[Mustelid]

Hi,

I have six lambs between three and four weeks old on the bucket. They are growing well and now eating hay and creep. My problem is that they're chewing teats all the time. Any suggestions as to how I could prevent this or recommendations as to which teats to use would be most helpful.

Thanks
Gavin

[SallyintNorth]

Gavin, are you leaving the bucket with them after they finish the milk?  Or taking it away as soon as they've drunk up?

[twizzel]

Ours did this to our Shepherdess around the same age. I took it out and gave them 2 500ml bottles each day instead, then at 5 weeks reduced it to 1 500ml bottle then weaned at 6wks.

[Mustelid]

Gavin, are you leaving the bucket with them after they finish the milk?  Or taking it away as soon as they've drunk up?

Now I am! They still seem to damage the teats though...

[Ina]

I found that some did it - others didn't. Maybe they also copy each other, so that unfortunately yours have all learned to do it. Teats were just one of those items that needed replacing regularly.

[zarzar]

Hi i dont know if anyone else has noticed it or not but from what im seeing with our lambs is that the ram lambs are generally very rough when feeding from the teats the ewe lambs seem to suck then walk off the ram lambs are always butting it and pulling on teats even when still full.

[shep53]

Agree take away the bucket as soon as finished, which colour teats are you using White is soft for young lambs, Red is harder for older lambs .