couple of days. We also had some cream to put in the eye for the iritation. Apparently it's a genetic thing, occurs a lot in Texels and the ram can cause it, so a lot of commercial farmers will cull the ram.
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*Update*
The ewe is now starting to accept the lamb and is acting like mother of the year and wont leave his side. Rather fidgety when he's trying to feed but I will leave them penned up until I am happy he is feeding well enough. The poor ewe has an udder like a cow and I think she must be very sore (which may be the reason). I'm in two minds, give her another chance or cull her once she's dry... (not one of my favourite ewes).
Spoken to my vet and she said to keep rolling the lid down and it should correct itself but to watch for ulcers on the eye (cloudy) which I can get cream off them to put into it.
This morning I was feeling very down with only a couple hours of sleep but now I'm feeling very positive and can go back to enjoying all of my lovely lambs and my ewes.
Thank you everyone for your advice and support!
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Give her another chance, don't listen to Steve! If she does it second time get rid. New mums can get a bit of a shock when the lamb turns up.