[suziequeue]

We've had a really good lambing. All ewes lambed outside unassisted. Two first timers had twins and whereas the first one took to them immediately, the second one did not. She gave birth to two ram lambs yesterday morning - one big and the other tiny with knuckled under back feet which prevented him from getting to the teat quite so readily and he was being shoved out the way by his bigger, stronger brother yesterday. His feet came right as the day went on but he has become increasingly weak and won't stand or suck. Mum was clearly not interested in him. We have tried giving him a bottle but he's not interested. I think he is doomed and I suspect that Mum kind of knows that. 


The second larger ram now also seems to be in difficulties today. He is scouring quite badly and is hunched up with bellyache (I presume). He is going for the teat whenever Mum is near and getting a few sucks. Mum is at grass this afternoon and is obviously hungry. She did spend quite alot of time trying to coax him along the track to the field this afternoon and she did respond to his bleating but he got so far and then refused to budge. For now we have put him in the field on some dry hay to sit so Mum can keep an eye on him whilst she can also get at some grass (which will help her milk and ultimately benefit him I hope  [size=78%].....). [/size]It is a bit windy but the rain has stopped and it's quite mild.


I would like to try and avoid intervention if at all possible. I have heard pink medicine mentioned for scour on here. Do you think it's worth giving that a shot? Maybe once he gets over his scour and bellyache he will be able to join in a bit. I appreciate he's only 36hrs old but a lamb born 12 hours later than him is already going along to the pasture with Mum and pottering about a bit.


Don't know what to do for best.

[Marches Farmer]

First thoughts - would bring them inside immediately.  Did the lambs get colostrum (must have within 6 hours of birth, particularly if outside)?  Is either of them running a temperature?  Should be around 39-40 deg. C.  Lower = hypothermic - need to feed (milk from a bottle dripped in/stomach tube if weak but can hold head up/intraperitoneal injection if not = vet), then warm.  Higher = infection - need a/b asap.  Did they have Spectam?  Can you hear them "rattling" or do they have saliva coming from their mouths (watery mouth)?   Scour is unusual in such a young lamb - Vecox for coccidiosis.  What condition is the ewe in?  Is she getting additional feed to help keep her milking?  If the lambs aren't suckling she'll soon dry up anyway.

[SallyintNorth]

Pfizer Scour Formula is a good alternative to milk for scouring lambies.  It's for calves but works well in lambs.  You have to make up a whole sachet - 2L I think - at a time, so if there is a lamb-size alternative that might suit you better. 

I've used Rehydion in the past, which you can make up in whatever quantity you want, and which you can also add milk to and it promotes clotting (essential for digestion) - but I did lose two lambs that had had it last year, so although that's probably not due to the Rehydion I am a little loathe to recommend it...

Be aware that some ewes seem to produce 'bad milk' that makes their lambs ill and ultimately die unless you take them off.  BH has had two since I've been here, one this time and one a few years back.  (That's out of 300-ish lambing each year.)

Hope the little fella recovers 

[colliewoman]

One of my triplets went down yesterday
Had his bottle in the morning as usual, sucking on mum during the day then point blank refused his tea time bottle. Other 2 are fine
He had a sloshy belly so was brought in ASAP given  antibiotics and electrolytes.
He was completely constipated but Pilot my Collie dog spent the whole evening licking his belly and bum. He passed a very sticky motion then has scoured since.
However he is now bright as a button, eating some creep, having tiny feeds little and often (he would like to drink a whole bottle if allowed!) . Spent the night curled up on the bed between the dogs nice and snug.
I don't reckon mum will want anything to do with him ever again now, but I am hoping he will be ok


With a scouring lamb (10 days old) what would be your feeding regime?
Gut instinct tells me the scour is a result of the constipation and 'better out than in' but equally I have never had a bottle lamb...

[Chris63red]

I agree with Marches Farmer get them in asap - if you not sure they have had any colostrum make some up give it them anyway if its not too late.
Our ewes are still getting haylage plus pellets keep that milk flowing....
Other more knowledgeable individuals on here may give better advice


Good luck 

[suziequeue]

Thanks for all the advice.

Since I wrote my post two things have happened.... The little one died and the bigger one seems to be toddling around with his Mum in the field. She is being very attentive and protective and he is going for her teat although she does seem to move away after a couple of sucks so we will bring them in and pen them together again for a bit more bonding etc.

All the nursing ewes have access to a large shed and they all tend to congregate there at night - a big crèche. Certainly these two lambs have been indoors since they were born except for this afternoon once the weather had improved. OH will pop down and get some lamb scour stuff tomorrow.

So - things seem to be following a course of sorts. I feel bad about the little one. I think we could have done more........... but things are always simpler through the lens of the retrospectoscope.

[SteveHants]

Is the one that is left hunched over? If it isn't then its probably okay. If you bring them in now, just as it is getting warm and wet, could increase disease risk.


If its being fed then Id wait and see.

[suziequeue]

OH got them in for "evening stables" and he seemed to be trotting along OK with Mum. Not hunched up any more. Maybe a bit of fresh air did him good.

I'm probably fretting about nothing because of the other one so ignore me now :-))

[Marches Farmer]

Sometimes the ewe doesn't like the lamb suckling if its teeth have begun to emerge - can help to hold her steady occasionally so the lamb can suckle and she generally gets the idea that her udder feels more comfortable after that, even if the teeth are sharp.