[firther]

had a sheiling lamb this week that were freaked out by head movement and kept trying to butt it and then have a little smell. I turned lamb round so she could lick its back and she were soon ok. had another lamb and both  were crackers but she would have killed that 1st 1

[SteveHants]

I have two theories about this.  My first is that these wily hill sheep do what comes naturally when they are in a natural situation.  Forcing them to be indoors, lambing where we say they shall lamb, and cooping them up with their lamb(s) in a tiny box, is a very unnatural situation and the stress of this overrides their natural mothering instincts.  In the 'wild', they'd select a spot to lamb many days ahead of lambing, usually well away from other sheep, and drop their lambs quietly there.  Even if they run away from the lambs at first, they know where they are and keep coming back.  Eventually strong lambs get onto the teat and all is well.

Interesting. I worry when people buy sheep off me and are clearly going to ignore what I do and lamb them inside - they have been very heavily selected for maternal traits on an outdoor system and I have literally no idea how they will behave indoors. They can be akward at the best of times, which is fine because I don't gather them very often, so I reckon it saves time in the long run.


I'd still cull the ewe in question though.

[chonty]

How are the little bleeters?

[mark@farmhouse]

Thanks for all suggestions we have had no internet or phone signal , the ewe has very little milk but not aggressive to lambs I have been topping up with lam lac and latching lambs on I have also put ewe on extra cake rations to try and increase milk production . The lambs are responding well and are lively enough but not too interested in going under I feel

[ScotsGirl]

I had a poorly Suffolk lamb twins, one died as I wasn't there. The other she wouldn't feed although I held her for a few days and eventually bottle fed. Once she recovered about a week later she suddenly decided he loved him and he now feeds just from her.


My first time suffolks were a bit traumatised and took a few days to decide the lambs were ok. Only one twin still on bottle as he just wouldn't suckle. A pain cos he won't eat creep like the others 

[landroverroy]

Probably a bit late now, but you can get an injection fron the vet which causes the milk to be let down pretty promptly. But still better late than never.

[Marches Farmer]

Oxytocin will work in 20-30 minutes.  It also helps the ewe expel the afterbirth.  If that doesn't come away it can leave them feeling off colour.

[mark@farmhouse]

A wee update one of the lambs died early this morning despite our efforts the other lamb is a nice strong lamb I think the idea of the ewe possibly knowing something isn't right could ring true the other one is getting something and bring topped up by the bottle .
Thanks for concern and advice ,just as one leaves then a strong set of twins arrive 2 x Charolais mule ewe lambs

[chonty]

So sorry to hear that  but congrats on the twins.

[SallyintNorth]

Shame you lost one, but probably for the best in the end. 

Sounds like the other one is doing well 

And nice news about the new pair   

[Hellybee]

These rookies either take to it like a duck to water    Or they are a bit of a 'mare  .


We have had several difficult ones, we keep them penned, and gently hold ewe so that lambies can get latched on, bottles to top up or Baz will turn ewes, but failing that they would turn Into Molly lambs here x


Eta some once they get the gist are wonderful mums.  We never fail to rub the newborn wet lamb into a rookies muzzle, sometimes that's all that is needed and they just click.  We re watching now for any rookie babies, got one on top up from yesterday and Baz looking out for others, nowt wrong with top up if lamb is needing a little help, you ll spot them, be able to catch them, if you can't catch them, that's good.