[wellies]

Hi everyone 
We have a small ewe lamb who is one of twins. she was weak at birth but received colostrum from her mum as well as us syringing it. She has always suckled well but looks hunched up all the time. Her mum sustained a cut to her udder which has resulted in a touch of mastitis. We have treated this successfully and topped up the weak lamb with a bottle as she was looking hollow during this time. Her brother is fine, growing well and looks well fed. I am at a loss as to why she looks hunched up and what to do for her. She's drinking from her mum (although mum isn't as keen on her as her brother) and also has her top ups. She is nibbling grass and is very keen on lamb nuts. She just is so small and hunched. Would be grateful for any advice or suggestions. She's 4 weeks old now? 

[Marlboro]

Sounds like she needs more topping up. Try to get as much down her as possible. If you have the time and facilities you could take her off mum and feed her youself and get her onto some creep slowly. At least you would know how much she is having. My bottle lamb is one of twins off a ewe that had mastitis, her brother is doing very well with his mum.

[shep53]

More milk !! if she's very keen on grass and nuts at 4 wks then she's hungry, showing an intrest would be more normal .

[wellies]

Thank you guys, have tried giving more top ups. She is interested sometimes and really enjoys them and others not so much. She does like the lamb nuts which the others (older lambs) have but doesn't tend to eat many just enjoys pushing them around. Sorry if I made it sound like she's eating lots of nuts, that's not the case. Appreciate your comments and thoughts. She seems more perky today but I would like to see her improve more really     

[Old Shep]

I don't have any suggestions or advice - just sympathy - I have one just the same! I took her off her mum at 2 1/2 weeks old because mum just milks on one side and had got an infection in that.  She is now fine as is the other twin.  The pet lamb only drinks a little milk and yet always seems full - I think it just eats straw!  It is pooing and weeing ok.  Tried to tempt it with creep but it just shoves it around the dish.

[Alicenz]

I dont know what the weather is like where you are but are these lambs perhaps cold?  I have used woolen lamb covers on miserable looking lambs and along with enough milk and shelter  and attention (if her mum is ignoring her) that may help.

[wellies]

Thank you for the reply. Nope she's not cold. They were in the stables for the bad weather and now it's warm so they are all out. She looks a little less hunched up now but still a tiny dot of a thing. Sometimes she wants milk other times not really... who knows I will just keep trying and see what occurs as I'm now fully out of ideas