[JMB]

Hi.
My ewe had twins this afternoon. I brought one in as it was a bit weak ( although they are both small) and warmed it and gave it colostrum. It's had two lots so far and I'm going off the 10% of body weight instructions.
As it was looking a bit more lively I've put her back in with mum but not seen her suckle yet.
I'll keep a check and plan to tube feed her again in an hour or so.
If she doesn't suckle, when do I move on to milk? And how often should I feed her?
Will she need to be fed regularly throughout the night?
 Sorry if I'm asking daft questions, I've never done it before
Thanks
Joanne xxxxx

[Pedwardine]

Feed at least a litre of colostrum within first 24 hours then onto milk. Every couple of hours should be sufficient but hourly if not taking much at a time. If you get up at a couple of points in the night it would really benefit her. Keep trying with the suckling on mum often though. I put my (clean) finger in the lambs mouth until I feel that sucking reflex and then up to mums teat and gradually replace my finger with the teat. Hold for a while until she gets the hang of it and hold her bodily in position easing off again gradually until she's stood independantly of you. Hope that helps 

[RonMinch]

Hi Joanne, WE are struggling as well, I know not much help but your not on your own. There is no substitute for experience and I suppose this is how we learn. Good luck. Ron.

[JMB]

Thanks Ron xxx hope your night time shifts were ok xxxx

[FiB]

with you!  Thats useful Pedwardine thanks - I only gave 1 x 150ml of powdered colostrum and went straight onto lamlac (mine is a rejected second twin that she will not be with (kicked and butted it and wouldnt lick clean)- its not  24 hrs yet, should I make up more colostrum for next feed (I was guided by the fact that it's a tiny pot and says it will cover 10 lambs and then instructions say mak up 150 ml .  Then I had exactly the same q's about how much milk and how often.  Mine is a giant ram lamb so didnt have any worries about imediate survival.  Fed at 11pm then 4:40 and he seemed content.  So - more powdered colosturm or carry on with lamb lac?

[FiB]

Right - Ive found the bit in The sheep book and also a useful thread from before.....   colostrum 50ml/Kg wieght - so for my 3.7Kg whoper, 150ml was a bit short.... and this for first 24 hr's feeds (previous thread)- so I'm guessing 5 or 6 feeds of this?    Then (the sheep book) 1litre of lamlac/24 hrs divided into 6 feeds initially, but moving to 4 feeds.   Increase (might be 1.5 l by 1 week old.  Then moove to 'self serve' cold 'milk' asap for convenience and clean water available at all times
 
hope this helps, Fi xx

[Marches Farmer]

You may well find that the lamb will suckle from the ewe very well once it's a bit stronger.  I recommend you keep trying as the ewe does a far better job of it than even the most conscientious bottle feeder!  If you have one weak lamb in future always take both lambs away as a ewe will often reject one that's been removed and returned later.  If it's been in the house and had formula milk it will smell different to the lamb that's stayed with her.

[JMB]

Oh I didn't know that. I thought she'd be stressed if I took both lambs away.
My lamb is still on about 50ml at a time. Won't suckle from the bottle so I'm assuming she can't suckle her mum even a little bit?
So it's stomach feeds for now.
Only just over a day old and I'm exhausted already!!!! Hand rearing and working and sleeping don't mix!
Thanks again for the advice
And good luck to us all
J xxxxxx

[SallyintNorth]

Oh I didn't know that. I thought she'd be stressed if I took both lambs away.

She will be, but if you want her to continue to care for both it may be for the best.  Keep putting them back with her though, every few hours or so.

My lamb is still on about 50ml at a time. Won't suckle from the bottle so I'm assuming she can't suckle her mum even a little bit?

Don't assume she won't suckle her mum just because she won't take the bottle.  She may not take the bottle because she's not hungry, having been suckling when you weren't looking.   Best to look at her tummy - if plump and convex, she doesn't need feeding, if empty and hollow/concave then she does need some food.

Can you get her to suck your finger?  If so, guide her to mum's teat and swap the teat for your finger.  Note however that lack of success here also does not mean she won't suckle her mum; some lambs just resent intervention so much they won't do it if you're there at all.   

I'd be making sure she had enough colostrum on day one, and milk generally on day two, too - but then I'd be leaving her long enough to be sure whether she is genuinely not suckling mum - 4-6 hours. 

[JMB]

Thanks Sally.
I think I'm frightened if leaving her too long so I'm maybe overdoing it!
Leaving her a good few hours may be a really good idea.
I've never seen her brother suckle, but his belly is always full, so maybe she's getting some too.
It'll free up some time to do some work too!
Hurray!
Thanks again
J xxxxx

[fiestyredhead331]

hi 

i've got 2 orphans at the mo, the youngest is 4 days old and a twin so not sure if he got any colustrum from his mum so 2 questions...
1. is it too late to give him some now

2. can anyone recommend a particular one thats not ridiculously expensive/does it have a decent shelf life so could be used next year?

[JMB]

Hi,
Not sure how long after you can give colostrum , sorry.
But I got a small tub (250g) for last years lambing , Downland is the make. Think it was £30 maybe. We used it up this year, and it goes out of date dec 2013 so good shelf life.
J xxx

[SallyintNorth]

Colostrum is good stuff so will always give them a boost.  The value of the antibodies decays rapidly after the first 6 hours, but the Downland colostrum has pro-biotics in, and I don't know if they continue to be valuable thereafter.

We use Downland too, they do 2 sizes of pot.  250g does 10 doses, 500g does 20. 

If the orphan is drinking okay and otherwise seems healthy I probably wouldn't give colostrum at 4 days old unless I had some going begging - but I would be planning to vaccinate at 3 weeks.

[supplies for smallholders]

hi 

i've got 2 orphans at the mo, the youngest is 4 days old and a twin so not sure if he got any colustrum from his mum so 2 questions...
1. is it too late to give him some now

2. can anyone recommend a particular one thats not ridiculously expensive/does it have a decent shelf life so could be used next year?

A point worth noting is that not all colostrums are the same - Buy cheap and it may not give the results that you want - If anyone wants to have a read about one of the brands and some info here is a link

https://www.suppliesforfarmers.co.uk/PDF/Colostrum.pdf

[Foobar]

On that note, I stumbled across this last year, it's bit old now but it gives you an idea of the variation in products:
http://www.icne.co.uk/PDFs/ICNE%20Colostrum%20eXtra%20Analysis%20results.pdf
(and http://www.icne.co.uk/PDFs/ICNE%20Colostrum%20Study%20February%202011.pdf)