Bottle feeding sheep ?

[poultrykeeper08]

Any one out there have any experience bottle feeding lambs ??!? In a couple of days i am getting a babydoll lamb and she is still on the bottle . Is bottle feeding a lamb the same asa goat ? I have bottle fed baby goats in the past . Also can u use the same milk replacer as i did for the goats or do they need a different milk ?

Any info would be great

 

[she-earl]

I cannot comment of the comparison between bottle feeding kids and goats. However, I have just had five bottle lambs in the last two months. I got them as newborns. They were either twins, triplets, or quads. I had access to free cows milk so that is what I fed them. I started them out at 1/4 cup milk at each feeding which was ever two hours during the day. For me this started at 4 a.m. until close to 9 p.m. I felt it was much better to feed them small amounts more often. I gradually started to increase the amount and then began to lengthen the time between feedings. When they are eating grass or hay and looking full, I cut them back to a morning, mid-day and night feeding. The oldest one is weaned, the two middle ones are at three feedings of 1/3 cup a day and the youngest two are getting fed every three to four hours. Hope this is helpful. How old is your lamb?

 

[cassie]

For one lamb why would you want to fool with replacer? I would vaccinate it for entero, first off, because lambs, like kids, will die suddenly and without warning from entero. Secondly plain old cow milk will work, but ewes produce a richer milk than goats or cows. Try this formula. Take a gallon jug of whole cow milk. Pour off a quart or so. Add a cup of buttermilk and a can of evaporated milk to the jug. Shake to mix. Fill the jug back up with some of the milk you poured off. The lamb ought to do just fine on this.

 

[Alchmyst]

This year I have had my first experience bottle feeding a lamb. I use the lamb replacer from Tractor Supply. They have kid replacer too, not sure what the difference is. It give directions on the back for mixing and feeding. At first I prepared myself for loss. But to my surprise, little Malia has thrived. She did get colostrum from her mom and other ewes lambing at the same time. I milked them and gave it to her in a syringe. Also, from what Ive been told, overfeeding can be a real problem, so I have strictly followed the instructions on the replacer bag.

Good luck with your baby,

Rob

http://ohhhdee-r-uh.blogspot.com/