[Whittsend]

For the past four days dylan ( fourteen day old Welsh Mountain lamb)  has been taking about 40-42 ounces of lamlac per day, spread over five feeds, slowing down and coming off the teat before the bottle was completely emptied.  Yesterday he fed much more quickly and would have drunk more if the bottle had not been empty. I keep reading conflicting advice about how much a lamb of this age should be given. Do I restrict him or let him take all that he wants?   I have Tim Tynes book " The Sheep for Smallholders". He has Welsh Mountain sheep himself but his book is about sheep in general. He says that at a weeek old, a bottle fed lamb may need up to a litre and a half ( 60 oz) of milk per day. Other things I have read say less. He also says to offer creep feed, water and hay from the start, which I have done,although he is still only really playing at nibbling stuff,  but then I read something, from an old post on this forum, about creep feed and milk being life- threateningly bad for lambs!! HELP! I am still really concerned that I am not getting this right.

[FiB]

I just follow instructions on lamlac tub.... So my 1 week old is just about up to his max of litre a day, and can now ease up to max of 1.5 litre till weaning at 7 weeks.   Didn't do creep at all last year, but it was later and grass was abundant.....  Not sure why they would need creep at 1 week old (as on lamlac tub) following with interst..... Mine go out in field all day, so I guess start nibbling grass as soon as they are able?

[Whittsend]

Thanks for that FiB. I had forgotten about what I had read on the Lamlac tub. I think I am reading too  much and getting anxious too easily.  Doing the calculations I realise I am already giving him more than recommended. I am going to drop to four feeds a day, with about 8-9 fluid ounces in each feed. I am probably overloading his little stomach.   I can't believe how stressful I am finding this whole experience! A joy too, of course, but feeling soooo responsible for this little life now. The creep feed and hay is recommended to get rumin function going as soon as possible apparently. I have Dylan out in the garden for short periods each day, trying to get him nibbling at grass but he does seem drawn to nibbling rocks, twigs, moss and bits of my clothing......anything but grass!

[EP90]

Far from being experienced, so like FiB I just followed the Lamlac instructions which proved successful.  I did give them creep on the assumption it wouldn’t do any harm as they could take it or leave it.  They did take to it and probably made weaning easier, I think!  Whatever creep is left just goes for treats or bucket training.

[twizzel]

I wean at 6 weeks. Any longer and they start to eat too much creep and risk bloat. Up until 5 weeks they are on adlib milk on the feeder of 1.5l a day if on bottles. 5-6 weeks I put them on 1litre/day and then for a couple of days after 6 weeks they are on half a bottle, then totally off by 6.5 weeks at the very latest.
They need to be introduced to creep early so that they are eating a good amount by 6 wks old, they will pick at it more and more as they get older and the milk doesn't keep them as full for as long.