03/22/2025
We always bring our lambing bag to the lambing pen because it contains everything we need to help a newborn lamb get on its feet, as well as to tag, dock, and assist any sick lambs.
For newborns, our go-to product is Nutri-Drench (not an ad😆). After the lamb has had its first milk, we give two pumps for an extra boost. We then use a small cup to dip into iodine for the umbilical cord.
First 24 hours, we tag the lambs: the left ear for ewe lambs and the right ear for ram lambs. This allows us to easily identify them when they return to the flock. We have been using a tail docker for about four years, which has been tremendously helpful as it reduces blood loss by crushing the veins.
Next 48 hours, some lambs may experience soft stool buildup that may or may not indicate scours. Gentle dish soap can help with this buildup, and using Desitin keeps them comfortable. Fortunately, we only need to clean them once, and it doesn't happen again. Inverted eyelids, also known as entropion, occurred when we bought a ram at auction. We typically only see one lamb per season with this issue. The clips designed for eyes work well, but you can also use any alligator clips from an office supply or hardware store. Sometimes simply stretching out the eyelid can also help.
Stay tuned for the emergency edition!
