tom123 Posted March 27, 2010 Share Posted March 27, 2010 Any update on the lambs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 27, 2010 Author Share Posted March 27, 2010 Yes..........our little boys are sleeping through the night!! They went from 6 feeds to 5 and we've had a few nights of feeding them at midnight and the next feed being around 7am. Today they have changed to 4, so they will be fed at 11pm..........but then 7am will feel like 6am as the clocks change......but we're getting there. If both lambs were as strong as each other then feeding would be very quick but the poorly one still takes a long time to take his milk. He's doing a lot better though and putting on weight. He's still lame in one leg. I'll take more photos tomorrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Glad to hear they're getting on ok Good luck with the time change! Look forward to photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Glad to hear it Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 That's good to hear Lesley. I too am looking forward to seeing more photos! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
henriette Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Only just caught up as am down in Toulouse and haven't had time to write anything. So pleased the little one is better, but a shame about his being lame Would he drink faster with a slightly larger hole in the teat or isn't that done these days? If it is I reckon you've already tried it anyway Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 28, 2010 Share Posted March 28, 2010 Good news that the tiddler is improving Lesley! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 28, 2010 Author Share Posted March 28, 2010 He chokes if we use the teat with the bigger hole He is showing interest in standing by the bottle rack but can't get started. We're hoping that in a few days he may manage it on his own. I have taken photos but today was a bit hectic - trying to make the most of the good weather before rain tomorrow. I'll try and post them tomorrow. We moved the three chicks down to the outbuilding as well - they're next to the lambs in a small hutch on a table - nearly on the floor after both dogs jumped up at it - we had to shut them out of the barn while we fed the lambs, naughty girls Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted March 29, 2010 Share Posted March 29, 2010 Have they filled out their saggy baggy skins yet? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted March 29, 2010 Author Share Posted March 29, 2010 The stronger one has! It took the weaker one over half an hour last night to have his milk - it takes Buster all of 30 seconds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted March 30, 2010 Share Posted March 30, 2010 Im sure the tiddler will pick up soon Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 2, 2010 Author Share Posted April 2, 2010 Little Cassidy is still being hand fed and having to have the teat pushed into his mouth - he goes to the bottle rack alongside Buster but then does nothing. He is growing though - it's just time consuming. We have introduced the lamb pelleted feed and both have had a look and a nibble. They are both nibbling at the hay so they're doing well. The man we had them off came to deliver some timber on Wednesday and had a look at them - he couldn't believe how well they were doing So much so that we had a phone call to ask if we'd like two more They were collected this evening, two more little boys the same age as the ones we already have. They are each a triplet, from different ewes. The ewes were managing quite well with triplets but the lambs are from a Texel ram and will be quite large so obviously became a bit too hungry. They were given a bottle feed supplement......and then the ewes produced less milk All four lambs are getting on well I'll never see my kitchen again - it's always covered in boiling kettles, milk and bottles Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 Ah fabulous, more lambies! Glad to hear Cassidy is doing well - wonder when he will discover his appetite though? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 2, 2010 Author Share Posted April 2, 2010 I hope he does soon - it's very time consuming, especially the late night feed - he seems particularly tired then and doesn't really want his milk. Carl does that feed on his own and takes the dogs with him - a few times I've been so worried that I've either had to phone him or have braved the dark and gone to make sure all is well Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valkyrie Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 Glad the little poorly one is still around - and now you have 4! Or 5 if you count that strange yellowy woolly one. Hope Cassidy soon picks himself up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lewis Posted April 2, 2010 Share Posted April 2, 2010 Aww, glad to hear he's doing ok ... hopefully get the munchies soon Are the 2 newbies little boys or girls? Hope we get an Easter update with photos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen & co. Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 Gosh Lesley, life in your house is never dull! Glad to hear about the lambs getting stronger Will go off now and catch up on all the other updates you've put on that I've missed Take care, Karen x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 You sound busy Lesley! The lambs sound like fun though and I'm glad they're doing so well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted April 3, 2010 Share Posted April 3, 2010 Good news that the lambs are improving and so much so you have 2 more to add to the farm! Easter Sunday will be good at your place - full of new life! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 4, 2010 Author Share Posted April 4, 2010 The two newbies are boys - all four will be dinners, we can't keep a ram. The new little boys were supposed to be bottle trained but after their first bottle they have refused to have any more We have spent ages out in the outbuilding with a lamb who will eat everything in sight and three who just want to run away - very frustrating. We can't move them to the lambing barn where they will have more room, until they are all feeding well. Yesterday morning we decided to try the poorly lamb (who isn't very poorly now - doing well) with drinking from a bucket - well, a large jug that we heat the bottles in - he was fine.....lapped up all his milk in record time.........so now, he is ahead of all the others Buster prefers to stick with the bottle ( ) and the new two don't want anything although they do eat the hay. I wonder if they'd more or less weaned themselves when their mothers weren't producing enough milk - they were out in the field so would have been nibbling grass and hay. They're not getting through vast quantities of hay or the little nutlets feed but they are all bright and alert. As they won't drink milk then we have to make sure they have access to water.......we're off to sort out another trough to put in that small area We also have to use a hurdle to divide the area so that we can put Buster behind bars at feed times to prevent him from scoffing all the food and milk himself. I'll put some photos on later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chook n Boo Mum Posted April 4, 2010 Share Posted April 4, 2010 Lesley, there's never a dull moment in your life is there I hope the littlies all come together sooner rather than later so you can settle down a bit Sha x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 4, 2010 Author Share Posted April 4, 2010 No, no dull moments We fed the lambs early because we were going to my sister's for lunch. The plan was to be home in time to feed them again but I just couldn't be bothered to rush, knowing what they would be like, so we were a bit late. Well - the difference being hungry meant! All three lambs suddenly knew how to drink from the bottle and little Cassidy drank his from the jug again. We fed all four lambs, replenished water, hay and nutlets, topped up the chicks water and feed.........all in FIVE minutes!!! - now, that I can cope with! I've re-read the pack of milk and both sheep books and we were probably trying to feed them too much so they will now be on three milk feeds, going down to two very quickly. They're eating hay very well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theherd123 Posted April 4, 2010 Share Posted April 4, 2010 Brilliant news Lesley! Sounds just like Isabelle today - didnt eat much at breakfast, mid morning or lunch but my oh my she wolfed down her tea! The lambs will be jumping around in no time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 4, 2010 Share Posted April 4, 2010 That's great news Lesley An end to all that frustration; they just needed to be really 'marvin' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 4, 2010 Author Share Posted April 4, 2010 Can I send the lambs over to play with Isabelle? - they don't eat much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
