Author Topic: Bottle Feeding lambs (Read 3928 times)

Missy · « **on:** March 28, 2018, 12:36:26 pm »

Another question sorry, but what do people favour when bottle feeding lambs. I have 7 lambs who I am feeding and am getting in a right pickle as only manage 2 bottles at a time.

Do you like the milk shepherdess, the rack with 6 bottles system or the bucket with the teats.

The lambs are quite small so the bucket put me off as the teats seemed so big?

shep53 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 28, 2018, 12:55:43 pm »

If only 3-4 lambs then I use a bucket if I had more then I would use the shepherdess , the bucket for me is easier to keep clean but the shepherdess holds more milk . Same teats on both and you can buy different types soft /hard

SallyintNorth · « **Reply #2 on:** March 28, 2018, 02:43:02 pm »

I like the rack for up to 12 lambs. 4 bottles in the rack and one in each hand, I can feed six at a time. Second pen of another six. I prefer the rack to buckets because I can be sure each is getting enough and no more. I've never used a shepherdess system, so can't comment on that.

I have done seven well-trained lambs at once using a rack - 4 bottles in the rack, one in each hand, and one between my thighs. You do need the lambs well-trained though!

bazzais · « **Reply #3 on:** March 28, 2018, 02:48:23 pm »

Its a struggle that I cant bear

just keep feeding them till they go to a field and you cant hear them scream.

bazzais · « **Reply #4 on:** March 28, 2018, 02:49:49 pm »

Ive drilled holes in a bit of wood so I can feed eight in each hand - one between my leggs and Ive got one hand free for another and the other the slap them into position

bazzais · « **Reply #5 on:** March 28, 2018, 02:50:54 pm »

use coke bottles with the red and yellow nipplwes

twizzel · « **Reply #6 on:** March 28, 2018, 05:43:29 pm »

Shepherdess for any more than 2. I’ve got a couple of pet lambs this year on the bottle as my old shepherdess was past it’s best and had to be binned... missing it now though! A new shepherdess is on my list ready for next lambing even if I only have 1 or 2 on it.

Buttermilk · « **Reply #7 on:** March 29, 2018, 08:46:11 am »

I have raised 4 this time on a bucket. All now weaned and growing on well. It is also the first year that my bottle lambs have not had any upset tummies of any sort

It is a system I am going to use every time now. Unless I get way too many lambs and then I may invest in a shepherdess.

Womble · « **Reply #8 on:** March 29, 2018, 09:06:33 am »

Guys, this isn't a competition! Just because I've been to Tenerife, doesn't mean you have to post that you've been to Elevenerife!

pharnorth · « **Reply #9 on:** March 29, 2018, 09:39:28 am »

Some ideas I hadn't thought of though.

silkwoodzwartbles · « **Reply #10 on:** March 29, 2018, 10:13:43 pm »

I've got a bucket with 6 teats for my two pet lambs and they're both thriving - the 6 week old weighed in at 19kg last weekend and the 3 week old at 13kg. Really pleased - and don't worry about the teat size, the 3 week old went straight from her mother to the bucket at 2 days old and coped fine