07/06/2026
quite often see questions on farming pages from people who are new to sheep and find a lamb that has been rejected by the ewe.
Every situation is different, but these basic steps can help give the lamb the best chance of survival:
🐑 Step 1: Catch and assess the lamb
Check if the lamb is warm, alert, and able to stand. A cold, weak lamb needs immediate attention.
🐑 Step 2: Check if mum is truly rejecting it
Sometimes ewes will leave lambs while grazing and return later. Observe from a distance if possible before intervening.
🐑 Step 3: Warm the lamb if needed
A cold lamb cannot digest milk properly. Warm the lamb before feeding if it is hypothermic.
🐑 Step 4: Ensure the lamb receives colostrum
This is critical in the first few hours of life. If the ewe won't feed the lamb, provide stored colostrum or a quality colostrum replacer as soon as possible. Feed colostrum only for the first 24 hours.
Use a bottle and teat if the lamb is strong enough to suck. If not, seek advice on tube feeding or contact an experienced sheep producer or veterinarian.
🐑 Step 5: after 24 hours switch to lamb milk powder.
🐑 Step 6: Provide shelter
Keep the lamb somewhere dry, warm, and protected from wind and rain and fox proof.
🐑 Step 7: Monitor closely
Watch for signs of dehydration, scours, weakness, or illness. Early intervention can save lives
🐑 Step 8: if you don't have the time or knowledge on hand raising a lamb contact a local farm rescue organisation to surrender the lamb to.
Its so important that you check your lambing ewes at least twice a day, morning and night. A newborn can go down hill very fast if it doesn't get a drink.
Don't hesitate to reach out to us if you have a lamb you need us to take in.
🐑 every lamb deserves a flock
