The Accidental Smallholder Forum
Livestock => Sheep => Topic started by: Possum on April 20, 2014, 09:28:16 pm
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I have three orphan lambs ages 5 weeks, 8 weeks and 10 weeks. They are all eating creep and grass and have access to water at all times. The two older ones are drinking a fair amount of water but the youngest won't touch it. I would like to wean him in a week or two but presumably I can't if he is not drinking water from a trough.
Is there anything that I can do to encourage him or do I just wait for him to work it out for himself?
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Can't help with an answer but wanted to say . Really enjoyed the other afternoon, still lambing... :thumbsup:
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It's probably a chicken and egg thing. While he is getting what he needs from milk he is getting enough fluid. When you start to cut his milk down he'll get thirsty. ;)
Another factor could be whether he is eating cake. Cake would normally make them thirsty too - and he needs to be eating a fair amount of cake (at least 1/2lb per day) before you wean him.
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Yes, I've been wondering about the cake. He does eat it, but I'm not sure how much. They are eating two to three pounds a day between the three of them, but it might be that the bigger ones are eating most of it. I suppose I could lean over the stable door all day to watch them, but then I wouldn't get anything else done! :innocent: