ewe with triplets

Tomjim

A ewe had 3 lambs two weeks ago. The 3 lambs were all of the same size. I bottled 1 lamb for a few days after the birth but found she was doing ok and so I stopped. I left them inside and gave the ewe nuts morning and evening. I am happy with their progress and I let them out today.

Problem now is that I will not be able to give this ewe as much nuts now as she is with the others.

Is there a time where you would say the lambs are safe and will keep thriving and receive adequate milk ets from the ewe.

In previous years when I had triplets I would go out after say 1 week and get a lamb dead. Having said that this time I feel the lambs are more even.

Username John

Tomjim wrote: »

A ewe had 3 lambs two weeks ago. The 3 lambs were all of the same size. I bottled 1 lamb for a few days after the birth but found she was doing ok and so I stopped. I left them inside and gave the ewe nuts morning and evening. I am happy with their progress and I let them out today.

Problem now is that I will not be able to give this ewe as much nuts now as she is with the others.

Is there a time where you would say the lambs are safe and will keep thriving and receive adequate milk ets from the ewe.

In previous years when I had triplets I would go out after say 1 week and get a lamb dead. Having said that this time I feel the lambs are more even.

Hello TomJim,

I wouldn't be the best man to take advise from, as am only starting out meself. But I can tell you what we do is the same as yerself.

We had two sets of triplets this year, we managed to foster one of the first set onto a single. But there was no handy singles when the other one lambed. She managed the 3 of em fine, we kept her inside for 10 days or so. And watched to make sure all 3 were doing ok, and they were. So we left her out then.
Like yerself, she used to get more nuts than the others. But since she went out, she is just getting the same, and seems to be doing ok.
I feed them every day, so I have a look to see if there are any lambs doing poorly.

I think they're as well off out, if they seem to be doing ok.

Thats my two cents anwyays...

5live

If there is plenty of grass then i wouldnt be too worried as the ewe will probably have enough to keep the 3 alive but growth rates will be lower. Are you creep feeding as i feel this will help twins and triplets as they will be inclined to eat creep earlier and will keep them moving on? I would just keep an eye on the ewe as she will drop condition faster as there is more of a draw on her

johngalway

Fostering onto a single seems like a good plan.