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

Juliepink26

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

Have you really??? That was extraordinarily quick, they usually take a couple of weeks!!

It had all been delt with before he got to me I only found out last night when I asked my OH. My FIL has delt with all these issues before, but his English isnt great and it got lost in translation...

giantmutantbroccoli

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

... farmers just don't give away lambs...

My parents' neighbours, who are farmers, have offered them several orphaned lambs and one orphaned calf. My friend's dad, also a farmer, offered me an orphaned lamb once.
Never took any of them up on it because we didn't have the time to look after them. Looking after orphaned lambs can be a pain in the bum and takes up time that many farmers just don't have to spare, so it isn't uncommon for them to be given away to family and friends.

pelirocco

~Chameleon~ wrote: »

I think we are kidding ourselves if we think this lamb is going to be kept & slaughtered legally here louisdog

It's my guess there is no CPH or flock number and nor will it be going to an abattoir. It will no doubt be a backyard slaughter, done by her FIL who will then butcher it for her. I might be wrong but aren't Greeks fond of the slit throat and bleed type of slaughter?

I doubt he was ever an orphan lamb either, farmers just don't give away lambs. FIL will have bought him so little girl could play being Miss Shepherdess before he's killed

Or even if there is a lamb? ....bearing in mind this is a forum lol

laurauk

dont be ignorant? you need to take heed of that, we are not in greece and we arent in china either, but some of us dont feel the need to shove every thing in to our mouths that has a pulse,
i personally thing you are talking alot of rubbish and tend to agree with the other op, back garden slaughter and straight on the greek barbi,:mad:

louisdog

Juliepink26 wrote: »

Anyways I dont have to explain myself to anyone on these fourms, and regarding all the leagal issues they have been sorted before we even got him by the farmer and my FIL.

I hope you are sorting out the medical and husbandry issues now though. I am not trying to harass you, I really want to help you. If he gets pulpy kidney (clostridial disease) for example, the first you'll know is when he has a seizure and dies in front of you, which will be distressing and will also make the whole exercise of rearing your own meat fruitless.

Juliepink26 wrote: »

Yes we may well get him a friend we are all getting used to each other at the moment so we are seeing how things pan out,

That is completely unacceptable and tantamount to cruelty. Company of his own kind is a basic *need* in a herd animal, not just something you might fancy doing at some point. Please please do it asap, and if you decide to keep him alone, don't fool yourself that your home-reared meat is ethical when you have denied him a basic need and right.

Please do let us know if you have any queries, I am happy to help you. But I really hope you take on board the comments regarding getting him some company.

Cheers
Alex

pelirocco

How much mess does a lamb make in the house?

foreign_correspondent

I think the boundaries between meat animal and pet are far too blurred here (well, actually they are non existant!) for the welfare of the little girl involved - there is a world of difference between raising a few animals in the bagkyard or on a smallholding, and having it sleeping the house on a blanket, being bathed and blow dried, watching tv with it, taking it for nice walks in the park etc..

The Op keeps stressing that she is 'ok with this' - fine, she is an adult and can rationalise, and moderate her emotions, but the little one is not and may find it a real blow when the lamb goes to be slaughtered. Small children can identify with and bond with animals very quickly, perhaps especially only children - you are at risk of allowing the lamb to become a friend to her. She will not psychologically and emotionally react any differently to the animal based on its species - a lamb or a pup is equally endearing and responsive. At four, she will not be able to really understand what the future holds for Lamby, and as long as he is treat like a pet, she will bond with him like a pet.

When farmers bottle rear lambs in the kitchen they tend to go back to the flock ASAP - I think it will be difficult to be sharing a home with Lamby one day, and send him off to be killed the next.

I suggest, for the welfare of the lamb and the child, that you do the sensible thing, and get him a friend, and make an outdoor pen, or let him go to someone with sheep. I do find it hard to believe that in North London you were suddenly approached by a friendly farmer offering you a sheep - if you lived in rural derbyshire, or yorkshire, maybe...

louisdog

pelirocco wrote: »

How much mess does a lamb make in the house?

I only ever had sheep in my house once, by accident and chased 'em out before they could do any more than a few muddy hoofprints. But my sheep and lambs wee and sprinkle their pelleted gifts indiscriminately and without warning, so a fair bit of mess, I'd wager!

laurauk

isnt lamb fattening as well? and not too good for the folks on diets?

Fire_Fox

laurauk wrote: »

dont be ignorant? you need to take heed of that, we are not in greece and we arent in china either, but some of us dont feel the need to shove every thing in to our mouths that has a pulse,
i personally thing you are talking alot of rubbish and tend to agree with the other op, back garden slaughter and straight on the greek barbi,:mad:

Have you ever seen a Greek slaughter or are you getting your information from the doom-mongers on this thread? Do you go and protest outside all the Halal butchers in your area? If you don't like the thread report it to abuse or stop reading.

laurauk wrote: »

isnt lamb fattening as well? and not too good for the folks on diets?

Almost any food is fattening if you do not exercise portion control ... or do not exercise full stop. Both fat and protein are satiating. Can't see how the OP's diet is any of your business. :huh: