I know I have started so many threads it’s embarrassing! I almost hate doing it now as I’m sure I look like a complete moron asking so much all the time!!
Nope, not at all. What would be moronic would be to have this fantastic resource here and not make use of it.
We were all beginners once
Our first Badger lamb appeared today. One minute everyone was normal, next minute there’s a lamb up and sucking. We were just about to feed them their little bit of cake as well! Leaving it till a bit later. Don’t want to interfere at all as realise the importance that they create a bond as they won’t be penned. We have a separate ration for her but with the usual stampede I don’t know how that’ll go. Don’t want lamb to get trampled!
Great, glad the Badgers are doing it how they should
I wrote upthread about how to feed once they are lambing in the field. 90% or more of just-lambed ewes will not leave their lambs to come to the trough, so as long as there is a distance between the new lambs and where you feed there shouldn't be a problem.
What I do is pour the feed for the others out in a looooong line so everyone can eat together. Quite a generous feed so it will keep them occupied while I feed the new mum. Then, hiding the cake I have for the new mum (so not carrying a sack or bucket or making any rustles or rattles), I go off to see her straight away and discretely put the cake down for her nearby to her lambs. Then I walk away, and if I think there is a risk the other sheep will come to investigate, I probably have a bit more cake about my person and I go back to the other ewes and make a big show of putting a bit more out.
With Shetland types, and I assume it will be similar with the Badgers, on day 2 or 3 the new mum will either park the lambs and come to the trough without them, or will bring them to the trough. (Almost never the latter on day 2, that's usually day 3 or 4.)