[fiestyredhead331]

my little shetland ewe lamb, 5 days old doesn't seem 100%
she was born with one leg behind and quite traumatic for her 1st time mother but she took to the lamb no problem, she;s producing milk but the lamb seems sleepy all the time and never seems to suck on the teat for long.
The weather today was atrocious, hail showers etc so we left mum and lamb in the yard with shed door open so they could escape the weather but when we got home tonight the lamb was in the shed (dry) but shivering abit and mum was out in the yard. She hasn't been putting weight on and doesn't seem to have much energy so we took the decision to bring the lamb in tonight to get her warmed up and fed but she isn't taking to the bottle well and only managing small feeds before falling asleep again, she's on the sofa at the moment 

any suggestions?.....I am waiting for blood test results back from the mum to check for any deficiency from her.

[Treud na Mara]

Perhaps tube some glucose solution to give her an energy boost and then she may be able to feed more. Do you think she managed to get a decent amount of colostrum - if not maybe take some off her mum and tube if she's still not keen on the bottle.     for you.

[fiestyredhead331]

she had bright orange poo the day after she was born so hoping she got some decent colostrum from mum.
might try adding glucose to her feed if she hasn't perked up by morning?
She's quite bouncy when she's awake but she just seems to love to sleep.....on my lap with the cat earlier!

[verdifish]

Id also tube her with something we give her a boost but would be careful about how long shes away from mum .

[fiestyredhead331]

i'll keep her in tonight, we've just had another hail shower 
mum is looking for her so if its dry tomorrow and she's a bit more lively I'll try putting back to mum, if not I'll hand rear her, she's my only Shetland ewe lamb this year, the rest were wethers so I have to do the best for her 

[fiestyredhead331]

update;

she was very poor to feed, so fed little and often through the night but this morning she was crying for mum. I had taken mum into the shed this morning when I fed her so took the lamb back out (at least she'd warmed up) and she went straight onto mum and had a big drink 
hoping now she's a bit brighter and she's getting plenty milk from mum she'll start to improve but will keep an eye on her.

[Marches Farmer]

Sounds like what they call a "poor doer" in these parts.  Sometimes they pick up, sometimes not.  I wouldn't breed from her or the ewe in the future.

[kelly58]

Shes lucky to have a caring owner, your pic made me laugh, its good to see other 'daft' ( ln a nice way) sheep owners, you just do your best for them  shes got her battery charged ! 

[fiestyredhead331]

as my OH reckons...if I had my way I'd have the animals in the house and him in the shed 

[EP90]

Out of interest, which one is the Duchess?   

[Kimbo]

any improvement today Feisty?

[fiestyredhead331]

Out of interest, which one is the Duchess?   

the lamb 

[fiestyredhead331]

just popped out to check on her and mum and they seem fine, a lot brighter, maybe a night in the warmth and being bottle fed made her realise she's better off with mum after all

[fiestyredhead331]

after keep lamb and mum in the shed for a day & night, I let them out into the field today seeing as its reasonably sunny and was delighted to see the lamb jumping and leaping and running around. Not entirely convinced she's getting enough milk as she never stays on the teat for long and her mum's udder isn't that big but she nibbling at grass etc so hoping things are going to turn out ok for Duchess