[Timmy T]

I rigged up a heat lamp in the field shelter we are using for our lamb pen when they arrived last week, and have had it on permanently since. The lambs love it, and curl up underneath it regularly (when they are not leaping about!).

Should it be kept on all the time, or is there a ballpark figure for air temp above/below which the lamp should be on/off?

TVM 

[Anke]

It is the "leaping about" with a heat lamp on that sounds quite unsafe. Once the lambs are feeding fine, are dry and out of drafts they do not need any heat lamp at all. A heat lamp is only for the first few hours and only if they have been compromised at birth - when they are damp and maybe slow to get colostrum.


I am pretty certain your lambs will be fine without the heat lamp - the ones outside don't have one!

[bj_cardiff]

I only use a heat lamp if the lambs are taken off the ewe for the first 24hrs, or longer if the lambs are ill. Its pretty much intensive care if they need them on - also they really eat electricity!!!

[twizzel]

You could probably turn it off now to be fair, as long as there's no draughts in the pen. Plenty of fresh straw will do the job of keeping them warm.


I've got 2 lamps- mostly for small lambs born or triplets but normally within 48 hours they don't need any extra warmth. I'd probably put a lamp in a pet lamb pen whilst they are getting used to the milk feeder but once feeding it would be turned off if it's mild.

[Timmy T]

I think there's a bit of "humanization" going on with Mrs T, as she wants the lamp to be kept on at night so the "poor little loves don't get cold without a mummy to snuggle up to"!

I might suggest she sleeps dpwn there with them, so they can snuggle up to her, then she'll be able to do the 7am feed and muck her own horse out! And of course I'll get a better night's sleep!! 

[SallyintNorth]

A hot water bottle wrapped in a towel or a jumper will give them a warm thing to snuggle up to.  Much cheaper, safer and frankly better for them.