Skip to main content

FREE Ground Delivery on qualified items for orders over $100. Learn More »

Premier1 Logo
Equipment That Works!
From folks who use it…every day.
Sign In Sign In Cart
Your browser is outdated. Upgrade to a modern browser to better experience this site.

Your browser has turned off or is blocking Javascript.

If you are using a content blocker, check to see that you have not globally turned off Javascript.

If you have turned it off manually in your browser, please enable it to better experience this site.

Shop Products
0 Items
  • Equipment
    • 2025 New Products
    • Bells and Collars
    • Blankets and Hoods
    • Books
    • Breeding Supplies
    • Buckets and Troughs
    • Collars, Chains, Halters and Leads
    • Crooks
    • DIY Feeders - Double or Single Sided
    • Docking and Castrating
    • Drenching and Vaccinating
    • Enrichment and Sensory
    • Feed and Mineral Supplements
    • Feeders and Troughs
    • Feeding Orphan Lambs and Kids
    • Foot Trimming and Care
    • Gift Certificates
    • Guard Dog Tools
    • Handling Equipment
    • Heat Lamp and Accessories
    • Lambing and Kidding Aids
    • Marking Aids
    • Milking and Trimming Stands
    • Pastured Pigs
    • PortaTroughs
    • Premier UltraScreen
    • Prolapse Harness and Retainer
    • Restraint and Control
    • Scales and Slings
    • Solar Lights
    • Teats and Nipples
    • Tools, Instruments and Supplies
    • Treatments
    • Waterers, De-icers and Heated Buckets
    • Wire Panels and Accessories
    • Closeouts
  • Fencing
  • Clippers and Shears
  • Ear Tags and Tattoo Supplies
  • Poultry Supplies
  • Shepherd's Choice
  • Farm to Table
  • Gifts
  • Closeouts & Used Items

Catalog Quick Order

Do you know the item # of the product you want to order?

Notice

The item you have selected () is back-ordered and will not be shipped with the rest of your order. If you order now, we will ship it to you as quickly as possible after it arrives.

  or  

Item Not Found

The item you have selected () could not be found. Please check the item # you entered.

  • Home
  • Equipment
  • Lambing and Kidding Aids
  • In Depth

Lambing and Kidding Aids

Tubing Lambs & Kids

Gains far exceed the cost


Few items return more profit per $$ of investment than this simple tool. Cold, tiny or weak lambs and kids that otherwise would die can be saved if you can get warm colostrum into them in time. It is faster and better to "tube" a newborn lamb or kid than to try to feed from a nipple or bottle. Nipples are fine for strong lambs/kids, but weak lambs/kids fed via a nipple may inhale milk into their lungs, which can trigger pneumonia.

Practice makes perfect


Though inserting a tube in a lamb/kid intimidates some novices, the process is not difficult. No force is required. If the lamb or kid shows discomfort, the tube may have entered the windpipe (trachea). If so, remove the tube and try again. We like to see the tip of the tube slightly expanding the skin on the neck on its way to the stomach. A comfortable lamb or kid may even chew on the tube. In larger lambs, all but 2 in. of the tube can be inserted.


Concerns and tips

  • Do not ram the milk into the stomach with the plunger. Push it in slowly.
  • Never use dirty tubes or syringes. Rinse after each use. Disinfect daily.
  • Syringes and tubes wear out without warning so purchase a replacement.
  • Do not tube a lamb or kid that's too chilled to raise its head. First warm it in a warming box (or similar). You can tube it after it's warm.
  • Hypothermic lambs and kids should have a 25 to 50cc dose of 20% warm glucose injected into the peritoneal cavity (best to research this). Only when it can raise its head should it be tubed.

Feeding Orphan Lambs & Kids

Premier's preferred orphan feeding program

  • To Start, use Pritchard teats with warm milk replaced or colostrum.
  • After one day (or less), switch to latex (red or natural) nipples in bucket teat units. As soon as lambs learn to nurse readily, switch to cold milk. Offer it ad lib.
  • Day 5, offer grain (a commercial lamb starter or soybean meal with cracked corn) in a feeder. Place a light (a 125-watt heat lamp in winter) over the grain to encourage their attention and intake.
  • After 2 weeks, switch from latex to rubber teats. Some older lambs have sharp teeth (one reason they're orphans) that can damage latex teats.
  • Weak 6 and after, offer only water and dry feed. Tough love works.

What is the right height for a bucket teat?


It should not be higher above the bedding than a mother's own teat (which is usually low).
Why? When a young lamb or kid stretches out its neck to nurse, the esophagus forms a groove to carry the milk into the 4th stomach. If it is not stretched, the milk falls into the first stomach instead. But the first stomach was intended for grass and hay and it doesn't digest milk well. So the lamb/kid does not thrive and the first stomach enlarges to form a "potbelly".

Milk Temperature—warm vs. cold?


Mother's milk is warm but it's produced constantly in only small amounts.On the other hand, orphan buckets "produce" milk sporadically in large amounts.
So use warm milk for for newborns only. Warm milk offered ad lib to older orphans causes gorging. Therefore, offer cold milk so lambs will automatically regulate their intake. To keep it cold, freeze water in plastic bottles to use as "ice cubes".

Website Footer

Need help with a product?

Watch our How-to Videos or download Instructions/Charts for assistance.

Browse Our
Digital Catalogs

FREE Livestock Supply Catalogs

A Guide To All Things Sheep©

Keep up on all of the latest news and industry trends. View guide »

Online Sheep Guide and How-To Articles

Free Ground Delivery

On qualified items for online orders over $100. Learn more »

FREE Ground Delivery!
  • Fencing
  • Clippers & Shears
  • Ear Tags & Tattoo Supplies
  • Poultry Supplies
  • Sheep & Goat Equipment
  • Farm to Table
  • Gifts
  • Closeouts
  • Used Items
  • About Us
  • Catalog Request
  • Email Sign-up
  • Newsletter Archive
  • How-to Videos
  • Download Instructions/Charts
  • A Guide to All Things Sheep
  • Newsroom
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Customer Service/Account Settings
  • Order Lookup
  • FAQs
  • Commonly Requested Tax Forms
  • Returns & Exchanges
  • Privacy Policy
  • Ask a Sheep Expert
  • Sheep & Goat Facebook Group
  • Related Links
  • Sheep
  • Goats
  • Poultry
  • Horses
  • Garden/Wildlife
  • Deer
  • Cattle
  • Hogs/Pigs
  • Camelids
  • YouTube
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Shop by Species »

  • Sheep
  • Goats
  • Poultry
  • Horses
  • Garden/Wildlife
  • Deer
  • Cattle
  • Hogs/Pigs
  • Camelids
Premier1 Logo
Questions? Call Us.
800-282-6631
Local: 319-653-9600 • Fax: 319-653-6304
Click for the BBB Business Review of Premier 1 Supplies, LLC in Washington IA

Business Hours:

Monday–Friday: 7am–5pm CT
(January–December)
Saturday: 8am–12 noon CT
(March–August)
Saturday: Closed
(September–February)
Sunday: Closed
Monday–Friday: 7am–5pm CT (January–December)
Saturday: 8am–12 noon CT (March–August) and Closed (September–February)
Sunday: Closed
2031 300th Street
Washington, Iowa 52353
© Copyright 2025 Premier 1 Supplies • Contact Us