[ScotsGirl]

I have 7 Cade lambs now 8-9 months old which I am looking after for someone. I've had them a few weeks now and noticed one has swollen knees and stiff/slightly lame today. I have given her antibiotics and can't think if anything other than joint ill.


What is the likely prognosis and is it normal for them to get it at this age?

[Tim W]

I think that orphan lambs are a nightmare---often they miss out on colostrum or have been abandoned because they are weakly trips or have some other problem that is not visible (heart condition, slightly deformed somewhere?)

Later on these things show up, quite often this occurs when the weather turns a bit or when the grass looses it's goodness ----so yes, joint ill can show up later in life though it's likely the lamb has had an underlying problem for a while

It should get over it and then put the thing in the freezer asap (which is where all orphan lambs belong)

[kelly58]

You wouldnt fit my orphan lambs in your freezer  they are bigger and fitter than any of the sheep at the farm nextdoor 

[twizzel]

All my orphans go in the freezer... I have a big freezer   
TimW does make a valid point though get the lamb better and get it in the freezer... I contemplate every year keeping a few tame ewe lambs but every year they get to 6-7 mths old and ready to go, too boisterous to keep to breed from.

[shygirl]

sorry hijacking this thread slightly...

i bred hebrideans for a while and the only one sheep that had a grey coat as an adult, rather than black, was a handraised lamb that never got his colostrum due to being ignored by his mother. do you think lack of colostrum could cause a change in coat colour???

[Marches Farmer]

Don't know about colour but you can generally tell the lambs at market that have had a poor start in life - the fleece has a much more open appearance than usual.