[wellies]

What a morning... went to the field and found one of the ewes had given birth to a dead lamb (perfectly formed but large and tongue was swollen). I called the vet to come and take a look at her and the dead lamb as I am a novice. Vet arrived rather too promptly and I hadn't managed to catch her, she was just charging round the field. We looked at the dead lamb which vet reckons was full term and tried to catch ewe but to no avail. Vet left and told me to get her in when I could. Within half an hour out pops another lamb which she then promptly leaves in the middle of the field  I am then tasked with trying to catch her again to get her into the pen with the little lamb who is shivering. Finally after much effort she is now in and licking the poor little mite. Lamb is trying to find the teats but hasn't suceeded yet - off to check again in an hour. Came back into the house to find one of the cats has an upset tummy, today has not started well 

[feldar]

Hi Wellies
If i were you i would go back and try to put lamb onto the teat i think you could loose the lamb if you don't get some colostrum into it soon.
Hold mum or tie her up and get lamb to suck your finger then pop the teat into its mouth then if you can milk a small amount into its open mouth this should stimulate sucking if you can't do that milk out mum into a tubing syringe or bottle and tube lamb first his will give it the energy to suck.
I do think in this case you need to step in and give some help to this lamb.
Tubing is easy hold lamb with head up and introduce tube into side of mouth let the tube slide to back of throat and he should swallow it gently push tube into stomach and squeeze syringe or bottle of colostrum into lamb

[Haylo-peapod]

Hi Wellies

Wise words from feldar.  You mentioned that the lamb is shivering - have you taken it's temperature? Make sure it is at least 37 degrees if you are going to give it colustrum. If it is lower than that the lamb will need to be warmed up first.

The lamb will need further top ups of colostrum throughout the day if it hasn't latched onto the ewe. Also, always remember to make sure the ewe has milk coming through before you leave a lamb to it's own devices.

Is the ewe a shearling? Mosts ewes will follow their lamb if you hold it up in front of them by the front legs. In theory that should negate the need to chase it around the field to get it into the barn. Shearlings on the other hand can sometimes have other ideas...

Good luck, I hope it all works out!

[Tilly]

...... yes warm the wee lamb up -he will then feel like trying to feed .
Wellies you need to perhaps halter up the ewe, and help hold the lamb on the teat till he gets the idea - I always think 6 hours from birth is the longest you can wait for the lamb to suckle - if not by that time, I would stomach tube colostrum.
let us know now you are doing.....

Tilly 

[wellies]

Hi guys, Thank you for all your advice. I sought assistance from an experience sheep friend and she came and held the lamb up to the teats but still not suckling so we milked the ewe and syringed the lamb. The ewe is standing for the lamb and he is going to the right area he just doesn't seem to want to suckle although will have a go at our fingers as they too now seem to be blathered in colostrum. The ewe is a 2yr old but this is her first lambing and no she wouldn't follow the lamb at all infact she just ran away 

[feldar]

Well done Wellies you doing the right thing  Some ewes can be like this they are just plain daft. Don't worry so long as she is cleaning it up and mothering it, i wouldn't worry too much but i would keep her in until lamby is strong enough and the mother bond is strong. keep putting lamb onto teats it sometimes takes a while to get the suck reflex going but try not to bottle feed as they sometimes won't take to the softer mother's teat, i would tube it to keep it strong but let it get hungry before placing on teat first before tubing if you have to, this way it won't get reliant on tube for food, you want it to look for the teat.
The whole process can take a few days so you will have to keep a close eye on them

[Haylo-peapod]

The good news is that the ewe is standing for the lamb and hasn't rejected him, despite running a mile when he was first born.    Give the ewe plenty of quiet time to form a strong bond with her new arrival and try to avoid getting too much of your own smell on him if possible. Smell is important as the ewe uses this to recognise him as her own. Keep up the good work 

[jaykay]

What breed is she? I would have shot one Herdwick I had, if I'd had a gun one lambing -  not only did she run away from her lamb but escaped from the lambing pen, over the wall and across the road, to join the main flock. In the end I had to put a lid on the pen 

Your lamb may have got too cold to suck. You've done exactly the right things getting some colostrum into him and penning the ewe with him. Good to hear she's standing for him - once he's warm and has some food inside him I'm sure he'll start to suck.

[wellies]

just a little update. The lamb is doing ok, warm, alert and moving around. Mum is bonding well and is quite protective in a docile kind of way. I am still syringing the colostrum which he is taking reasonably well. He is definately keen on trying to find the teats but just doesn't seem to latch on so to speak but does like butting his poor mum. He doesn't look as hollow so maybe he suckled a little bit, it's so hard to tell as mum has short legs. I did lie on the floor and try and get a good look but still wasn't sure  I really appreciate all your supportive comments so thank you. Hubby has taken the sheep book with him whilst working away to try and swot up before lambing... think he may have missed the boat on that one but hopefully he'll be all ready for the next ewe that lambs and even better if he is actually here  ::)Thanks again for the help 

[colliewoman]

You might find it helpful to clip some fleece away, so little fella doesn't get lost or start trying to suck fleece

[Haylo-peapod]

Hi Wellies - how's the little man doing today? Has he got the hang of suckling from his Mum?

[wellies]

Hi Guys, yes I think he may have mastered it at last. I check on him every couple of hours last night and he was warm and settled. This morning he is alert and suckling. He has definately also been urinating and I think had his first bowl motion but mum was so quick to clean him up it was hard to say for sure. Vet is coming out to see him and the ewe this afternoon as he was due to pop in any way to have a look at Ted the itchy tup. Will keep you posted

[feldar]

Bravo to you and the little chap

[Tilly]

Hi Wellies  - you have done really well 

[jaykay]

Excellent news