[SafeHaven]

If I can’t get this ewe to accept the lamb, what are it’s chances of survival? The ewe still shows irritability towards it currently but it’s managing to feed (we’ve even seen the contented stretch after it’s had s sleep). The lambs are a week old today. I will be getting a bag of lamb starter feed so I have it on hand in case this one needs or wants to wean when it needs to. I’m even considering adopting a pet lamb in case this one needs a sibling should it be need to be taken away from the ewe at some point.

In a perfect world, I’ll be able to leave it with the ewe though, and that is what I’m aiming for. I sat my dog in front of her pen yesterday to see if I could force some maternal instinct towards both lambs instead of just the one, but it didn’t really have much effect. She was disturbed by the dog, but reverted to form once he was removed from the barn.

[SallyintNorth]

I’d perservere with the supported feeds for a couple more days. If things haven’t improved, it might be worth trying the lamb with a bottle. Odds are it will be very happy to take a bottle in addition to snatching what it can from mum.  Train it to come to you for a top up (I use the call “Top Uuuuuppppp!”), then let the family into a larger area and check that it’s still part of the family, still pinching what it can, and still running to you when it hears you call. Then they can all go out together and you can just top that one up in the field two (or at first three) times a day.

[SafeHaven]

I’d perservere with the supported feeds for a couple more days. If things haven’t improved, it might be worth trying the lamb with a bottle. Odds are it will be very happy to take a bottle in addition to snatching what it can from mum.  Train it to come to you for a top up (I use the call “Top Uuuuuppppp!”), then let the family into a larger area and check that it’s still part of the family, still pinching what it can, and still running to you when it hears you call. Then they can all go out together and you can just top that one up in the field two (or at first three) times a day.

So it’s OK to top up with Lamlac? I was unsure whether mixing the two milks would be harmful or not.

[firther]

Firstly I would  keep this ewe and twins in small pen until problem is solved ... don't let them out into larger area.   It may be a good idea to give the lamb a 'safe' place to escape too (under a barrier of some sort to get away from ewe if necessary.  ) .  If you are away in the day then I cant see you would be able to bottle feed anyway (5 x a day) .     

Whether top up will help or hinder is difficult to say and I hope others will have ideas on this.  Always better to feed ewes milk as it is the smell of her on it that creates bond, but not necessarily easy.

that's what I do as well. I leave hurdle gate leaning in so it can escape behind the hurdle. I use same idea with orphan lambs an they normally take after a couple of days or so

[SallyintNorth]

So it’s OK to top up with Lamlac? I was unsure whether mixing the two milks would be harmful or not.

Hmmm... Does it have to be Lamlac?  Or could you get a ewe milk product such as Downland Lamb Force? 

Tbh, I’m sure Lamlac would work in your situation - I’ve reared more than thirty lambs on fresh Jersey milk mixed with ewes’ milk replacer - but if you can get the ewes’ milk product easily...

The only problem I had was going from pure Jersey milk back to ewe’s (when I had a chance to adopt an orphan lamb onto a bereaved ewe.) The change was too much for the lamb’s digestion.  So after that, I fed the cades a half-and-half mix, at least until they were too old to be suitable for adoption.  They never seemed to have any issues going back to pure ewes’ milk after the mix.

So I think top-ups of Lamlac would be fine, if you can’t get Lamb Force or other milk replacer made from ewes’ milk. 

[SafeHaven]

I’ll see if I can find the lamb force.

Strangely, the ewe seems perfectly OK with me milking her. I tried it earlier to make sure lack of milk wasn’t the issue. She didn’t bat an eye at me taking her milk. It’s just that little lamb she’s got a grudge with.

[Dans]

We had a ewe have twins last year, both small, and she left the smaller second one right after birth and walked off. We penned up in the field for 2 hours but no move towards the lamb so we had to tip her to get some colostrum in. Once the lamb was on it's feet it would suckle but the mother showed very little interest in it, but was mothering towards the 1st twin. We kept them penned for a day or two then allowed them to roam the polytunnel (no other sheep in at the time). The mother would frequently walk off to the other end of the polytunnel and leave the smaller lamb baaaing for her. However he did seem to get enough milk. We kept an eye on him and he wasn't ever sunken in the stomach or not stretching when picked up. After a few more days in the polytunnel we turned her out onto grass using a trailer top as a shelter and about 8 hurdles to give a grazing area. The family stayed there for a few more days and then we let them out into the larger area (still only about 1/3rd of an acre). She never responded to her lambs baaa's but he would take himself to her eventually and feed. He is our smallest ram but he also has slightly dodgy shaped horns so I think something was not quite right with him. He'll be off for meat when finally big enough.

I've only had the one year lambing but if the lamb is feeding I would keep them penned inside for a while, then outside with a bit more space if you can, watching them regularly so that you can make sure he is indeed getting fed.

Dans

[shep53]

Dans  - your ewe didn't hate its lamb it just was totally indifferent to it and thought it should have died , SafeHaven - has  a ewe that didn't bond at birth and will hate it's lamb to some degree for ever

[SafeHaven]

The lamb is still hanging in there. I’ve not supplemented her milk at all but do hang around for supervised feeds to make sure she drinks until she is ready to stop, not when mum bats her away. She doesn’t look emaciated and seems to have good energy, although if you look at both lambs from above you can see she’s not quite as filled out as her sister.

I’ve been trying all the tricks, rubbing the other lambs poo on it, sitting my dog in front of the pen, mum and reject baby each got a spray of perfume this morning too. If it doesn’t work out it’s not for my lack of trying!

I’m picking up some lamb creep feed this week so I can off that to see if she wants anything more than what she’s getting. When is it OK to offer the lambs water? Mums are drinking around 4-5 litres of water a day.

[shep53]

The lamb she loves will be suckling more times per day which is why it looks better  .   A ewe that rejects one of  a pair  in the first 24hrs , is almost impossible  to ever persuade  , the advice is its easier to remove both her lambs and foster on 2 new lambs  .    Water needs to be available if you want the lamb to eat dry creep pellets , just needs to be shallow enough so the lambs can't drown .   Have you worked out how you are going to allow the lambs access to creep without the ewes getting at it  ? normally  a  vertical slatted gate

[SafeHaven]

The lamb she loves will be suckling more times per day which is why it looks better  .   A ewe that rejects one of  a pair  in the first 24hrs , is almost impossible  to ever persuade  , the advice is its easier to remove both her lambs and foster on 2 new lambs  .    Water needs to be available if you want the lamb to eat dry creep pellets , just needs to be shallow enough so the lambs can't drown .   Have you worked out how you are going to allow the lambs access to creep without the ewes getting at it  ? normally  a  vertical slatted gate

We have a metal gate we were going to turn on its side and construct a creep from pallets. We’ve learned how determined mum is to get at any food she can stick her nose in. We had to move our turkeys because mum would squeeze through any gap, even when heavily pregnant and eat all their food. She ate a few kilos of the stuff before we realised. So we know the creep has to be a fortress to keep her out! I’ve been looking online for ideas. With only four lambs a proper big creep is overkill and way out of our price range. Any suggestions gratefully received!

[SallyintNorth]

Use a hurdle upside down or on its end.  The wider gaps at the top are wide enough for a lamb to get through.

[shep53]

There are some small lamb creep feeders out there  MTL fabrications   £186 +vat  , will last for years and resell if not wanted , will also provide shelter for the lambs

[Buttermilk]

I have one of these
https://iae.co.uk/product-agriculture/lamb-creep-hurdle/

[Bionic]

Use a hurdle upside down or on its end.  The wider gaps at the top are wide enough for a lamb to get through.

We found this works well too