[Jacob-list] bottle-fed lamb questions

[fourhornfarm]

Dear still new to raising sheep,

       Why did you leave the ewe and her lambs in a jug for two weeks? If there was a problem, that is a reason, but that is the reason for your problem with the lamb. If left separated from the flock for too long the flock will not accept the ewe or her lambs back into the flock without re-establishing the pecking order, which involves a lot of head butting. 
        I would not keep a ewe and her lambs in a jug for more than a day or two unless there was some serious problem. It also helps to have your jug where the rest of the flock can still be in contact with the ewe and her lambs through the fencing. This makes re-introduction to the flock easier.
        My recommendation as far as re-introducing the lamb back to being a lamb would be to make it a pen in the sheep barn and feed it it's bottle out there. It will soon want to play with the other lambs and it will have some company while you are all at work. I don't know what part of the country you live in, but if it is warm enough for the grass to start growing, let the lamb follow you around the yard in the evenings and it will start nibbling on grass. Watch out what flowers it nibbles on as some flowers and yews are toxic. 
    Hope this helps a little. I'm sure others will have more help.

Carl
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Mick, Kimberly S. 
  To: jacob-list at jacobsheep.com 
  Sent: Monday, March 23, 2009 12:52 PM
  Subject: [Jacob-list] bottle-fed lamb questions


  Still new to raising sheep.we had twins born 2/7/09 and two weeks later one of the twins got out of the jug and was badly hurt, we think by her father.

  She had swelling of the brain, a bloody nose, and was unconscious. We nursed her back to health and have been bottle feeding her since.

  We've had to keep her in a separate stall because the other females mistreat her. We sold her father. In the meantime, she is physically healthy but extremely slow, in many ways. Since I've never bottle-fed, I don't know what to expect.  She hasn't learned to eat hay or grass and nibbles on creep and cat food (she got into the cat's dish).  It took some time to find a vet but we did. He gave her a shot to lessen any swelling of the brain, if there was any at that point, and a shot to increase her appetite, which would only last for a day or two. The only time she perks up is when we leave the room and then she comes running and yelling. She's afraid of the other sheep.  How much of this is normal for bottle-fed babies and how much is from her accident?  Will she learn to eat grass and hay, but perhaps just later than the others?  While the others run, jump, and play, she just hangs out with my husband and me.  We both work so she has a lonely life during the day and has her bottle early in the morning and spends her evenings with us. She appears to have no interest in mixing with her own or eating hay or grass. Suggestions?

   

   



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