Ewe Fostering Lamb

Sami23

Just wondering how soon would you need to be putting a new lamb with a ewe after she loses her own. I have a ewe that lost hers yesterday but no sign of any more to lamb yet so when will it be too late to try fostering ? Thanks

AntrimGlens

Sami23 wrote: »

Just wondering how soon would you need to be putting a new lamb with a ewe after she loses her own. I have a ewe that lost hers yesterday but no sign of any more to lamb yet so when will it be too late to try fostering ? Thanks

Would you not buy a foster lamb for her? There's obviously no real time frame but the sooner the better obviously, I wouldn't bother trying after a couple of days as the notion will have gone off her. If you do have one lamb soon i'd keep the dead lamb and skin it onto the foster to have a better chance of success.
Good luck.

Sami23

AntrimGlens wrote: »

Would you not buy a foster lamb for her? There's obviously no real time frame but the sooner the better obviously, I wouldn't bother trying after a couple of days as the notion will have gone off her. If you do have one lamb soon i'd keep the dead lamb and skin it onto the foster to have a better chance of success.
Good luck.

Don't think I'd buy one in case it didn't work and would end up with a suck lamb then

ganmo

no need to try foster fresh lambs, we'd normally foster older lambs onto ewes, cause they've more fight in them

MayoAreMagic

Why not try splitting up a couple? Pick the stronger one, put the skin on him and away you go. The stronger the better as they have to carry a lamb-skin on their back for a day or two...

rangler1

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

Why not try splitting up a couple? Pick the stronger one, put the skin on him and away you go. The stronger the better as they have to carry a lamb-skin on their back for a day or two...

It's possible to get a ewe up to 3or 4 days after lambing to take to a lamb by handling her as if you were lambing her, after a while moving your hand inside her, she will start licking her lips, take your hand out then and she'll lick the glove, then put as much of her fluids on a lamb that's either freshly born or an older one tied and washed in warm salty water....takes a bit of time, but not as much as rearing the lamb yourself

razor8

I would either milk her or get another lamb to suck her to stop her going dry after 3 or 4 days. I've had ewes that badly prolapsed or were very sick in the past and took lambs away only for ewe to recover after a few days on meds and have successfully fostered lambs back on after 5/6 days after lambing

As said above making her think she is lambing again is a good help or leaving a dog standing beside her

Sami23

Well had a twin 2day and gave both lambs a suck from mother. Then took stronger of 2 lambs and put with foster ewe and let him suck her too. She was happy enough to have him with her so hopefully be ok. Will hold her again in morning to make sure he getting a suck. Was hard to break up the twin as the ewe would have had lots of milk.
Wonder did I do the right thing or not ?

jd06

MayoAreMagic wrote: »

Why not try splitting up a couple? Pick the stronger one, put the skin on him and away you go. The stronger the better as they have to carry a lamb-skin on their back for a day or two...

Is it hard to skin a lamb
Would like to see it done

ganmo

jd06 wrote: »

Is it hard to skin a lamb
Would like to see it done

takes time, I've done it a few times easier when they're still warm

Birdnuts

jd06 wrote: »

Is it hard to skin a lamb
Would like to see it done

Theres a knack to it alright. I've tried to do it a few times but have never got near the skill level of my father in-law who keeps an eye on all these things for me. Will have to up my game soon though since he's getting bad with arthritis in both hands

AntrimGlens

jd06 wrote: »

Is it hard to skin a lamb
Would like to see it done

Cut the skin in a circle right around each leg just above the knee joint. Cut the skin in a circle right around the neck and using your fingers prise the legs out though the holes you have made and then peel back from the neck to the tail and the whole thing will come off intact. No spilled intestines or blood as would be the case when splitting along the navel. Means that the foster lamb is fully covered rather than tying it on with string and it slipping off etc when the ewe gives it a good licking and rubbing.

Sami23

Just a quick update to say the fostering went really well as she took to him straight away. Only had to hold her once to let him suck and he worked away himself after that. Will be letting them out tomorrow or Sunday. Of only it were that simple every time.