Got a Baby Lamb!!! what do I do??

Juliepink26

Hi Ive been given a baby lamb hes about 3 weeks old, at the moment Iam feeding him baby milk from a bottle any one got any advice, also is it ok to take him to the park on a lead? there is a park behind my house with lots of grass??
Any help much apreachted! thanks

~Chameleon~

Ermmm why have you been "given" a lamb? Why is he not on a farm with his mum?


My advice is to take him back from whence he "came" before you end up killing him!


<checks calender to make sure it's not April 1st>

UKTigerlily

Why would you give him baby milk? I assume you mean you're giving him human baby milk? I wouldn't know about taking him out, I know pigs for example need a movement licence & would guess lambs may be too. Why isn't he with his Mum? I'd take him back or call someone who can help

kindofagilr

Caring for a Baby Lamb

[*] Step 1
If the baby is a newborn, milk the ewe (mother) if possible to get colostrum. It is always best to get the milk directly from the ewe --- however when the ewe dies it won't be possible to get all of the milk for the lamb from her but getting a little bit of the colostrum that is present directly after birth is best if you can manage to milk some out. If you cannot get any from the mother you might be able to get some from a different new mother. You must collect colostrum in the first 24 hours after birth, so if you do not have any other ewes that have given birth in that time frame it won't be possible. It is a good idea to always collect a little bit of colostrum from ewes who have given birth so you can freeze it and keep it for emergencies. If you have not done that you can order freeze-dried colostrom ahead of time from a livestock supply house. If the new lamb was a total surprise and you have nothing on hand, contact your local large animal veterinarian to see if they have any sheep colostrum on hand, or if there are any other sheep breeders in the area that might have some. It is very important that the lamb's first feeding is of colostrum or at the very least tht they get some colostrum within 24 hours of birth. Colostrum contains antibodies that will protect the baby until it is old enough to be inoculated.
[*] Step 2
Make sure the colostrum and subsequent milk feedings are the proper temperature. Getting a baby lamb to drink from a bottle is difficult at first but will be much easier if the liquid is the correct temperature. It should be just warm to the touch, not too hot, and not cold.
[*] Step 3
Place the colostrum or formula in a bottle. A 16 oz. soda bottle or small dishwashing liquid bottle works well. Warm the liquid until it is warm to the touch. Place a lamb nipple on the top of the bottle.
[*] Step 4
Sit on the floor with the lamb in your lap and pry open his mouth with your fingers. Insert the nipple and wiggle it back and forth until the lamb latches on. They can be VERY stubborn until they suddenly realize it won't hurt them, and it tastes good. After that you should have no problem getting your little lamb to take the bottle.
[*] Step 5
Make sure your lamb is warm enough. For the first few days it may be difficult for a lamb to regulate its temperature, especially if you are keeping it in the barn and the weather is cold. A cold lamb will not eat.
[*] Step 6
If necessary, place a heat lamp over a small box and place the lamb in the box to warm him. Also, put a lamb blanket on him to help keep him warm.
[*] Step 7
Feed your baby lamb 2 ounces of formula every 2 hours for the first three days, 6 ounces of formula every 4 hours for the 2 weeks following, and up to 12 ounces every 6 hours for 1 to 2 weeks, and then up to 16 ounces twice a day after that until he is weaned. Begin offering fresh hay at about one week. At first they will just nibble on it but by 4 weeks old they will be eating some hay daily. Always have fresh water available for your lamb after they begin eating hay, even though they will primarily be drinking formula until weaned.
[*] Step 8
Wean your lamb off the bottle after 14 weeks for optimum growth. If you have kept your lamb in the house do not put him outside in the barn until the weather has warmed up because your lamb will not be accustomed to the cold after living in a warm environment.

As for walking him in the park I would say yeah you can but maybe check with council

Do you not think maybe he might be better off with a farmer though?

foreign_correspondent

Got a Baby Lamb!!! what do I do??

Mint sauce, peas and new potatoes?

..sorry, only kidding! - What do you intend to do with the lamb though? Keep it as a pet? Hand rear it and return it to the farmer? Raise it for meat?

If you are thinking of keeping it as a pet, a lamb may seem like a cute pet, a full grown sheep less so, unless you have outdoor grazing for it...

...as for taking it to the park, you may need to look into local regulations about transporting livestock - and the reactions of dogs may be interesting, to say the least!

Juliepink26

We are raising him for meat, thanks so much for the info he was going to die anyways as the mum died and the farm owners didnt have time to hand rea him, so I offerd to help, as I am really into cooking and would use up ever part of him. Thought it would be good for my daughter to learn about food an animals, hes drinking all the milk the farmer has given me basic instruction I just wonderd if any one had any extra good advice.

cyberbob

Caddy lambs survival rate can be low many die. Who gave you the lamb? You first need to speak to a vet (not a small animal one) to get proper advice on feeding and caring. Also sheep need to tagged and registered
http://www.fearing.co.uk/sheep_tag_regulations.cns

Also if the lamb survives where will you keep it and can you afford vet bills, shearing and worming etc. Keeping an animal like a sheep is a lot more expensive than a dog or a cat and there are a lot more regulations you need to adhere to

EDIT - Added - Just saw your keeping him for meat. Don't name him then. Also reemember the reason the farmer didn't want him was he wasn't viable so he is more likely to have health problems etc

kindofagilr

Awww no poor lamb lol

~Chameleon~

Have you got a certificate to keep livestock? He will also need to be registered with DEFRA and NO, you won't be able to walk him in public areas due to Foot & Mouth regulations.

You really haven't thought this through, have you. Do you even have any land to keep him for the next few months? What will you feed him on? Remember, whatever you put into him will affect the meat you get off him.

Who will slaughter him for you when the time comes, and butcher him? It will cost you money to do this. Very expensive lamb this is going to turn out to be!

tanith

The mind boggles:eek: who in their right mind takes on a lamb knowing nothing about rearing them or the rules and regs for such a thing... and as to who is going to turn this cuddly little lamb into something that can be cooked and eaten I can only imagine :eek: and where it will be done? ... by a licenced butcher one hopes .......

walwin

I'm still not clear on what milk you're feeding him.

You can buy milk powder from a (farm) vet especially for lambs.

Lambs should NOT be fed baby milk