The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Jamie12 on March 15, 2015, 05:25:37 pm
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So we are about to start lambing, and I'm keen to make sure I have the most important things.
I have gloves, lubricant, ropes, clean towels, iodine, lamb kick start, antibiotics, bottles, syringes, needles, stomach tubes, etc. And torches.
But what do you find most invaluable in your lambing kits?. I'm wondering perhaps if I should add a strong drink in there ;D
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Blue lamb snare, not the plastic tube one. Asked for one at a farm t'other day chap brought a fox snare out!
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Notebook and pen / pencil (I use the notes app on my phone now) but something to make notes on, and use it. You thnk you'll remember, but you won't ;)
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A head torch for hands free operation
long gloves in case of looking for a twin or triplet further in up to your elbow! and protects your favorite shirt.
A partner to help, but she won't fit in the lambing kit box ;D so a mobile phone to call for help.
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Notebook and pen / pencil (I use the notes app on my phone now) but something to make notes on, and use it. You thnk you'll remember, but you won't ;)
Definitely! Would also add marker spray for the same reason even if only a few sheep.
Mine from this year is a prolapse spoon. Hopefully you will not need it but better to be looking at it than for it!
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Colostrum/milk replacement to top up weak lambs and a big bucket of patience!
Good luck with your lambing!
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Thanks, got a note pad as I'm so forgetful ::) few sachets of colostrum and a wee tub, 10kg bag of milk waiting to hopefully not be used lol.
Rope lambing snares look good, I never did like the plastic Coated ones.
Where will I get a big bucket of patience from?,
Also am I worth buying calcium, glucose foer injecting?. We use a glucose solution that we mix in water for the valves to drink if needed, can this been done with lambs?. Tempted to buy something for watery mouth.
And I still need to purchase a wormer eeek
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If you need calcium / glucose, you need it NOW. I have it in the kit - it doesn't go off, despite having a bb date on the label.
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Jamie,
As you know, at the lambing course it was really difficult to attach the lambing ropes to slippery feet. So I bought one of these rubber lambing aids (https://www.fanevalleystores.com/product/150156/lambing-aid-rubber-lamb-puller), and it looks really good. The knobbles on it will grip the back of the hocks, and because it has some stiffness, I think it will be far easier for a beginner to use than a traditional rope.
I bought 500ml of lube too.
(https://www.fanevalleystores.com/processed/images/products/270-270-1--150156.jpg)
That reminds me, the 50 shades of grey movie is out now, isn't it? ;D
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If you need calcium / glucose, you need it NOW. I have it in the kit - it doesn't go off, despite having a bb date on the label.
THIS
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Sugar - ordinary granulated or caster, nasty bleached white stuff works better than right-on unrefined - for reducing a prolapse
Forget the strong drink, it makes you sleepy - we keep Lucozade (for him), Irn Bru (for me), Tunnocks Caramel Wafers, bananas and apples to keep the shepherd(s) going ;)
You will be needing elastrators and rings once you start getting lambs born - unless you've decided to not dock or castrate, of course.
Twin lamb drench
Combivit or other injectable B-vits
Heat lamp / warm box / Rayburn or Aga - somewhere to warm cold lambs
Box or somewhere to constrain lambs who are recovering
Baler twine - you can make a lot of the other things you need and fix any that are broken ;)
Some sort of electrolyte feed - Rehydion or Pfizer Scour Formula
Plenty of ready meals in the freezer, tins of soup, etc.
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Oh, and a hot water bottle, even if you have a heat lamp and a Rayburn, there are times when a hottie (wrapped in a towel or cover) underneath them is the best thing ;)
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Excellent thank you, off to local agricultural merchant with a shopping list
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Collate multi lamb rapid, amazing stuff. We also have several propyl glycol based products from the the vets, the pink one ketaid is it and the selekt one.
Collate lamb kickstart. Orojet ( we do this routinely) when we do the Iodine.
Alamycin, combivit, pen and strep bought.
Calciject.
Spare bottles. Save some 500 ml pop bottles too and get little flutter valve teats, the little red news usually with a yellow screw top.
Colostrum.
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A whisk to mix colostrum / lamlac.
Milton - to sterilise all tubes, bottles etc. A bucket / bowl with a lid is handy as you can keep your milton solution in there and just dump in the bits and bobs that you've used. Replace solution daily.
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I have written idiots guides for when it goes wrong so I don't panick and as I have to work we have friends who help, and this makes them feel a lot better! Also a comfy deck chair and warm socks ... Just off to check my girls now, 10 due to start today and already 5 showing signs! Very excited and nervous :innocent:
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Hope all goes well Red x
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Pack of babywipes. Handy when the bucket of water & hibiscrub you carefully got ready is either tipped over or miles from where you eventually caught the ewe.
Ewe restrainer: Yellow plastic thing you put over the ewes neck & hook the front legs in. You can then leave her secure while you collect all the items you need & quietly get on with lambing without trying to hold down 100kg of uncooperative ewe
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Gosh - this lot sounds scary!
plus it sounds like you need a wheelbarrow to carry it all round in!
Needing to pick some feed up in the next couple of days, better buy some extras while I'm there :-(
(On the presumption if I've got it I won't need it)
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Empty large Lucozade bottles are very handy for carrying water till it's needed - buckets always get tipped over! :D
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Loving these replies.
A ewe restrainer would come in rather handy!
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I only keep things in my kit that I actually use. So far though that consists of,,,,,,,
Calciject
Propolene Glycol such as Ceto Phytol or Ketosaid
Betomox LA
Metacam
Might get some oxytocin in for next year
Iodine,
Spectam
Volostrum
Only buy milk powder in as I need it. The volostrum buys me time until the shops open.
syringes and needles in a variety of sizes for drenching and injecting.
wormer for the ewes after lambing
tail docking rings and applicator
stomach tube
Feed bottles and valve teats
plastic measuring jugs
scales
thermometer for animals and one for milk temp
Shepheress bucket
Lamb kick start
sterilizing solution
Hand wash gel
clean towells,
a kettle
bucket
clean water
paper towel
Shears
disinfectant
Fortunatly my lambing is all finished for this year but the onlything that I havent used from the list above is the stomach tube.