
MF
But honestly, I've put quite a few older, naturally fed lambs onto the bottle over the years, and they mostly do get it after a few days. Because they will be eating cake and hay, I don't get stressed about it - just catch them, try them with a bottle, if they don't want it, leave them till next feed time. I back them into a corner, hold them steady between my calves, hold their chin in one hand, place the teat in the mouth and hold the mouth closed over it (gently!) with the other.
The odd one never gives in but by far the majority do. One last year took a week, but its penmate got it on the second day, so I was going in to feed that one anyway, so just kept on trying with the awkward one, then giving the bottle to the other.
I suspect that the not getting stressed and not coercing the lamb may be part of the recipe for success.
