[Jacob-list] orphan lamb

Robin Lynde rlynde at onramp113.org
Sat Mar 3 12:33:41 EST 2001


It's been busy. I have 29 lambs out of 16 ewes and 13 more to lamb. So far
no problems except in the case of 2 ewes with twins.

In each case one of the twins got on the wrong side of a fence shortly after
birth. When I found the missing twin (within a few hours or less of birth)
the ewe wanted nothing to do with it, in fact getting very aggressive toward
it if it tried nursing. In the first case I held the ewe so that the 2nd
lamb could get colostrum. Then I stayed out there for a couple of hours
watching. By the way I had smeared placenta and fluids all over both lambs.
The ewe still wouldn't take the lamb and I'm bottle feeding him now. He's in
with some other ewes and lambs and steals some milk here and there too I
think.

The 2nd case was this morning. I brought the missing lamb in and at first
the ewe started to lick him. Then she saw the other and decided that one was
enough. I'm trying to get smarter than the sheep, and I put the first lamb
(well cleaned and fed) into a stall where the ewe can't see her. Then she
claimed the other twin easily and started cleaning, letting him nurse. Later
I introduced the other back, and then she wanted nothing to do with the 2nd.
It seems that if I put one in the stall she'll nurse the other. But when
they are both with her, she won't take the 2nd lamb. At this point I'll
probably bottle feed one, unless someone has another suggestion that works.
Robin Lynde
Meridian Jacobs
Vacaville, CA





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