The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Berkshire Boy on May 10, 2014, 02:40:29 pm
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I have 4 orphan lambs that are about 2 weeks old, i have then on the bottle getting 4 feeds of 250ml. I have just started putting a few pellets in with them but at the moment they don't seem too interested.
The instructions on my milk replacer say after 7 days feed ad lib.What sort of amount should they be getting at this age, they get through the bottle in a matter of seconds so can I put it up and if so by how much. Thanks
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A lot of us don't ever feed milk ad lib but feed whatever keeps them healthy.
Some preps 1L per day is enough, others it's 1.5L.
Once they can manage 350ml per feed without being so full the milk spills over into the rumen (which is a bad thing), you can put them on 3 x 350ml feeds.
They'll start eating cake when they get hungry and you aren't there with their milk ;)
You are giving them hay, aren't you? They must have hay in order for the rumen to develop properly.
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Thanks Sally, they are having hay but I have only been giving it to them since putting feed in, last few days. Should i have been giving it to them earlier? :-[
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I've been told (by a vet) that ruminants really need to eat hay or straw within the first seven days for optimum rumen development. So mine have it available from about day 4.
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we try to mimic what the lamb would be doing anyway if with theyre Dam, so yeah we do same as Sally and its been with them from very early on, even if they just play with it for a bit, they soon start to enjoy all the little soft shoots x
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Thanks for that.
One saving grace is that I have a bale of straw in with them that I sit on whilst feeding and they have been nibbling at that so hopefully all will be well.
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Straw is just as good yes :thumbsup:
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don't forget to have water available too
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.... change it a few times a day, they can be very picky x