How many days after ewe losing a lamb can it be fostered?

[JoeFo]

How long typically after a ewe has lost its lamb can it be fostered? Have never gone more than a day myself but interested in hearing stories using adoption crates etc.

 

[Old Tip]

If it’s still stood with it’s lamb can be four days after it’s lambed with us but we skin the lamb and stick it on the replacement. Only time it fails is if she’s gone off producing milk through pining and not eating

 

[Highland Mule]

If it’s still stood with it’s lamb can be four days after it’s lambed with us but we skin the lamb and stick it on the replacement. Only time it fails is if she’s gone off producing milk through pining and not eating

Yup, leave the dead lamb with her until you source a replacement. Couple of days easy.

 

[neilo]

When I put one on after a day or two with a skin, I always tell the ewe how I’ve brought her lamb back to life. I’m sure it helps.?

 

[M-J-G]

When I put one on after a day or two with a skin, I always tell the ewe how I’ve brought her lamb back to life. I’m sure it helps.?

That's exactly what I do when I'm putting the lamb or calf back in the pen with the skin on.
I usually say, "there we go, back to life"
Doesn't the spring time turn it's into crazy people!!

 

[Bob the beef]

I tell them I work magic, and say abracadabra, then stick newly alive lamb/calf in.

Seems to work a treat??

 

[AftonShepherd]

Suddenly I feel slightly less daft than I did before

 

[Agrivator]

If inside in cold weather, you can go a week with the lamb still being in an acceptable state to skin.

If outside in any weather, a fox normally steals the dead lamb after about two days, because by that time the ewe tends to be less protective.

 

[primmiemoo]

Had one ewe who adopted about a week after she slipped lamb. There was nothing to skin, but she had stacks of milk so was milked twice a day.

The first available lamb for fostering was put in the pen very soon after birth, and the ewe took an interest. It wasn't completely straightforward, but she took the lamb after about 36 hours. It was taking him away in a deliberate sort of way that changed her mind.

 

[JoeFo]

Fostered one during the week. 4 days without lamb and 2 days in fostering crate, 1 day in shed. Both outside now playing happy families

 

[primmiemoo]

Fostered one during the week. 4 days without lamb and 2 days in fostering crate, 1 day in shed. Both outside now playing happy families

Good outcome! ?

Thanks for the update, and hope the rest are straightforward .

 

[GrannyAching]

When I put one on after a day or two with a skin, I always tell the ewe how I’ve brought her lamb back to life. I’m sure it helps.?

That's exactly what I do when I'm putting the lamb or calf back in the pen with the skin on.
I usually say, "there we go, back to life"
Doesn't the spring time turn it's into crazy people!!

I tell them I work magic, and say abracadabra, then stick newly alive lamb/calf in.

Seems to work a treat??

I don't pretend with my ladies. They are good enough to pretend with me but there's always that knowing look in their eye. I feel sorry for my first timer this year, she was first to lamb, twins and then the seagulls got in before me judging by the mess. We managed to get a foster from the lamb bank, apparently it's Welsh X Dorset, still the smallest lamb in the field, bounces like a rabbit and walks round with his chest pushed out like a cockerel. She's brilliant with him but I can just see her explaining to all the other ewes that he's special and then gives me such a look of sainthood!

I take my hat off to your ewes - they've got you sussed.