Essentials for Lambing Time
When lambing time draws near, it is time to get a lambing kit in order. Let's cover the basic lambing kit and then look at what extras you could have on hand. The items marked with **, are not for a basic kit, but you might want to add these over time.
Supplies
The following table lists supplies you should have on hand for lambing.
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Lambing supplies
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|
| Rubber gloves, protective sleeves or latex gloves | For assisting with difficult births and handling newborns |
| OB lubrication | For assisting with difficult births (J-lube, or other) |
| Nylon rope, snare, or leg puller | For assisting with difficult births |
| Disinfectant | For assisting with difficult births |
| Bearing retainor, ewe spoon, or prolapse harness ** |
For holding vaginal prolapse in |
| Heat lamp or warming box |
For warming chilled lambs |
| Arnica montana and Rescue Remedy homeopathics |
To give to ewes whose births you assist |
| Needles and syringes ** |
For giving shots |
| Thermometer | For diagnosing problems |
| Gentle iodine, Triodine |
For dipping navel cords |
| Esophageal feeding tube |
For feeding lambs |
| Frozen colostrum ** |
For feeding lambs |
| Colostrum supplement ** |
To supplement colostrum |
| Lamb milk replacer | For feeding orphan lambs |
| Lamb nipples (teats) and bottle |
For hand feeding orphan lambs |
| For treating pregnancy toxemia | |
| For treating milk fever | |
| For weak lambs | |
| Oral dosing syringe ** |
For giving oral medications |
| OB S-curved needle ** |
For sutering |
| Ear tags and an applicator | For identifying lambs |
| Hanging scale | For weighing feed and lambs |
| Weigh sling | To weigh newborn lambs |
| Pocket record keeping book | For recording lambing data |
Books: These are some of my favorites.
Natural Sheep Care - Pat Coleby
Storey's Guide to Raising Sheep - Paula Simmons and Carol Ekarius
Managing Your Ewe - Laura Lawson
The Sheep Book - Ron Parker
Living with Sheep - Chuck Wooster
The Complete Herbal Handbook for Farm and Stable - Juliette de Bairacli Levy
Lamb Problems - Laura Lawson
