Mia made it through another night. In fact she took herself out to sleep in the snow last night and this morning she was in at the feeder calling quietly for food.
Though she is not up to fighting for it so she got to eat on her own in the hospital wing. She gets an extra helping of everything including diatomaceous earth. 
So I am feeling guardedly encouraged as to her recovery. 
When I went out to feed the lambs at 4.30 this morning it seemed that the whole barn was breathing a sigh of relief hearing Mia getting up and coming in out of the cold. Yesterday was grim.
Now for some notes on bottle feeding orphan lambs. I don’t have any actual orphans but Mama always gives me one or two lambs to feed as four are an awful lot for one older ewe.
This is just what I do. I do not pretend to be an expert and every farmer does these things differently but these simple rules work for me. 
- Colostrum. Make sure your lamb gets some of that good first milk. It is imperative to all mammals that they have a good drink of their mother’s colostrum within the hour of birth. I freeze some of Daisy’s(the cow), and after thawing it in a bath of warm water (not the microwave) I top up the weaker lambs with cows colostrum. I know I will get arguments on this one but it is like a magic potion to a dying lamb. If you are bottle feeding, give the lamb cows colostrum for the first 24 hours.
- If you are using a milk replacer, mix it to half strength and feed twice as often to begin, then slowly increase to full strength. Before I had Daisy the milk cow I would do this with the calves also. Do not give these babies full strength milk replacer in the beginning. You do not want to risk scours at this young age. The only troubles I have ever had with a lamb or a calf is when I use that milk powder. I feed my lambs raw cows milk straight from the cow, it is not nearly as creamy and full as sheep’s milk so I feed a little often and once a day they have an egg and honey mixed into the bottle. Cows milk does not have enough protein for a lamb, hence the egg.
- There are people who swear that cows milk will cause scours and bloat but I maintain that it is HOW OFTEN you bottle feed any milk to an animal that will cause the scours and the bloat. Little sips often is my rule. The only scours and bloat I have had was when I was feeding milk replacer. And the scours stopped when I switched to cows milk. (Slowly, change a lambs milk overnight, mix the two together to start) So if you are using a milk replacer, get a very high quality product, absolutely fresh and store it in the freezer and begin at half strength then increase as your baby adapts to it. And feed less, twice as often as the directions tell you. I would rather a hydrated lamb than a bloated one. To clarify; you are still feeding the lamb the same amount of powder in a 24 hour period, but with twice as much water, twice as often. Slowly increasing the strength and time between feeds.
- When the babies are little I feed every two hours for forty-eight hours ensuring they consume 8 oz over the 12 hours. (or 15% of their body weight) Then down to three hours apart then down to four. Increasing the amount of milk as I go. But keep feeling their tummies for fullness, you do not want to over fill your young lamb. By three weeks the lambs should be consuming at least 16 ounces over the 12 hour period. My lambs are two weeks old now and I feed them at 4.30, 8 am, 12 am, 4 pm, and 8 pm and we all sleep through the night now. (Actually I say this is what I do but really I feed them tiny drinks every time I go past the pen between the hours of 4.30 and 8 or 9pm).
- Tiny sips. I cannot tell you how important this is. Pretend you are a mother sheep. They give their babies tiny sips frequently. So take your bottles to the barn in a bucket of hot water and feed them the allotted amount over the time you are out there doing chores. I only ever let lambs suck on the bottle for ten seconds at a time. Less when they are new born. I literally count. You burp your own babies don’t you? Make them take lots of breaks to breathe.
- Your lamb will act hungry when you are finished. Good. You lamb should NOT have a bulging stomach. Good. Your lamb will be active and noisy and leap up from a dead sleep at the sight of you. Good.
- If the lamb’s mother is alive always leave your lamb in with her and her siblings. This way she will always have the uninterrupted protection and comfort of the flock.
More bottle fed babies die from over feeding than starvation. And watch your lambs on their mother too, make sure she is feeding them. Starvation and exposure are the two biggest killers of new lambs.
Bottle fed lambs are also hard to photograph because they are always watching for a glimpse of that bottle. You have to sneak up on them. 
See Tilly right in the middle, making sure her brothers keep her warm. I shift their straw bales about depending on the wind. The barn is big and draughty so I create little safe spaces using three bales. In a minute Mama will come and lie her great big wooly self across the straw doorway and they will all sleep in perfect calm.
