Hi everyone. I'm looking for advice again. I delivered twin a few hours ago. One stillborn & the other very weak. I tubed colostrum & she's trying to suck, but the mother keeps turning around or walking away. She just keeps licking her so she's bonded. I tried wrestling her to the ground & she does have milk, the baby sucked for a minute then the mam got up & fecked off again. I'm getting anxious & annoyed. Short of getting the mother in a vice, is there any other way to make her stand still long enough for her lamb to feed? Any & all advice welcome. Thanks
Ewe won't feed her lamb.
- Thread starter MissGilly
- Start date
spark_28
Member
- Location
- Western isles
sometimes you can watch them too much
GrannyAching
Member
- Location
- Mynyddoedd Preseli
If you've given it plenty of colostrum and it's healthy and doesn't look hollow, I would leave them alone for at least three hours. Then go and see what the lamb looks like. In saying this, I'm assuming that the lamb can access the teats and that the udder isn't so tight or the teats so big it can't latch on.
- Location
- Montgomeryshire
If she’s just a first time lamber that’s a bit bewildered by it all, just tie Hefin the corner of the pen with a halter so the lamb can suck. Then leave her to stand quietly to relax and let the endorphins kick in.
farmerm
Member
- Location
- Shropshire
Have one with twins that has rejected one of her own lambs 
Had her in a head stock for several days but she still not having any of it. Going to have to find him a new mummy!
Had her in a head stock for several days but she still not having any of it. Going to have to find him a new mummy!Lili
Member
- Location
- Aberystwyth hinterland
Dont forget to mark her to go down the road as she'll give a repeat performance next year.Have one with twins that has rejected one of her own lambs
farmerm
Member
- Location
- Shropshire
Yes, I will put a bet on her being the one I missed to mark last year!!
I've wrestled her again & the lamb sucked for around 2 mins. We've Jacobs & they're very handy with their horns. I'm waiting for hubby to get home from work & pen her in. Will we need do this several times a day?
She can access the teats & she latched on when I held the mother still. Could I give the lamb more colostrum & if so should I tube or bottle feed it to her? I gave her 60mls at 10 this morning but I really want to avoid bottle feeding, I already have 4 on bottles.
That's sad to see, especially if the lamb is healthy. This one is constantly licking her lamb & is protective of her... she just won't stand still & let her feed.Have one with twins that has rejected one of her own lambs
sticky
Member
- Location
- Near Stratford upon Avon
If it's had a good suck I would leave it be for now.
When you've got it penned introduce her to a dog, it has a real good bonding effect when they are just unsure.
When you've got it penned introduce her to a dog, it has a real good bonding effect when they are just unsure.
We haven't got a dog, just 7 sheep. I've a nosey neighbour who's a bitch, that's the closest thing I could use.
The ewe is bonding with her, she just won't stand still to let her feed.... unless I'm holding her down.
- Location
- Scottsih Borders
Keep persevering. You need to learn to hold the ewe with your leg behind her shoulders and your arm on or inder her head, so that you have the other arm to help the lamb.
primmiemoo
Member
- Location
- Devon
In the postion described in the above post, you could try scratching her gently on the brisket, and then nudge her (like a newborn lamb would) along the milk vein and flank to the udder. The lamb might wish to assist you.
She's ticklish and twitchy with all the novelty, so that might help her to calm down and let tibby suck.
She's ticklish and twitchy with all the novelty, so that might help her to calm down and let tibby suck.
Greythundercloudys
Member
Yes get it in a pen so she can only she the lmb, ifs she's a glimmer, they are famous for that if had to be given a hand. Give the lmb milk and leave for an hour, as said before sometimes leaving them to it is best.
I have one the same and she did exactly the same last year. I thought I would give her one more chance this year as she is a young ewe but that has turned out to be a mistake.Have one with twins that has rejected one of her own lambs
- Location
- Scottsih Borders
If she is too difficult to hold, see if a bit of cake in a bucket keeps her quiet. And an old trick is to gag difficult cases with a bit of rope in the mouth and tied round the back of the head. Just like a bridle and bit with a horse.
Thank you, we used your advice with the rope & we managed to get the ewe on her side & baby to get something off her. The problem now is her teats are really low, the lamb would need to be a contortionist to get her mouth onto either of them if we don't help.
GrannyAching
Member
- Location
- Mynyddoedd Preseli
They will go on their knees - you will be surprised.
- Tags
- colostrum performance
The London Palladium event “BPR Seminar”
This is our next step following the London rally 
BPR is not just a farming issue, it affects ALL business, it removes incentive to invest for growth
Join us @LondonPalladium on the 16th for beginning of UK business fight back
lwtheatres.co.uk
BPR is not just a farming issue, it affects ALL business, it removes incentive to invest for growth
Join us @LondonPalladium on the 16th for beginning of UK business fight back
BPR Summit | LW Theatres
lwtheatres.co.uk