Heatwave/shepardess

[aangus]

Any tips on getting lambs started on either machine

 

[GTB]

Get them suckling a bottle well first then hen their next feed is due put them on the teat individually.

 

[andybk]

as he said ^^^ , one thing i would add is dont use rubber teats to start they hate the taste , i always use ordinary fast flow baby silicone teats , on a bottle to start and on machine for first few weeks , you will however need the thick collar from an old rubber teat to pack the machine holder out (just put it over the silicone teat ) or they just get pulled out the holder ,

 

[marcot]

Damn it !
Not what I was expecting at all :-(

 

[Downton_shep]

We start ours on a shepherdess before moving on to the machines.
Put something behind the lamb so it can't back up, stick the tit in its mouth and squirt some milk in, should get the idea pretty quick. Helps if you have lambs that know what they're doing in with the beginners. They definitely encourage them to find it and suck by themselves.

 

[sandywil90]

Good idea to have a nursery pen as well as your bigger pen that way your smaller ones stand much more of a chance to get a feed.
I find with calves and lambs alike to dip your finger in the milk and let the young get a taste of the milk and tempt them onto the teat.
You should be fine if you already have some good lambs suckling on the teat- they will copy each other.