The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Mungo24 on April 07, 2016, 04:47:47 pm

Title: Bottle lamb question
Post by: Mungo24 on April 07, 2016, 04:47:47 pm
Afternoon

I have a 2.5 week old bottle lamb, doing well but his poo is the colour and consistency of mustard. I am not too worried about his health but his back end is a bit of a mess. He is outside in a paddock (with a shelter) with adlib cold milk. Is there anything I can do to firm him up, natural yoghurt in his milk?

Any thoughts

Thanks in advance
Title: Re: Bottle lamb question
Post by: shotblastuk on April 07, 2016, 05:00:42 pm
Are you giving him any creep feed?
Title: Re: Bottle lamb question
Post by: Keelan H on April 07, 2016, 06:22:07 pm
I had the same with one of my 2.5 week old ram lambs, i added natural yoghurt to the milk (amazing in preventing bloat by the way) and he just seemed to firm up once he got used to it  :)
Title: Re: Bottle lamb question
Post by: Mungo24 on April 07, 2016, 07:01:27 pm
Thank you both, he has had creep for the past few days, not interested in it much at the minute.
Title: Re: Bottle lamb question
Post by: waterbuffalofarmer on April 07, 2016, 07:50:46 pm
did you say cold milk? cold milk is bad for digestion. plenty of fluids he needs, could be scour, and then give him a feed of yoghurt warm water and honey. Also talk to the vet about it, possibly ABs. Is he still drinking milk and also does his poo smell vile and is liquidy?
Title: Re: Bottle lamb question
Post by: twizzel on April 07, 2016, 08:36:30 pm
did you say cold milk? cold milk is bad for digestion. plenty of fluids he needs, could be scour, and then give him a feed of yoghurt warm water and honey. Also talk to the vet about it, possibly ABs. Is he still drinking milk and also does his poo smell vile and is liquidy?

Ad lib is better cold as lambs won't gorge themselves, also helps prevent bloat. Ours go onto cold by about 2 weeks and all have firm stools so don't think it's that. Could be the grass if he is picking at it, does he have any gay or just creep?