First NY lambs new lamb happy/sad news 2.3.11

[jenjscott]

Another new lamb! This time its from the poor ewe. Didn't think she was bred, didn't think she could carry if she did breed, There there it is, on the coldest night of the year so far, with more cold coming. So now I need to know what is the best thing to feed her to help give her a boost and see if she can feed this young'un. I will search as well, but if anyone wants to make some suggestions, I would appreciate it.

Jen

 

[aggieterpkatie]

What are you currently feeding? She should have free choice hay, preferably something good quality, like a grass/alfalfa mix or straight alfalfa. If she's underweight, I would also go ahead and give her some grain to provide extra nutrition for her AND the milk she needs to produce. There are things out there like Nutri-Drench you could give her if you really think she's badly off. And if she gets too skinny to keep her weight on and feed the lamb, you should go ahead and remove the lamb and bottle it.

Any pictures of the new lamb?

 

[jodief100]

And if she gets too skinny to keep her weight on and feed the lamb, you should go ahead and remove the lamb and bottle it.

How can you get the lamb in the bottle to bottle it?

I can't offer anything to help, but good luck. I hope it works out for you and the baby.

Where are the pictures? I love baby pictures.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

And if she gets too skinny to keep her weight on and feed the lamb, you should go ahead and remove the lamb and bottle it.

How can you get the lamb in the bottle to bottle it?

I can't offer anything to help, but good luck. I hope it works out for you and the baby.

Where are the pictures? I love baby pictures.

You know, when I typed that I knew it sounded like the lamb was going in the bottle.

 

[theawesomefowl]

Any photos?
I hope the little lambie is doing okay.'
I am planning on getting Katahdins in July.

 

[jenjscott]

I didn't have my camera today, I will try and get some pics tomorrow. I will also try to get some nutri-drench, because on a scale of 1-5 she is a -1. I She has been getting free choice hay, and daily soybeans or rice (alternating). Today I picked up rice bran and crimped oats and though I would start her out with a little of each of those and work her up to equal parts with the soybeans and rice. We were trying to get a selection protein and good carbs, along with the oil from the soy. .

Does Purina not make a sheep food? I find everything but sheep food. Or is there cattle formula to feed?

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I didn't have my camera today, I will try and get some pics tomorrow. I will also try to get some nutri-drench, because on a scale of 1-5 she is a -1. I She has been getting free choice hay, and daily soybeans or rice (alternating). Today I picked up rice bran and crimped oats and though I would start her out with a little of each of those and work her up to equal parts with the soybeans and rice. We were trying to get a selection protein and good carbs, along with the oil from the soy. .

Does Purina not make a sheep food? I find everything but sheep food. Or is there cattle formula to feed?

DO NOT feed cattle feed. There's is too much copper and it will kill her. If she's really a -1 (like skin and bones you mean?) you need to pull the lamb off her and bottle the lamb. She will never get ahead when she's trying to produce milk for the lamb.

I'd suggest getting a good balanced sheep ration (purina should make one), such as a high energy lamb pellet or something, and feed her that. Don't go back and forth with what you're feeding her. She needs stability so her digestive system doesn't get upset.

Slowly start her on the grain ration and increase it slowly over the next week or two. She's probably going to need at least a lb, and probably more like 2 lbs/day to sustain her.

 

[Bossroo]

How old is this ewe ? if 5 or older, she may have lost some or all of her front teeth and is not able to eat properly therefore she will loose condition fast. At this point there is little that one can do to be of much help. She just may be at the end of her alloted time. I have never been able to bottle a lamb... ever. However, I have bottle fed a few lambs now and then.

 

[Mo's palominos]

You may want to try some beet pulp soaked in warm water. It's easy to chew and easy to digest. Start with a small amount and increase gradually. Don't feed it dry unless you mix ot with her grain, otherwise it can cause choke.

 

[aggieterpkatie]

I have never been able to bottle a lamb... ever.

But they keep longer that way!