51

Sheep / Re: accidental lamb carer without a clue, don't know what to do next advise needed

« Last post by firefrog on June 06, 2025, 09:22:02 pm »

Hi Sally.
Thank you for your very informative reply.
Im very happy to report that today, day 4 they finally managed to feed from Mum!
Yesterday I didn't feed them all day and the last feed they had had was the night before. I noticed that mums teats were very big and swollen again and the lambs still were unable to find the teat. So at 5pm I called a couple of friends and asked them to come and help me. it took 3 of us to hold her still, while my wife milked her a bit so her udders were not so full and then she got the lambs and for the first time we were able to physically put them onto the teat to drink. They filled their little bellies and by the end they were latching on by them selves.
Then today I saw the lambs feeding on their own with their little tails wagging and it was a sight that filled me with joy.
I will sleep much better tonight

52

Sheep / Re: accidental lamb carer without a clue, don't know what to do next advise needed

« Last post by SallyintNorth on June 06, 2025, 01:19:10 pm »

To pen the ewe, make the pen then walk the lambs into it, making sure Mum can see them all the time.  Mum will follow the lambs.  Take it steady, don't rush.  If you can't manage with them walking, pick them up and carry them, but keep them near to the ground and make sure Mum can see them at all times.  If she circles away, wait, or even reverse a bit to get her following again.

53

Sheep / Re: accidental lamb carer without a clue, don't know what to do next advise needed

« Last post by SallyintNorth on June 06, 2025, 01:14:57 pm »

You need to stop feeding them from a bottle now they've had their colostrum and got through the first day.  If you keep feeding them, they will quickly stop trying to use the udder.

Get them penned with mum.  If mum is not avoiding them latching on, they'll almost certainly sort themselves out in a confined space.  If she's still avoidant, you may need to go into the pen and hold her steady every 4-6 hours so the lambs can feed.  You won't need to do it for long, she'll settle down after a few feeds and you'll start to find the lambs not hungry when you go in. 

(As you only have 2 adults, you will probably need to pen the other sheep next to the family, or it'll be distressed on its own.)

Do *not* give in and bottle feed. 

If they don't seem to be finding the udder even when you hold the ewe steady, you will have to help them maybe a few times. Concentrate first on the one that's trying; once one is feeding the other will copy, and if not, once one is flying solo you can help the other.

To hold the ewe steady for the lambs to do their own thing. I find it easiest to hold her gently but firmly against the side of the pen, using my legs and bodyweight to press her, one leg in front of her hips and the other next to her shoulder.  If you can get her nose in the corner, that helps stop her trying to exit forwards; otherwise gently hold her head horizontal with the flat of your hand under her jaw.

If you need to help the lambs on, if you have a helper, one of you can hold the ewe steady while the other gets down to help the lambs.  It's harder on your own but the principle would be the same, get the ewe with her nose into a corner the use your bodyweight to press her (firmly but gently; she needs to know she's held but not be squashed so much it's uncomfortable for her) into the wall. 

To get a lamb onto the teat.  Get the teat operational (ewe dropping the milk) and get some milk on your fingers, let the lamb suck the milk off your finger so that it's making suckling moves and it has the taste of the milk.  Now try leading it to the teat using your finger.  Don't pull its head, it'll just fight, and once it's fighting, it won't be interested in feeding.  So keep it calm, give it reassurance, don't bully it or make it feel manhandled.  If you feel yourself getting frustrated, take a pause and let everyone relax again.  If necessary, hold the lamb roughly in position by using your body behind it, to give it nowhere else to be - but gently, don't make it feel imprisoned or it'll just fight you.  Keep leading the teat into its mouth and if you can, squirt some milk into its mouth. 

Do *not* give in and bottle feed. 

Even if you are unsuccessful, do *not* give in and bottle feed.  Come back and try again in an hour or two.  Keep your cool, you'll get there! 

54

Introduce yourself / Re: Black nose valais

« Last post by SallyintNorth on June 06, 2025, 12:48:59 pm »

Yes. I am wanting to get some Hebs.

Another tip, then, is if you are planning to have multiple breeds. try to get breeds which have the same needs.  It's hard to meet the needs of a sheep which needs supplementary feed alongside a sheep which gets fat on fresh air, for instance. 

And if you'd be keeping multiple tups not all of the same breed, have all horned or all polled.  Horns kill polled when things get fiesty. 

55

Introduce yourself / Re: Black nose valais

« Last post by Jenniejenjen on June 05, 2025, 11:18:12 pm »

    do you breed them?   

56

Introduce yourself / Re: Black nose valais

« Last post by Fleecewife on June 05, 2025, 11:04:00 pm »

 
       

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Introduce yourself / Re: Black nose valais

« Last post by Jenniejenjen on June 05, 2025, 09:21:56 pm »

Yes. I am wanting to get some Hebs.

58

Introduce yourself / Re: Black nose valais

« Last post by Fleecewife on June 05, 2025, 05:27:58 pm »

You could go for something which doesn't have just a black nose, but is black all over and is eminently suited to the climate - Hebridean sheep, preferably multihorned just because I love them 

59

Introduce yourself / Re: Black nose valais

« Last post by Jenniejenjen on June 05, 2025, 01:33:41 pm »

Thank you. I was thinking the same thing. Dry and cold fine. Wet and wind not. Just wanted to see what everyone else thought. 

60

Introduce yourself / Re: Black nose valais

« Last post by Bywaters on June 05, 2025, 10:30:52 am »

Not from personal experience, however, there are some across the valley from me and the owner is very critical of their ability to cope here in West Yorkshire at only 800 ft

They, allegedly, suffer badly from  feet issues, very possibly, as said before, becasue they are built for dry mountains, not damp bogs !

I wouldn't, personally. My preference is for a breed that is actually suited to your climate and conditions