Hypothermia – having an abnormally low body temperature.
Though our lambing season usually falls near the end of March, we can still have bitter cold weather until the second or third week of April. When ewes go into labor, we focus on keeping lambs warm. Hypothermia often causes death in new lambs. It can often go unnoticed and slowly takes the life struggling lambs.
A ewe with strong mothering instincts will stimulate and dry her lamb by licking it. She nickers to her lamb and pushes it towards her udder, encouraging it to nurse. The ewe’s colostrum warms the lamb from the inside out and gives it the energy needed to stay warm and active. During the early hours and days after birth, we keep a close eye on the newborn lambs to be sure that hypothermia does not become a problem.
Characteristics of a Warm Lamb vs. a Cold Lamb
Warm Lamb
-warm mouth
-active
-nursing frequently
Cold Lamb
-cold mouth
-lethargic-hunched up-alone
-too weak to nurse
Hypothermia kills new lambs. Once their body temperature begins to drop, it spirals down quickly. Taking preventative measures and being alert to changes in the lamb’s behavior is essential to warding off this silent killer. Small and weak lambs are most susceptible. Keep a close eye on your sets of triplets and quads as often, one lamb will not be getting enough to eat to produce the energy they need to stay warm.
Preventative Measures Against Hypothermia in Lambs
-keep laboring ewes and ewes with new lambs in a draft free area
-monitor the lamb’s temperature if you suspect it is cold (Normal temperatures range between 102-104 degrees F. A temperature of 98-102 degrees F is at risk of hypothermia.)
-be sure each lamb nurses within the first two hours of birth (a hungry lamb will have a cold tongue)
-use a towel to help dry off wet lambs (you can also use a hairdryer being careful to not hold it too closely to the lamb)
-keep bedding dry
-put a coat on the lamb (see notes below)
-use a heat lamp (see notes below)
-know the signs of extreme hypothermia
http://www.sheep101.info/201/newborns.html
Lambs with hypothermia appear weak, gaunt, and hunched up. In severe cases, the lamb may be unable to hold its head up. The ears and mouth may feel cold. The lamb may lack suckling response. The normal body temperature for lambs is 102-103°F. Lambs with temperatures below 100°F are considered hypothermic. A rectal thermometer can be used to assess body temperature.
A nonresponsive lamb, with a temperature below 98 degrees F, and/or who can not hold its head up, is in severe danger. Treatment for a true hypothermic lamb differs from preventative measures and warrants a blog post all of its own. These lambs need attention quickly, yet carefully, as to not put their systems into shock.
Lamb Coats
I prefer using 100% wool lamb coats. Wool stays warm even when wet. I have knit lamb coats with our own wool using dog sweater patterns like this one, a free download from Ravelry. I love this pattern as it has directions for any size sweater. In a pinch, we have also taken wool tube socks, cut the toe off, added holes for the front legs, and pulled it over their head and chest. This worked great for us last year when we had our quad lambs.
Heat Lamps
I am extremely careful when using heat lamps for warming lambs and only use them in extreme conditions. I prefer using heat lamps from Premier which have a plastic protective cage around the light. These are hung with a clamp and then tied to ensure that they do not fall. It is imperative that you keep the lamp high enough to prevent fire or overheating. We let the lambs tell us when the lamp needs to be raised. If the lamp is hung too low, the lambs will lay in a circle around the light. In contrast, a lamp hung just right, allows lambs to sleep directly under it. Lambs that are eating well and active really do not need a heat lamp. They will snuggle in with mom and siblings when they get cold. We reserve our lamps for extremely cold subzero degree temperatures or for weak lambs. Last year, our smallest quad had a rough start of it weighing only 3 pounds. We left a heat lamp in the lambing creep until he showed signs of being able to keep himself warm. By placing the lamp in a creep, the ewes were not able to jostle the heat lamp and the lambs were able to snuggle underneath without competing with older, larger lambs.
Keeping lambs warm in our cold northern climate can be a challenge, but we have never lost a lamb to hypothermia. The key to warm lambs is to take preventative measures and stay alert to changes in behavior.
Related Topics:
How Can Sheep Survive Bitter Cold Weather
Recognizing the Different Stages of a Laboring Ewe
Recognizing a Difficult Lambing
Disclosure:
This blog post is not sponsored, however, some links may be affiliate links. If you purchase a product through an affiliate link I receive a small portion of commission to help support our farm.
