All you need in your lambing kit for pet sheep

I have a couple of kits, I know that sounds like i'm making it more complicated but actually it's the opposite. When you've not slept for two weeks it really prevents mistakes if you divide your kit into "events" and activities. So I have an all year round kit it take into the field, the barn, RTV,even when i taxi the lambs to their new forever homes, my go to fix the common and not so common problems that can occur. But here we're going to look at just my lambing kits - plural.

First one.

The Pre-Lambing Kit

This is my life-saving kit that treats toxemia, acidosis, dehydration and general "i'm feeling under the weather because my lambs are taking all my energy and nutrition". This kits sits side by side to my nutrition guide, of good quality hay, and extra glucose ewe nuts as they work together as no kit of tips and tricks can fix a huge nutritional deficit, they can boost a ewe to start eating again but you need to relook at the feeding plan to get her back on track.

Rehydration electrolytes solution -

Always used with scouring and dehydration.

I use as a drench 20ml with syringe, via the side of the mouth over the tongue. They will need lots of fresh clean water afterwards.

Bicarbonate of Soda -

My first line in tackling bloat (earlier the better), acidosis, and scouring from PH imbalance.

I disolve 1 tablespoon in 20ml of warm water (not hot) with a small 10ml syringe, draw up the bi carb and dose via the side of the mouth over the tongue

Ginger spice -

Again used with Bi Carb to tackle bloat and repair the imbalance in the rumen. Disolve a teaspoon of ginger  in 20ml warm water ( not hot) and dose via the side of the mouth over the tongue

Twin Lambs Glucose Solution

20ml twice a day immediately at any sign of Twin Lambs disease / Toxemia along with Bi carb & ginger.

Lifeline Ewe & Lamb bucket

It doesn't fit "in my kit" but it's a vital element to boost for the ewes in preganancy and this lick bucket with fish oil helps increase the quality of colostrum an milk.

Engemycin spray

Ewes feet can get hot sweaty and agitaed on straw bedding in the barn and a quick spray stops any issues.

The Lambing Kit

In a small garden trug I keep just the essential lambing kit which I carry into the lambing pen.

Lube with a tube

I NEVER go inside a ewe without lube. It's a basic consideration not her hurt or tear her. Now the bottle with a tube is a game changer because when a gimmer is tight or you struggle to get lambs untangled/unstuck the tube can gently be run around on inside even with a lambs head in the way without your hand and is sometimes all you need to help the ewe deliver.

Iodine

1 x Mini pop bottle to drench the umbilical cord immediatley after arriving to act as a barrier to infection.

1 x Spray bottle to spray 1 hour after birth to es=nsure all the area is covered and hekp dry it and prevent infecion.

Paper Towel

A big roll. It doesnt have a scent so ideal to help dry a lamb and can't lamb without.

Box of Plastic Gloves

Gloved up is the only way to ensure you keep the ewe and lamb safe from infection. I use hosptial gloves and the arm length lambing gloves. If you put a short tight glove over the full length you have more control and feeling on your hands especially if youve small hands like me.

Scissors

Sterilised for trimming fluff around the teats and bag or very long cord

Jump Start

The tiny bottle of energy that does just the trick to boost energy in exhausted lambs that need help to get up and drinking.

Flask of Colostrum

It last up to 24 in your flask so I'm prepared and i give 80-100ml straight away and i use the udderly ez bottles and teats as they are small and never rejected.

Cow udder wipes

A great pack of wet wipes used to sterilise cow udders and perfect to wipe the bag and teats befor ethe lamb hits the milk bar.

Leg ropes & head rope

If I have them my hope is i won't need them and I've had only one time needed to use. Thing to remember is the leg ropes need to go behind the fetlock of the front legs to prevent damaging the legs and the head rope behind the ears and into the mouth.

A bag of ewe nuts

If you need to trim or help a nervous ewe

Meloxidyl

A non steriod anti-inflammatory painkiller that I give via injection under the skin if the ewe has had assistance or a hard lambing.

Betamox

A long acting antibiotic, via injection into the muscle if I have had to go inside as a precaution for any possible chance of infection.

Syringes & needles

5ml syringes and needles.

Post lambing kit

Lamb response

A pro-biotic dose to help boost the immunity and PH balance in the newborn rumen. Great if you've had to give colostrum or powered milk.

Tubing syringe and tube

One of the most critical pieces, the literal life saver to enable you to feed your lamb by stomach tube. (blog to come)

Udderly Ez Milker

Helps to express colostrum and milk fast, with 4 big pint bottles, 8 mini bottles and 16 teats

Large freezer bags

To keep ropes, bottles and scissors clean

As this is a LOT of kit i divide it into two kits, lambing and post lambing.

Colostrum Kit

Temperature setting Kettle

It saves so much time heating to just 40 degrees and avoids mistakes when you are tired, just £25 on amazon.

Whisk

Mini metal ballon whisks to avoid lumps

Plastic sterilising bucket with lid

I wash all the bottles and teats with washing up liquid using mini bottle brushes to ensure the teats and bottles are cleaned throughly, then i pop them into the bucket of milton, close the lid and leave until I need them.

Milton tablets

I change the milton water regualary to ensure that the bottles and teats stay bacteria free. I ALWAYS rinse throughly to get rid of any taste or smell.

Washing up liquid enema kit:

Washing up liquid in small pop bottle, clean non perfumed towels, paper towel, unperfumed vaseline, 10ml syringe kettle of warm water, plastic gloves. Head to the blog to how to use these.