One of my two Herdwicks had twins yesterday and mothered both lambs perfectly, I was there for the birth and saw it all. Both ewes were penned separately with their lambs in bonding pens to ensure they bonded, which they did.
Last night however she decided that she only wanted one, and the second/weaker one was being repeatedly butted away, very distressing to watch. I've been tube feeding it since, but keeping him in with the ewe in the hope that she will change her mind. She only butts it when it tries for milk and it has given up now, it just hides i the corner in resignation, very sad. I did hear that hill breeds can reject the weaker lamb to preserve milk stocks for the stronger one, though she has plenty.
I've tried crating her and pushing the lamb on the teat, putting the dogs outside the pen to encourage protection, and even aftershave on the ewes nose and lambs bum, none of which have worked.
I also can't let her out into my only field, as she is running straight to my other ewe and trying to steal her lamb, even though she has two of her own. Yet when her own cry, she goes running, but just won't feed them.
Any ideas what I can do? I don't want to go out and spend a lot on an adopter crate if there is a simpler solution. Even with a crate, she is so strong and flighty I am sure she is only going to hurt herself, or me again!
Frustratingly, she has two chambers full of milk which flows freely when squeezed, so why won't she feed her lambs? It is annoying that I may have to feed him as a pet lamb 4 times a day from now on when his own mother should be doing the job!
Any help gratefully received!