Free Lambs! I think I need my head examined.

[Marveltone]

Sunday afternoon we got a call from some friends. They had an ewe who had three lambs, but her udder collapsed and she could only nurse one. They were were keeping them in the house and bottle-feeding them, but with their dairy operation, they really didn't have the time to do full-time care for the full duration. "Could you guys take in a couple lambs? They really need a home."

Being the soft-in-the-head types we are, we carefully mulled things over for a couple hours and said yes.

I spent the last three days researching the snot out of caring for newborn lambs and gathering supplies. They now live in our house, sleep in a newspaper-lined Rubbermaid tote, and prance around the house wearing diapers. Once they're older and stronger and the weather warms up, they'll move out to our critter cabin and eventually out to the pasture with the goats.

They're Suffolk-Corriedale cross. One male, one female. I have much to learn, but have friends with lots of experience.

Joe

 

[Looking4new]

I can see a herd of sheep coming your way.

 

[phiferpharm]

Ewe gotta admit, their very cute!! :laughing:

 

[Western]

Ewe gotta admit, their very cute!! :laughing:

Sure are! now Joe is in the "sheep bidnuss":laughing: It is funny how some times landowners herds and flocks grow.

 

[J F]

and prance around the house wearing diapers.

Pics, or it didn't happen. :laughing:

 

[LJH]

Could be worse (goats).

 

[grsthegreat]

At least your set up for them, having goats already. I like the people that get FREE goat or sheep or horse and have no fence. Ends up costing them $5,000 for their free animal haha

Oh wait..i laughed too soon. My fife bought a BLM donkey at BLM auction as a joke.....didnt think she would win as she only bid $50.00 and the min mid was $150.00.

We ended up getting him. And the BLM even delivered him to our place. Then i had to go out and spend nearly $1,000 on fencing and panels cause a wild donkey doesnt give a crud about typical horse fencing.


But he has turned out to ba a great little guy. very friendly and mellow.Now he doesnt even challenge vinyl fencing

 

[Marveltone]

A couple more pics. Sorry about the blurry one, but she would not sit still long enough for a proper portrait.

Joe

 

[/pine]

one word..."ragu"

 

[hslogger]

I don't want to sound like a know it all. I have been keeping sheep over thirty years, and have some experience with maintaining a flock of twelve to fifteen ewes that we breed each year. Raising bummers is what you are doing. Get them the heck out of the house and into a garage or shed. They need to be innoculated. Chances are your "friend " has been giving the ewes shots all along. When they got their first milk, these lambs got some of that immunity. FIND OUT what they have given the mothers. Oregon shepherds have to give a combo vitamin b and selenium shot within a day or two of birth. You will find that wine or soda bottles with nipples and lamp milk replacement are what you need right now. Google bummer lambs and remember there is a reason it is called animal husbandry