And now it is milking time. I know that a number of you also raise lambs so please write your own tips in the comments section. These are only my suggestions.
The Kitchen's Garden 
69 responses to “Notes on bottle feeding lambs.”
Such sweeties! Did I know lambs had long tails…hmmm, I don’t think I did. Do you dock them eventually?
Have a lovely Sunday! Snowing here again-blowing sideways. (sigh.) ~ April
I only dock the girls, the boys keep their tails. Snow AGAIN.. i have sun and it is divine! c
thanks for all of the good info im getting my first bummer from a breeder i know some time this month.(soo exited)the only bad thing is that i dont have a cow,goat,or even another sheep to give my little one colostrum so i am going to try powered colostrum and see if that does it.
Good luck abby.. pop into the comments section on the current page if you have questions, I have piles of readers who are Old Hands at this! and love to help c
good morning Celi don’t have sheep but is a possibility good food ,the wool is good the skins are great have had Lincoln before what kind are yours? i know you like an older vintage breed.
SAINTS
I would love one of the older heritage breeds but I cannot afford to buy the stock. Plus there is no-one local with anything like that. So my lot are a mix of rescue sheep and a big old ram from down the road. Mama is a Suffolk and Hairy is a Dorset and Mia is a mix. As well as for the table, we do use the wool. c
I got to bottle feed two lambs in the summer. It was one of the most awesome things I have ever done. And then one of the little buggers started ramming me with his wee lamb head – also awesome. I LOVE LAMBS.
Aren’t they sweet, my smallest one puts his head between my knees and just hangs out there, hoping an udder will miraculously appear i am sure!!
Pheeww, glad to hear Mia is moving around and eating 🙂 Those little lambs grow overnight it seems 🙂 Hoping all on the farmy are having a better day today. Laura
You shoulda been a teacher, Celie (Oh well, you found your destiny). Your minute instructions just make me wish I had a lamb or two.
How fascinating! I never, ever would have known to feed a lamb in the way you described. Love the “little sips often” phrase. Sounds like the advice I give myself when forced to sit through a dull business mtg with only a mug of coffee to keep me awake!
Oh no.. thank goodness i don’t have to sit through dull meetings anymore!! c
You are lucky to have a cow to call on for the milk and colostrum. I have read many times that cow colostrum is the second choice if you do not have any from a ewe. We keep powdered colostrum on hand as a backup, but we also take some from the first ewe or two every year so we have a stash in the freezer. We pretty much do the same thing, if possible we leave the lamb with the mom. They do so much mothering in so many ways that we cannot do, we don’t want them to forget they are sheep. We typically do not have more than triplets with our Coopworth/Border Leicester crosses, thank goodness!
Wonderful also to hear that Mia is up and eating. Maybe your little Tilly will be staying on with you.
Yes, Tilly will become part of the breeding flock, I wish she were drinking from her Mum though, it makes for a stronger ewe.. c
It sounds like it is going to be a better day on the farm and I’m happy about that. 🙂
Now that’s quite complicated, in comparison to mama lamb feeding them. They are very lucky babies to have you C, very lucky indeed. I am relieved to hear about Mia, poor thing; I’m keeping my fingers crossed for a very speedy recovery.
Good news about Mia! Mama and her big wooly self…I can just see that. Love those little lambie legs. So cute! And you caught Big Dog’s yawn. 🙂
The sun has not been seen around here for a while, so everyone went into a light induced slumber! c
Glad to hear Mia is up and around! The lambs are adorable and you are such a wonderful nurturing person—the lambies will thrive with your help!!! I think having human babies may be easier….maybe????
At least the human babies get to stay in the house with you!! c
Poor Mia – she must have been hot! I’m glad she’s feeling better now and that the others are doing well 🙂
I also think that if she was/is running a temp with all that wool then getting out into the cold was a very good choice. Fingers crossed.. c
Beautiful chicken pic.
I was out early this morning taking photos of a beautiful morning sky, and my mind almost immediately flashed to you on the farmy, with thoughts of Mia. I’m so glad to hear she’s rallying, and I continue to think of you all in your many important duties today. oxo
Good to hear that Mia is moving and eating. Fingers crossed that she continues down this road, eh? And that Tilly’s no fool. Let the boys take the brunt of the cold while she’s nice and cozy in the middle.
It’s good to see the Sun streaming through the windows, even if only for the day. Whether or not he likes it, Spring is coming and Old Man Winter needs to move on! Have a great day, Celi!