The first 48 hours decide a lot about how a lamb gets on. Warm, dry, fed and with a clean navel: that is what lamb care is all about. This collection contains the supplies for those first days, from heat lamp to stomach tube.
Choosing a heat lamp
You need a lamp shade with 5 metres of cable, optionally with an energy-saving switch, and a bulb. There are hard-glass bulbs of 150 and 250 watts and energy-saving bulbs of 100 and 175 watts, each in red or white. Red light disturbs the day-night rhythm less and dazzles less. A higher wattage gives more heat, but also needs more distance from straw and animals. Always hang the lamp from the chain or an extra wire, never from the cable alone, and so that the ewe cannot touch it.
Navel, stomach tube and resuscitation
- Navel clamp: closes off the umbilical cord; keep the navel dry and clean afterwards.
- Lamb stomach tube: there are 40 cm tubes with a 250 ml bottle, 48 cm tubes with a 60 ml syringe, and the Shoof Trusti Tuber with 240 ml. For a lamb that does not drink by itself; have the technique demonstrated first.
- Lamb reviver: a resuscitation pump for clearing mucus. Valves and membranes can be replaced separately.
Fostering and tail docking
An orphan or triplet lamb can sometimes be fostered onto another ewe. Excellent adoption spray masks the scent, so the ewe accepts the lamb more readily. For tail docking, docking rings and a ring applicator are available; tail docking is subject to legal rules in many countries, so ask your vet what is permitted for your animals.
Milk and colostrum are in lamb milk and colostrum, bottles in feeding bottles and teats. Back to lambing.
Frequently asked questions
Red or white heat lamp?
Both give warmth. Red light dazzles less and disturbs rest less, which is why many keepers choose red.
When do I use a lamb stomach tube?
When a lamb needs colostrum but does not drink by itself. The first time, have your vet or an experienced keeper show you how to insert it.
Can I dock tails myself?
Tail docking is subject to rules. Ask your vet what is permitted for your sheep and how it should be done.