[Stanlamb]

Hi.  I have two pets (ewe had mastitis and no milk at all), now 3 weeks old.  They're turning out to be rather problematic.  They won't eat creep ... one nibbles a teeny bit but only for a minute, the other doesn't go near.  The milk we're using says to feed two bottles a day at this stage.  Until yesterday I had them on three bottles but removed their lunchtime bottle to see whether they would be hungry enough to eat creep when I fed the ewes.  They didn't go near the troughs.  They absolutely gulp their milk and have ended up with stomachs bloated like a football more than once.  Not quite sure what to do with them ... vet says they need creep to develop stomach and to keep milk feeds smaller but they're not getting the amount specified by milk manufacturers to how. 

Any advice please .... especially re them not eating creep at 3 weeks.

Thanks!

[Porterlauren]

Do you have any other lambs or an old ewe who are eating hard feed? Sometimes this just need showing how.

[Hellybee]

I agree with above, they need a bit of coaching by an older sheep.  Ours are down to two feeds now, but Only because hey ve really taken to the creep.  We put a little ram mix in too.  I wouldn't drop a bottle til they're ready. And also drinking water well. 

[Stanlamb]

Thanks for your replies.  They're with their Mum and the other lambs and ewes.  Over the last few weeks they've been with Mum only, then with a small group of 3 ewes and lambs and now out with about 20 ewes and their offspring so have had plenty of opportunity to follow example.  Would a creep feeder help if they could follow the other lambs to feed without ewes pushing them aside?  If so, any recommendations?

[twizzel]

Leave fresh creep in there (replace every day) and within a week or so they will start to pick at it. They don't start inhaling it until 5 or so weeks but from 3 weeks will pick at it. Our pet lambs are kept in though until after weaning so if there's no milk it's the only thing to nibble at. 

[pgkevet]

The only cades I raised were last year and none of them ate any creep at 3 weeks. (yes it was offered)  The one older lamb.. about 6 weeks old was the only one that jumped out of the boarded area in the barn and used to raid a creep bag direct. The rest took no interest until we penned them outdoors and they started nibbling at the long grass around the pen edges. In fact i don't think they ever ate creep as lambs except the older one. Oh, and when they got let out for play and excercise (youngest 2 weeks old, then three at 5 weeks old and 1 at 8 weeks) they helped themselves to rose leaves, pear tree -  sampled everything.

[Marches Farmer]

I'm still feeding the ewes as grass growth is so slow to get going here this year.  Some of the lambs dive into the trough, others wait until things have quietened down before they go near it and some are more interested in the hedge. 

[Stanlamb]

Thanks all.  it sounds like I shouldn't worry too much but I think I will definitely increase their milk ... back to 3/4 feeds a day.  They just don't look that happy this evening.  They've also moved from very well grazed pasture (ie almost bare) to good grass with plenty of new growth so are nibbling away at that.  Quite a few green bums on the other lambs which I'm hoping is just the better grass.

[EP90]

Leave fresh creep in there (replace every day) and within a week or so they will start to pick at it. They don't start inhaling it until 5 or so weeks but from 3 weeks will pick at it. Our pet lambs are kept in though until after weaning so if there's no milk it's the only thing to nibble at.

I have 3 pet lambs and just the same, 5 weeks before they really started taking creep.  At 6 weeks I'm nearly knocked off my feet when they see a yellow bucket.

[Stanlamb]

Thank heavens for that!  One is eating a bit of creep, the other still none and was bloated yet again yesterday.  More vegetable oil! 

Honestly, it's one thing after another ... had to have one lamb pts (abscess) the other day after a week of battling and then found one dead in the field this morning.  No idea what happened, it was a super lamb, a triplet, the strongest, about 3 weeks and fine yesterday evening.  I'm hazarding a guess at pulpy kidney or similar given the ewes didn't receive their boosters ... started vaccinating the lambs yesterday and the autoinjector jammend so I had to stop.  Hope we don't lose any more.