How to Raise a Baby Lamb

How to Raise a Baby Lamb. Lambs sometimes become orphaned after birth. These lambs are known as bottle lambs or bummers depending on the region. Some stockmen raise the bottle lambs themselves while others sell them. Raising a baby or bottle lamb is time consuming and requires regular efforts in feeding and cleaning up after the lamb. However, it is the only way these lambs survive, according to the website homestead.org.

Things Needed

• Milk replacer
• Colostrum replacer
• 20 oz. pop bottle
• Lamb nipple
• Grain and hay

Step 1

Remove the lamb from the flock as soon as it's known that the lamb is orphaned or its mother will not care for it properly. Leaving it in barn or outdoor conditions too long reduces the lamb's body temperature and risks hypothermia.

Step 2

Feed the lamb milk replacer mixed with colostrum replacer for the first feeding. Mix the milk and colostrum replacer according to manufacturer's instructions. Use a 20-oz. pop bottle with a lamb nipple, available at feed stores, to feed at least two oz. to the lamb. Warm the lamb by rubbing it with dry towels and placing heat lamps near it.

Step 3

Repeat the feedings from the bottle about every six to eight hours. Change the feeding apparatus to a bucket with a nipple at the bottom when the lamb has developed a drive to nurse. Monitor the lamb to make sure it is getting enough milk through the bucket. This is important if several bottle lambs are being raised in a single pen.

Step 4

Offer grain and hay after about one week. Gradually convert the lamb's diet to feed by reducing the number of milk feedings each day. By the time the lamb is two weeks old, it should be eating mostly feed and can be returned to the flock.

Warnings

• Colostrum is the first milk from the ewe and provides immunity to the lamb. It is vital for the health of the lamb it receive either natural colostrum or a replacer.
• According to the website homestead.org, a lamb requires about one 25-lb. bag of milk replacer powder. Sheep-raising operations usually stock some milk replacer each lambing season in anticipation of bottle lambs.

Warnings

• Mixing the milk replacer too strong or rich can cause digestive problems for the lamb and scours, a form of diarrhea.

References

• Homestead: Bottle Lambs