Author Topic: Pet lamb advice (Read 1287 times)

NewLifeOnTheFarm · « **on:** March 04, 2019, 01:06:20 pm »

Hi all,

I've seen a blue faced Leicester pet tip lamb nearby. I've been considering using a BFL in the future to cross with my Shetland girls and use their offspring with a terminal sire. This lamb is 2 weeks old from good stock.
Main questions are...
1) what kind of care is this lamb going to need at this age? I'm thinking based on my books, 250ml 4 times a day, with access to creep?
2)will it be ok on its own? My girls don't start lambing until mid march. I could keep in penned in the lambing shed, but it wouldn't have any playmate for a while! It could come in the house for company and go out, haha, I do want it to know that it is a sheep!
3)at 2 weeks old will it need a heat lamp?

Thanks in advance!

Sbom · « **Reply #1 on:** March 04, 2019, 01:31:55 pm »

It won’t be happy on its own.

Plus pet lambs make terrible breeding tups! To tame and over friendly which easily turns to aggression for attention.

I would wait til yours are lambing and get one to foster on a ewe.

twizzel · « **Reply #2 on:** March 04, 2019, 02:12:45 pm »

Pet lambs make dangerous breeding rams. No fear of humans, no respect for personal space. Never ever keep one to breed from or it could kill you when you turn your back

NewLifeOnTheFarm · « **Reply #3 on:** March 04, 2019, 03:10:13 pm »

Thanks! That's that plan abandoned! So grateful for this forum. Shall buy in a BFL tup later in the year!

PipKelpy · « **Reply #4 on:** March 10, 2019, 04:41:46 pm »

I have a December 2014 born hogg that got injured by her mum when she was a week old. Very cold out so I brought her into the front room just for a week, I told my mum! Well, the injury paralysed her and so I started her on physio (lying her across my knees and exercising her back legs to strengthen them). A month later she was wobbly, but walking with the aid of a dog harness and towel around her bum! I'm nuts so couldn't kick her out! It was July when mum said enough, either she goes out or I do! Pet hogg now lives down the yard! Your other question about the tup, my tup was a triplet lamb born 2004 just as New year rang in! I bottle fed him and he lived here for 7 years. When I needed different blood lines, I bought in a Bleu Du Maine shearling and the 2 lived together! Both were sold together about 5 years ago. It's how you raise them and treat them! I also have the mentality if it's psycho, it goes as I'm by myself and have no help so if I'm injured, animals are stuck!