Please help--triplets!

[Sheepshape]

Big, strong ewes who make plenty of milk can manage triplets, but I usually take one off the mum (different size, sex, strength etc.). Ideally they can be adopted by a mum who has a singleton birth at the same time. As I have had 7 sets of triplets, one ewe with Twin lamb Disease and a tiny twin, I now have 9 bottle lambs.....a lot of time is spent feeding them!

Good Luck.

 

[Mini Horses]

I work at it differently. I pull one of the larger, put the smaller onto mom and just sit by her & hold one while little one nurses. Can't do it every slurp but, I make sure it gets several a day. Normally, they figure it out and all eat well. I have goats, not sheep, but same situation. My does have always done very well at making sure all 3 do get to nurse, it's usually just that first day or two to get it going. Most trips will have one that is off sized, generally smaller. It's that first two days that seem to make the difference for mom & kids to settle.....yes, I believe they can count!!

It's important for them to drink her milk as that is part of the odor she uses to know it's her kid once they are dry. Besides, a mom always teaches them things growing up that we can't. If I pull kids to bottle (milk goats, I use the milk) then I do use the doe milk to feed them also.

 

[SpringCrkFarmTN]

Thanks to you all for your words of encouraging advice. Seems like mama has recognized this little one is smaller & weaker & has all but rejected the little guy. I am supplementing with bottle feeding & have no others giving birth at the moment. So, it seems that we are officially now a bottle baby, unless I have a ewe give birth to a single today. Will wait & see. Thanks all!

 

[babsbag]

I will let you know what kind of replacer she uses as soon as she lets me know. For goats I use store bought cow's milk, nothing added. Of course I have 40 dairy goats so the only excuse I have for feeding cow's milk is that I am too lazy too milk.

 

[Roving Jacobs]

I raise my bottle lambs on store bought whole cows milk too and have never had a problem. They've always grown just as fast and healthy as my other lambs and milk is cheaper than good quality replacer in my area.

 

[SpringCrkFarmTN]

I hate to report that the little one passed away last night. I should have done something sooner. I had witnessed the mama nurse all 3 at different times but this little one just did not seem to thrive.

 

[Ferguson K]

Sorry for your loss

 

[norseofcourse]

Sorry to hear you lost him :-(

 

[Latestarter]

Awww... that's too bad. What a shame... I know we all want them all to live, but sometimes that's just not the way it goes. Sorry.

 

[babsbag]

I'm sorry you lost one; never easy to know what to do in these situations.

For future reference my friend uses Land of Lakes replacer for her lambs.