[ladyK]

All was well in the sheep field this morning... but this afternoon I found my oldest Soay ewe down and unresponsive to her lambs. Called the vet out straight away, diagnosed possible uterine infection, administered ABs, calcium and anti-inflams. She's been going down hill by the minute despite, and she died a couple of hours later while I was with her trying to bottle feed her lambs.
Devastated - the old lady was my favourite... but what is important now is the lambs - twin girls a week old tomorrow. Never had bottle lambs before so I have a few questions!

Should they stay with the body overnight so that they get used to the fact she is 'gone' before I move them away?
How often do week-old lambs need to be fed? (I understand little and often is best but need some kind of guide).
When will they be old enough to join the flock in the field? I would like to take them back to the flock as soon as reasonable but obviously not too early (and obviously once they get used to the feeding routine).
Thinking of putting them into our trailer by the house to be easier to feed regularly for now as all sheds are quite a distance away - if they are fed and fit I wouldn't think they need to be in  the house at this age?

Thank you for any help!

[Old Shep]

Oh so sorry for your loss xxx we do get attached to our old girls.

I would take lambs away immediately they dont have too much emotional attachment at that age. Feed 4 to 6 times per day reading instructions on your lamb milk bag.

I would keep them inside for at least 3 weeks so you can feed them. They have each other so won't be lonely. And they should fine in the trailer as long as they are well fed and strong. Only bring them in if they are down and out.

Good luck x


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[ladyK]

Yep, they are in the trailer now, looking confused but have taken to the bottle rather well after a few attempts.
I assume the feeding instructions for the milk replacer are for big commercial type lambs, so I' think I'll aim to feed a bit less more often to these tiny Soays.

Heartbreaking when death comes so sudden. She was her usual self this morning...
Thinking about it I did notice a bit of muddy coloured discharge yesterday but as she had lambed only recently and it wasn't smelly and she seemed well and fit I didn't hear any alarm bells ringing. Maybe antibiotics yesterday would have saved her?... 

[Backinwellies]

Don't do the 'what ifs' .... I too lost my favourite (and one of the best looking too)  ewe this lambing after giving birth to triplet boys despite all my attempts .... and she always had boys ..so no replacement. I still think I should have done this or that and she would still be here.

You have done your best, as I did, and enjoy the lamb rearing... they will love you. 

[Slimjim]

Very sorry to hear about that - but another new sheep journey begins for you.........
If you haven't done so already, have a look at a very recent post 'Integrating orphans with the flock". Some good stuff in there. Good luck.

[pharnorth]

I lost a kid goat in February through hypothermia but had a very good lambing. There is a am emotional aspect to the 'what ifs' but also a practical one. I no doubt beat myself up a bit but also came up with some adjustments to my observations plan to reduce the risk of it happening again, probably helped the good lambing. So a bit of the 'what ifs' is not a bad thing if it helps in the future so yes Next time you would probably,y call the va
Et when you see the discharge but in this case I doubt if abs the day before would have changed the outcome as the infection most likely had a full week to take hold already.