The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Yeoman on July 02, 2014, 09:45:09 am
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I have a late lamb that has been bottle fed. She's doing very well and now on creep and grazing/browsing all day in the garden!
She's pretty much ready to wean but I have a worry about maintaining her fluid intake as she is weaned as I've never seen her take the slightest notice of her water bucket (except to stand in or poo in of course)!
My main concern is that she's still consuming 1.5 litres of fluid in the form of milk formula and all of a sudden this will be cut out.
Sounds daft to ask but, will she know to use the bucket when she gets thirsty?
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How many feeds does her 1.5 litres split into ?
Mine were slowly brought down from 4 to 1 over weeks. Gradual, yo got to be able to see her drink water in my book before you drop one, or if her grazing increases, drop one then maybe. Mine have they're water changed a few times a day, I never think oh hey haven't drunk it, they're not thirsty, I change it anyway, they can be very very fussy lol.
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If she is on powdered milk replacer you can make it thinner/less concentrated. And replacing a bottle of milk with water will also help.