Baby lamb help

Help Support Steer Planet:

Angusboy

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 3, 2010
Messages
524
Location
Indianola, Iowa
OK so I have this lamb that is a few hours old and the mama is a first time mama and she almost looks scared of the lamb when the lamb comes to nurse her she takes off and we got the mama cornered  and let the baby nurse a bit  but the mama is just a little freaked, any advice? I've heard this has happened  with first time mama cows if you have anything let me know thanks    <cowboy>
 

OpenRange

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 10, 2008
Messages
56
Location
Central, IL
If you can make or have a ewe headgate lock her in it for a few days and she should take the lamb.  Preimer sells a corner headgate  that works great. It paid for itself the time I used it.
 

hamburgman

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 9, 2010
Messages
569
If someone has small enough arms you can put a sleeve on and go up her and try to re-stimulate that tract and cause the release of oxytocin.  Try it for 5 min, if it doesn't work after that, it won't work.
 

North Hill

Member
Joined
Mar 17, 2011
Messages
8
Lots of first-time lambers are scared of their lambs!!  The head gate usually works, but you will probably still have to hold her still for the first few times, as she will still stomp & kick.  Also, maybe give her a bit of grain as a distraction while you have the lamb suck (gives her something else to think about!)  If you leave her in the headgate or stantion, just make sure she can lay down OK.  She should let the lamb suck alright after a couple of days.  Good luck!
 

kfacres

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 15, 2008
Messages
3,713
Location
Industry, IL Ph #: 618-322-2582
hamburgman said:
If someone has small enough arms you can put a sleeve on and go up her and try to re-stimulate that tract and cause the release of oxytocin.  Try it for 5 min, if it doesn't work after that, it won't work.

save your self the trouble, and just give it to her, in lei of Oxytocin hormone...  in comes in a bottle, no use redoing the labor process. 

catch the ewe, let the lamb nurse 3x atleast a day for a few days.. if she doesn't take it, hopefully the lamb will become a stealer.. if she don't take it, now's not the time to keep average ones.. cash in on em.
 

american honey

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 30, 2010
Messages
352
Location
Indiana
Well, usually, we have a milk goat in with the lambs which helps them get extra nutrition and helps the lambs who's mama won't nurse get nursed. If that makes sense haha But, if she doesn't start to nurse soon my best call it bottle feeding.
 
Top