[Hillview Farm]

To cut a long story short,  found a shearling laid flat out this afternoon with a large dead lamb behind her.

No attempt to get up. Kicking myself as I must have missed it by about 5 mins!

Got a Triplet lamb and covered it in the fluid and gave it to her. She's talking to it but not fully accepting it. Doesn't help the lamb isn't very vocal but is keen to feed. I've got her on a halter as she's half heartedly knocking it about and keep letting her off every few hours.

I will put the lamb behind a hurdle tonight as I don't want her tied when I'm not there.

Is this the right thing to do? I know I need to be patient but roughly how long could it take?

Thanks all

[Old Shep]

Yes you are doing fine. It can take a few days or not work at all, all you can do is try. Yes dont leave the lamb with her if shes free i had one kill a lamb last year :-(

[SallyintNorth]

She'll take it, just be patient and carry on as you are.  You'll know when it's safe to leave the lamb with her, and when you no longer need to stand by her to allow the lamb to feed.

[farmvet]

put the dead lambs skin on the foster lamb for a few days

[Porterlauren]

Skin the dead lamb.

Or get the collie near the pen lol.

[Hillview Farm]

She hadn't bonded with the lamb and wouldn't even wash it

[SallyintNorth]

And I give my usual warning about bring a dog near the pen - it can make the ewe 'see red' and batter everything near her, including the lamb. 

[Hillview Farm]

Well she's talking to the lamb. I've left them in together loose. She's not attacking the lamb just pushing it away sometimes when trying to feed. Other times she briefly forgets

Fingers crossed

[SallyintNorth]

Brilliant - fingers crossed 

[Marches Farmer]

Still need to keep a close eye on things - shearlings can suddenly change their minds.  I wouldn't let a dog anywhere near a lambing shed.  We've made our own adopters that fit across a corner of a mothering up pen and allow the feed and a water bucket to be placed in the corner and the ewe to stand up and lie down, with space at the side for the lamb to curl up in front of her nose.  This generally works within a couple of days but we always watch her closely for several hours after she's released.

[Jukes Mum]

We've made our own adopters that fit across a corner of a mothering up pen and allow the feed and a water bucket to be placed in the corner and the ewe to stand up and lie down, with space at the side for the lamb to curl up in front of her nose.

marches Farmer- I don't suppose you have a pic of this set up do you?

[Marches Farmer]

Alas not but I can try to describe it.  2x 2" square bars fit across the corner of the pen, centre vertical of metal hurdle to centre of adjoining one.  Top one has middle section cut out and replaced with a piece that overlaps at each end, secured with bolt and wing nut at each end.  Hole drilled through the ends of the horizontals so can be tied to the hurdle verticals with baler twine.  Two 8" wide vertical boards screwed in each side of the top space, a ewe's neck width apart.  Lift centre piece to allow you to lift ewe enough to slide her head between the uprights, then secure it again.  We drilled a couple of holes through the vertical on one side to secure a water bucket, hay is placed in a pile.  Fit it acros the front corner of the pen to allow feed and water to be easily topped up.  Best to secure all joins with nuts and bolts - some ewes pull back so joints need to be sturdy.  Put plenty of bedding around the ewe's back end - it will get mucky quicker than you think.  Due to start lambing on the 26th and will try to take a photo if we need to use one.

[Crbecky10]

If they're tied up, make sure they can get to feed and water and sit down, but don't keep letting her down, you won't be 'bossing' her.