How often do you need to feed lambs?

[Y master]

Hi everyone.
I’m thinking of raising an orphan lamb in a couple of months but still have some unanswered questions after doing some research.

1. Can you raise one orphan lamb by itself or is it better to raise it alongside another orphan lamb so it isn’t lonely?

2. How often do you need to feed an orphan lamb? Does it change how often you need to feed them the older they get.

3. What type of housing do orphan lambs need? Do they need heat pads or a heater? Should they live inside for the first week?

4. When will lambs become fully weaned and can eat solid foods?

5. Do you need to feed them during the night as well as during the day?

Thank you!

 

[cassie]

You can raise a lamb by itself, but two would be better. I imagine feeding four times a day would work. Offer hay hand grain after the first week or so. Unless the weather is very cold, they wouldn't need a heating pad. You can use a heat lamp if you like, but make sure they can get away from it. The two lambs will cuddle up together and keep each other warm. I imagine you can wean between eight and twelve weeks. They need a shelter that is free of drafts with clean dry bedding. You can give them something to crawl into if you like. One of those dog airline crates or even a cardboard box on its side works well.

 

[JadeFarms]

I don’t know much about lambs, but I do know about horses and what I’ve done research on.

1. It is best to let them have a buddy, with lambs and most barn animals such as those, NEED a buddy.

2. Give it milk until it takes the solid food so you know your not rushing him too badly.

3. If you have another lamb with it, they will cuddle up, but extra heat is not needed unless it gets cold. And they should have a area that has shelter from rain and storms.

4. Depends on the goat, some mature faster than others. Maybe about two and a half months, I’m not sure to be honest. Look it up.

5. They should be fine at night.

 

[Y master]

You can raise a lamb by itself, but two would be better. I imagine feeding four times a day would work. Offer hay hand grain after the first week or so. Unless the weather is very cold, they wouldn't need a heating pad. You can use a heat lamp if you like, but make sure they can get away from it. The two lambs will cuddle up together and keep each other warm. I imagine you can wean between eight and twelve weeks. They need a shelter that is free of drafts with clean dry bedding. You can give them something to crawl into if you like. One of those dog airline crates or even a cardboard box on its side works well.

Thank you. Do you mean 4 feedings every 24 hours or 12 hours?

 

[Mvan42]

I am currently learning all of this also. One I found a site backyardherd.com. Very helpful forum. We feed out goats (about a week old three times a day. 12%of their body weight. To much will give them scours. I will attach a screen shout of the formula, I will a,so attach one for body weight suggestions on the amounts. It should start nibbling pretty early but about a week it should start eating a little. They should have more hey than feed, their bellies are very delicate. We are currently feeding out goats three times a day 10oz, at each feeding, 6am, noon and a 6 pm..... and yes a friend is better but you can raise it without.



I hope this helps...

 

[GC-Raptor]

One I found a site backyardherd.com. Very helpful forum.

You can find that site if you scroll all the way down to the bottom in the brown area. GC

 

[Cyprus]

I've worked with sheep and specifically I've worked with bottle raised lambs. Here's what I can tell you, from my own experience.

1. Lambs are much happier and healthier when they have a buddy
2. They don't require extra heat unless they're super young and it's cold
3. Feeding 1 beer bottle's worth of milk twice a day, 12hrs apart is enough
4. Calf hutches are perfect shelters
5. Lambs will start to eat solid food by 5 weeks
6. Lambs can be weaned at 8 weeks
7. They don't need to be fed overnight
8. Bucket feeders are best, since Lambs can feed themselves so long as the milk stays warm

 

[cassie]

Thank you. Do you mean 4 feedings every 24 hours or 12 hours?

I meant four feedings spaced out during the day. I never got up in the night to feed baby lambs or baby goats. Use your own judgement on this. I think you need to vaccinated them with CD/T. Lambs are susceptible to enterotoxemia.